It’s just under seven weeks until Election Day, but voters in two states can begin voting for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton even before both candidates have the chance to address the nation in Monday’s debate.
In Minnesota and South Dakota, voters can vote absentee starting on Friday and don’t need an excuse to vote early. This is the first presidential election where Minnesota voters can vote absentee without an excuse, as new voter laws were passed in 2014. South Dakota voters have had the option to vote early without restrictions since 2003.
Voters in both states can vote-by-mail or go in person to their local elections office to cast a ballot. Here’s a list of polling places in Minnesota and South Dakota.
Minnesota and South Dakota are the first to open polls statewide, but they aren’t the earliest place to cast a ballot in the United States.
That honor falls to Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., which started early voting on Monday. Wisconsin law allows local towns and counties to set their own early voting dates.
Around 70 people have cast ballots in Wisconsin Rapids as of Thursday, according to city clerks.
Ballots were also sent out across the world on Friday, as U.S. citizens overseas and military personnel can begin turning in absentee ballots. There’s nearly 8 million U.S. citizens living abroad, and they could prove important if a state ends up with a razor-thin margin at the polls.
Democrats have a larger abroad operation than Republicans, as Democrats hold a primary election specifically for overseas voters while Republicans do not.
But both parties are making an effort to get out the vote in the general election. Republicans held a Trump event in Israel while Democrats campaigned on the streets of London.
Alex Daugherty: 202-383-6049, @alextdaugherty