Deadlines for early voting are coming up in states across the US ahead of Election Day.

2025 Election Season Heats Up with Early Voting

The 2025 election season is picking up momentum as the countdown to voting day continues, bringing with it a sense of urgency in the air. While this cycle is quieter compared to the hectic environment of the 2024 federal elections, it still showcases significant races. We’re looking at gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, the New York mayoral race, redistricting proposals in California, and three contests for Pennsylvania’s state supreme court.

Actually, voting has already started for the 2025 elections, which will play a key role in determining Republican control of the chamber during the 2026 midterms. It’s interesting how these state-level races can have such a big impact.

Recent weeks have brought some unexpected twists in the political landscape. For instance, Virginia’s attorney general candidate, Jay Jones, has been caught up in a text scandal. There’s also been scrutiny over military records related to the New Jersey gubernatorial race. Plus, Virginia’s electorate is reacting to Zoran Mamdani’s left-leaning policies as a self-identified democratic socialist—quite the diverse range of issues stirring the pot.

Voter enthusiasm seems to be pretty high across the country, which is encouraging. And there’s still a little time left for early voting, which is always good news.

Key Early Voting Deadlines

New Jersey

In-person early voting kicks off in New Jersey on Saturday and wraps up on November 2. Voting is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The best part? You don’t need a reservation to go vote early.

New York City

Residents of New York City started their early voting on Saturday too, and they also have until November 2 to cast their votes. It’s a bit daunting, but the excitement is palpable—especially in this high-stakes environment.

Virginia

In Virginia, early voting began on September 19 and goes until November 1. I mean, it feels like every part of the state is engaged in this process right now.

California

California is gearing up for a special election in 2025 to vote on Proposition 50, which aims to redraw the state’s House district map. This is in response to Republican-led attempts to reshape congressional districts prior to the midterms. Early voting here starts Saturday and continues right through Election Day.

Pennsylvania

Finally, in Pennsylvania, voters can cast their ballots early in person. They have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to return mail-in ballots to local election offices. Just remember, if you want a mail-in ballot, you need to apply for it by Tuesday or plan to vote on Election Day.