Absentee and early voting

These are programs that, in general, permit eligible persons to vote prior to Election Day. Absentee voting is generally conducted by mail in advance of Election Day and early voting is generally in-person voting in advance of Election Day at specific polling locations.

Source: ELECTIONS: The Nation’s Evolving Election System as Reflected in the November 2004 General Election, U.S. Government Accountability Office, https://www.gao.gov/assets/160/157713.pdf