Virginia, South Dakota and Minnesota Start Early Voting for 2026 Midterms on September 18
Early voting for the 2026 midterm elections opens on September 18 in Virginia, South Dakota and Minnesota, with Illinois beginning a week later.
The 2026 midterm election cycle sees early voting commence on September 18 in three states: Virginia, South Dakota and Minnesota. Virginia offers in-person voting from September 18 through October 31, with a voter-registration deadline of October 23 and a mail-ballot request deadline on the same day. South Dakota’s system is labeled in-person absentee voting, beginning September 18, with voter registration closing on October 19.
Minnesota provides ballots for in-person voting starting September 18, but its official early-voting window runs from October 16 to November 2. Illinois starts its early-voting period on September 24, extending to November 2, and allows counties to set their own registration deadlines. These dates give voters several weeks to cast ballots before the November 3 election.
Why it matters
Early voting dates affect voter turnout and campaign strategies ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
How this story developed
- Aug 27 Rep. Jake Auchincloss Discusses Congressional Reform and Supreme Court Changes
- Sep 5 Judge extended the preliminary injunction blocking the rule.
- Sep 5 Judge Talwani issued a new order on Friday extending the injunction.
- Sep 6 Administration filed a third petition to the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the injunction.
- Sep 8 Missouri Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling requiring a statewide referendum before the GOP‑crafted map can be used.
- Sep 9 Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 stay of the district‑court injunction.
- Sep 10 Federal judge rejected Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' request to block the contempt proceeding.
- Sep 10 First Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration’s request to lift the injunction, leaving the rule blocked through the November elections.
- Sep 11 U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Trump-backed congressional map, requiring use of the 2022 districts.
- Sep 14 A federal judge issued an injunction blocking the USPS mail‑ballot rule.
- Sep 15 In a 7-2 unsigned order, the Supreme Court refused to overturn blocks on a new USPS regulation that would mandate election-mail markings, barcode-compatible envelopes, and a federal portal for voter data. The majority said the Justice Department had not shown a likelihood of success on the merits. Justice Brett Kavanaugh concurred, citing insufficient time for states to implement the rule before the midterms. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas authored a dissent, contending that the plaintiffs—mostly Democratic states—lacked standing and that the Postal Service’s statutory powers are broad. Alito emphasized that the timing argument does not justify denying the government’s application and criticized the challengers for delaying the rule’s rollout. He concluded that the “Hail Mary” effort would probably fail and urged the Court to grant the administration’s request. The decision stalls the rule for the upcoming election, though further litigation could allow implementation by 2028.
- Sep 15 Supreme Court rejected the administration’s request to stay the injunction.
- Sep 15 The Supreme Court issued an order denying the administration’s emergency request to change mail‑in ballot handling.
- Sep 15 Donald Trump blasted the Supreme Court ruling, calling mail‑in voting a “laughing stock” and accusing the justices of being “petrified of these crazed and depraved Democrats.”
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