{{Short description|Civic voting holiday}}thumb|Early voting poster '''Vote Early Day''' is a movement by a coalition of nonprofits and businesses which encourages voters to use early ballots and designates October 24 as the official “Vote Early Day”.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vote Early Day |url=https://www.influencewatch.org/movement/vote-early-day/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=InfluenceWatch |language=en-US}}</ref> MTV and over 65 partners introduced “Vote Early Day” with the goal to become a new U.S. national civic holiday.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Voting Early Is Easier Than Ever — So We're Making It A Holiday |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/o4q24a/vote-early-day-what-to-know |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001110402/https://www.mtv.com/news/o4q24a/vote-early-day-what-to-know |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=MTV |language=en}}</ref> Vote Early Day is meant to encourage eligible United States citizens to vote early. The effort also intends to assist people, particularly young voters, to stay informed on what their state's laws are related to early voting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morin |first=Rebecca |title=Vote Early Day effort launches to get more people, especially young voters, to the polls |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/03/10/vote-early-day-effort-launches-get-more-people-young-voters-polls/5002061002/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Background == Early voting permits registered voters to cast ballots before an election. In states that allow no-excuse early voting, a voter does not need to provide a reason for being unable to vote on Election Day. Whether early voting is helpful or detrimental, and whether it should be expanded or limited, are subjects of debate. Proponents of early voting argue that it may increase participation among particular demographic groups, reduce wait times at the polls, and facilitate the correction of errors. Opponents of early voting argue that it can decrease overall turnout, lead to poorly informed voting, and increase costs for campaigns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arguments for and against early voting |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Arguments_for_and_against_early_voting |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>

Democrats are assumed to benefit from higher election turnout, however studies do not fully support that hypothesis.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohn |first=Nate |date=2019-07-15 |title=Huge Turnout Is Expected in 2020. So Which Party Would Benefit? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/15/upshot/2020-election-turnout-analysis.html |access-date=2023-11-01 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Dhrumil |date=2020-02-21 |title=Increased Voter Turnout Could Benefit Republicans Or Democrats In 2020 |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/increased-voter-turnout-could-benefit-republicans-or-democrats-in-2020/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222161805/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/increased-voter-turnout-could-benefit-republicans-or-democrats-in-2020/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=FiveThirtyEight |language=en-US}}</ref> left|thumb|Vote early GOTV The Vote Early Day organization was formed as a nonpartisan, centralized source to create awareness and provide information and resources about Vote Early Day. Partner funding comprises election administrations, businesses, higher education, community groups, and nonprofit organizations. Their website gives direct information and links to other groups’ websites about state by state rules, U.S. citizens living or deployed outside the United States concerning early voting. They also provide resources about voting in general including election deadlines by state, including mail and in-person, voter registration information, voter ID information, election protection hotline, multilingual help line, free rideshare to vote early, and mail ballot tracking.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebrate Vote Early Day on October 26th, 2023 |url=https://voteearlyday.org/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=voteearlyday.org}}</ref>

== Activities ==

=== 2020 === The MTV campaign launched with partners across media, consumer brands, and advocacy organizations, and its advantage of being independent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vote Early Day |url=https://www.hyperakt.com/work/vote-early-day |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Hyperakt |language=en}}</ref>

The bipartisan initiative “Vote Early Day 2020” recruited companies to motivate people to vote by absentee ballots or in person early in response to the coronavirus pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Mark |date=2020-05-11 |title=Bipartisan group urges people to vote early in 2020 election |url=https://nypost.com/2020/05/11/bipartisan-group-urges-people-to-vote-early-in-2020-election/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=New York Post |language=en-US}}</ref>

Election officials and organizations across the country, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, inaugurated Vote Early Day to promote participation to vote prior to election day.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Niesse |first=Mark |title=Vote Early Day created to boost turnout in Georgia and nation |language=English |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/vote-early-day-created-boost-turnout-georgia-and-nation/iNx3qfnBNte3y61AyQcYMN/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |issn=1539-7459}}</ref>

Brands from technology, retail, entertainment including Ad Council, ViacomCBS, have promoted early voting using digital, television and social media along with referrals to websites that offer voter information tools.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liffreing |first=Ilyse |date=September 17, 2020 |title=HOW BRANDS ARE GETTING VOTERS TO THE POLLS (AND MAILBOXES) IN 2020 |url=https://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/how-brands-are-getting-voters-polls-and-mailboxes-2020/2281291 |website=adage.com}}</ref>

MTV paid for the printing and mailing of ballot applications requested through the network's voter initiative campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klar |first=Rebecca |date=2020-09-17 |title=MTV to pay for printing and mailing ballot applications requested through campaign |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/516844-mtv-to-pay-for-printing-and-mailing-ballot-applications-for-voters/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref>

University of Martha Washington shared news that due to new legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly, Virginia residents are allowed to vote early in-person in their Registrar's office or designated regional voting center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vote Early Day |url=https://academics.umw.edu/communityengagement/umw-votes/early-voting/vote-early-day/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Academics {{!}} Community Engagement |language=en-US}}</ref>

US House of Representatives, David Scott used Vote Early Day 2020, to ensure that voters have access to resources to help safe and secure voting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Vote Early Day |url=https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/view_newsletter.aspx?id=200804&c=GA13ds |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=IntranetQuorum}}</ref>

=== 2021 === Boulder County Elections and Avery Brewing Company co-hosted a Vote Early Day event where voters could bring their ballots to the drop box at Avery Brewing, obtain an “I Voted” sticker, register to vote, acquire voting information, and collect Vote Early Day souvenirs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boulder County Elections and Avery Brewing Company to celebrate Vote Early Day on October 23 |url=https://bouldercounty.gov/news/boulder-county-elections-and-avery-brewing-company-to-celebrate-vote-early-day-on-october-23/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Boulder County |language=en-US}}</ref>

Indiana University encouraged their students to get involved in civic engagement by registering, learning, and advocating.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Political Engagement Programs: Get Involved: Division of Student Affairs: IUPUI |url=https://studentaffairs.iupui.edu/get-involved/political-engagement-programs.html |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Division of Student Affairs |language=en-US}}</ref>

Marywood University’s nonpartisan campaign, Pacers to the Polls, promoted increased voter registration, preparedness, and turnout among their students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pacers to the Polls {{!}} Marywood University |url=https://www.marywood.edu/life-at-mu/involvement/pacers-to-the-polls |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.marywood.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2022 === On October 28, 2022 MTV broadcast MTV LIVE: VOTE EARLY DAY, a digital celebration to get out the vote early.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brow |first=Jason |date=2022-10-27 |title=GAYLE & Daniel Seavey Team With MTV For Their 'Vote Early Day' Livestream Event |url=https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/mtv-vote-early-day-livestream-4880592/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Hollywood Life |language=en-US}}</ref>

The League of Women Voters offered reasons for voting early, including flexibility, convenience, and personal health and safety.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why We're Voting Early {{!}} League of Women Voters |url=https://www.lwv.org/blog/why-were-voting-early |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.lwv.org |language=en}}</ref>

Loyola University Chicago,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Important Dates: Loyola University Chicago |url=https://www.luc.edu/vote/about/importantdates/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Loyola University Chicago - Voter Information |language=en}}</ref> University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Voting Events » Civic Life » Illinois |url=https://civiclife.illinois.edu/illinivote/events/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=civiclife.illinois.edu}}</ref> University of Massachusetts,<ref>{{Cite web |title=UMass Votes |url=https://www.massachusetts.edu/umass-votes |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=UMass System |language=en}}</ref> Germanna Community College,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vote {{!}} Germanna Community College |url=https://germanna.edu/student-experience/student-life/vote |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=germanna.edu}}</ref> Mercer University,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shotwell |first=Kai |date=2022-11-08 |title=Mercer a national leader in student voter engagement efforts |url=https://den.mercer.edu/mercer-a-national-leader-in-student-voter-engagement-efforts/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=The Den |language=en-US}}</ref> Wichita State University,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shockers Vote! |url=https://www.wichita.edu/student_life/seal/civic_engagement/shockers_vote.php |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.wichita.edu}}</ref> Middle Tennessee State University,<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Democracy Project {{!}} Middle Tennessee State University |url=https://www.mtsu.edu/amerdem/index.php |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.mtsu.edu |language=en}}</ref> Stony Brook University,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic Holidays {{!}} Center for Civic Justice |url=https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/civicjustice/events/civic_holidays.php |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.stonybrook.edu |language=en}}</ref> San Jose State University,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Events |url=https://www.sjsuvotes.org/events |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=SJSU Votes |language=en-US}}</ref> Emory University,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Path to the Polls {{!}} Emory University {{!}} Atlanta GA |url=http://community.emory.edu/programs/evi/path-to-the-polls.html |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=community.emory.edu |language=en}}</ref> and California State University San Marcos<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election 2022 {{!}} Elections {{!}} CSUSM |url=https://www.csusm.edu/elections/index.html |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.csusm.edu}}</ref> published school calendars identifying the Vote Early Day civic holiday.

Illinois Library Association has joined the nonpartisan movement of over 3,000 companies, nonprofits, and election entities to ensure all Americans have the resources to vote early.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Illinois Library |title=ILA E-Newsletter |url=https://www.ila.org/publications/ila-newsletter |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.ila.org}}</ref>

=== 2023 === Over 400 Philadelphia students rallied at City Hall to encourage new voters to cast their votes early.<ref>{{Cite web |title=400 Philadelphia Students March to City Hall for Vote Early Day |url=https://seventy.org/press-testimony/2023-vote-early-day |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=seventy.org |language=en}}</ref>

Boulder County Elections joined with three Boulder County organizations/businesses: Intercambio, Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA), and Avery Brewing to host three Vote Early Day events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boulder County Elections partners with three different organizations to hold Vote Early Day events Thursday |url=https://bouldercounty.gov/news/boulder-county-elections-partners-with-three-different-organizations-to-hold-vote-early-day-events-thursday/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Boulder County |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections informed citizens about the options to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fulton County Recognizes National Vote Early Day |url=https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/calendar/fulton-county-recognizes-national-vote-early-day |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.fultoncountyga.gov}}</ref>

The City of Lewiston partnered with national Vote Early Day to remind voters to order an absentee ballot, stop by and vote in person, or pick up a ballot for a family member.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Vote Early Day |url=https://www.lewistonmaine.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=2503 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Lewiston, ME |language=en}}</ref>

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold encouraged voters to return their ballots early either by mail, at a drop box, or at a voting center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=News Release |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/newsRoom/pressReleases/2023/PR20231026VoteEarly.html |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.sos.state.co.us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Colorado voters encouraged to cast ballot early for National Vote Early Day on Thursday - CBS Colorado |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/video/colorado-voters-encouraged-to-cast-ballot-early-for-national-vote-early-day-on-thursday/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-10-26 |title=October 26 - Secretary of State Jena Griswold Encourages Voters to Cast Ballots by Mail on National Vote Early Day |url=https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/664378852/october-26-secretary-of-state-jena-griswold-encourages-voters-to-cast-ballots-by-mail-on-national-vote-early-day |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=EIN News |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Pawtucket Board of Canvassers announced their participation with thousands of nationwide organizations to celebrate Vote Early Day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-25 |title=Pawtucket to celebrate Vote Early Day Thursday |url=https://www.valleybreeze.com/news/pawtucket_and_central_falls/pawtucket-to-celebrate-vote-early-day-thursday/article_819c9c1e-71c0-11ee-bb1d-9ffc6ddb7094.html |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=The Valley Breeze |language=en}}</ref>

Fox News aired an interview with the executive director of "Vote Early Day" promoting the importance of early voting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-26 |title=Oct. 26 is "Vote Early Day" |url=https://news.yahoo.com/oct-26-vote-early-day-035051315.html |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-26 |title=Videos |url=https://www.fox5dc.com/video/1301643 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=FOX 5 DC |language=en-US}}</ref>

To promote awareness of National Vote Early Day with students, the Wichita State University Shockers Vote! Coalition hosted a trivia game at the Rhatigan Student Center.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Join the Shockers Vote! Coalition for Vote Early Day festivities Oct. 26 – WSU News |url=https://news.wichita.edu/2023/10/24/join-the-shockers-vote-coalition-for-vote-early-day-festivities-oct-26/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=news.wichita.edu}}</ref>

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx announced its annual Pack the Vote initiative to educate voters and inspire civic engagement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timberwolves and Lynx Announce Annual Pack the Vote Initiative |url=https://lynx.wnba.com/news/timberwolves-and-lynx-announce-annual-pack-the-vote-initiative/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Minnesota Lynx |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Timberwolves and Lynx Announce Annual Pack the Vote Initiative |url=https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-and-lynx-announce-annual-pack-the-vote-initiative |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}</ref>

At a joint press conference, Colorado County Clerks encouraged voters to return their mailed ballots ahead of election day to assure timely processing. Records from the Secretary of State's Office showed that less than 223,000 of Colorado's 4 million eligible voters had returned their ballots early.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Franklin |first=Gabrielle |date=Oct 26, 2023 |title=County clerks encourage voters to return ballots early |url=https://kdvr.com/news/politics/election/colorado-clerks-encourage-voters-to-vote-early/ |website=FOX31}}</ref>

The City of Aurora, Colorado asked voters to return ballots early to ensure votes are counted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nextdoor |title=It's National Vote Early Day! (City of Aurora) &mdash; Nextdoor |url=https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/co/aurora/city-of-aurora/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=nextdoor.com}}</ref>

Emory University with Emory Votes Initiative, Emory NAACP hosted a nonpartisan GOTV rally and march to the DeKalb County polling site. The event included music, Emory Votes voting swag, and giveaways.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GivePulse.com |title=Vote Early Day - Party to the Polls - Emory Votes Initiative (EVI) {{!}} Emory OPEN |url=https://emory.givepulse.com/event/405815-Vote-Early-Day-Party-to-the-Polls |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=GivePulse |language=en}}</ref>

The League of Women Voter of Detroit posted support of the civic holiday, stating that “over 3,000,000 voters cast their ballots on Vote Early Day alone.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-28 |title=Events Page » LWV Detroit |url=https://lwvdetroit.org/virtual-events/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Former President of the United States, Barack Obama, has extended an invitation to all voters to actively participate in the elections taking place in various states across the nation. Obama highlighted the significance of voter engagement as participation is critical to the democratic process.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-27 |title=Former US President Barack Obama Encourages Early Voting on "Vote Early Day" - Trending |url=https://trendingstoriesus.online/former-us-president-barack-obama-encourages/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (BOE), in collaboration with Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services, invited registered voters to celebrate Vote Early Day by casting their vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Official Government Website of Cuyahoga County |url=https://cuyahogacounty.gov/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=cuyahogacounty.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Cuyahoga County Encourages Early Voting on 'Vote Early Day' |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXmtdPCCQMY |access-date=2023-11-01 |language=en}}</ref>

University of Illinois Chicago celebrates Vote Early Day by pointing out that when individuals vote early, they will head off last-minute problems that may prevent them from casting their ballots as well as help shorten voting lines on Election Day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vote Early Day {{!}} Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement {{!}} University of Illinois Chicago |url=https://ipce.uic.edu/events/vote-early-day/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Ad Council suggested airing new public service announcements that encourage audiences to celebrate Vote Early Day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vote Early |url=https://www.adcouncil.org/campagin/vote-early |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=www.adcouncil.org}}</ref>

== References == <references />

Category:Voter registration Category:Election and voting-related organizations based in the United States Category:Annual events in the United States Category:Voting in the United States