What is the practice that allows individuals to vote before the official election day at designated sites?

Early voting is the practice that enables individuals to cast their ballots before the official election day at designated sites. This process is designed to enhance voter participation by providing more flexibility, accommodating those who may have scheduling conflicts on election day itself.

In many states, early voting can span several days to a few weeks ahead of the election, allowing voters to choose a convenient time to vote in person. This method often includes the same voting technology and procedures used on election day, ensuring that voters have access to the same options when they vote early.

Other methods noted in the options have distinct characteristics: absentee voting typically refers to a process where voters request a ballot before the election and submit it remotely, often by mail, primarily used for those unable to attend in person. Mail-in voting, sometimes referred to as absentee voting in certain contexts, generally involves ballots being sent directly to voters for completion and return by mail. In-person voting indicates the standard practice where voters go to polling places to cast their ballots on the actual election day, which does not offer the flexibility that early voting does.