Voting in the 2016 election begins today. No, it’s not November yet (thank goodness), but North Carolina will begin sending out absentee ballots, Bloomberg reports, kicking off early voting season in 37 states and the District of Columbia. And that’s a really big deal.

Why is it such a big deal?

So glad you asked! According to an analysis by the Associated Press, early voters are “expected to make up between 50 to 75 percent or more of all ballots” in some of the major battleground states that are likely decide the presidential election: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina.

We won’t know who these voters cast their ballots for until Nov. 8 (Election Day!), but a lot of those states will report which party those voters are registered with and that could provide some “solid clues,” according to the AP.

Across the country, the number of people who are choosing to vote early (due to busy schedules, illness, travel, to avoid long lines at the polls, etc.) is growing. According to CBS News, 35 percent of voters in the 2012 presidential election cast an early ballot, compared to just 16 percent in 2000. The number of people who cast absentee ballots this year or vote early in-person could grow to 40 percent of the electorate this year, CBS says.

Military personnel and Americans living abroad also get to vote early. Their ballots will be mailed out the week of Sept. 19, according to the AP.

Can I vote early?

Check out our chart below to see if your state offers early voting. (Hover over your state for more info).

* None of the U.S. territories offer early voting.

Important Note

Absentee balloting is available in all 50 states and the U.S. territories for those who certify that they cannot vote at their polling place on Election Day. Those voters can request to get a ballot in the mail.

When do the polls open?

In-person early voting is offered in 34 states and the District of Columbia. If you want to go to the polls before Election Day, here’s when in-person early voting kicks off in each state. (Data via CBS News).

September:

23rd: Idaho, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont

24th: Maine, Maryland, New Jersey

29th: Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, Wyoming

October

10th: California, Nebraska

11th: Montana, New Mexico, Utah

12th: Arizona, Indiana, Ohio

17th: Georgia

19th: Kansas, Tennessee

20th: North Carolina

22nd: Nevada

24th: Alaska, Arkansas, Texas, Wisconsin

25th: Hawaii, Louisiana

26th: West Virginia

28th: Massachusetts

29th: Florida

30th: District of Columbia

November

3rd: Oklahoma

8th: ELECTION DAY!

— Sarah Mimms

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