While millions of Americans go to the polls on Election Day, more citizens than ever before will vote by absentee ballot this year, either by necessity or by preference.

On November 2, registered voters across the United States will travel to local schools, churches, or town halls to cast their ballots not only for president and vice president, but for local and state officials as well. While no one voting system is used throughout the country (see Voting Technology), one practice is the same: voting at all polling places is confidential and conducted in the privacy of a voting booth.

Upon entering a polling place, voters find election officials and volunteer poll workers, who check voter registration records and assist voters with the voting process. A candidate or his or her supporters may stand outside of a polling place, shaking hands or handing out election materials. However, laws require these partisan activities to remain a certain distance from the polls to ensure that voters have the privacy they need to cast their votes.

Polling places open early in the morning and remain open throughout the day. Many people vote on their way to or from work, or at some other convenient time during the day. Some voters, however, will never see the polling place on Election Day. In 2004, many Americans will vote by absentee ballot, a procedure that once was available only to those who were unable to travel to their polling places. Absentee voters request a ballot from their local election officials and return the ballot by mail. In many states, absentee voting has become a popular alternative, allowing voters to cast their ballots at the time of their choosing without having to leave home. The state of Oregon has done away with polling places altogether: all voters will be required to vote by mail in 2004.

Many proponents of absentee voting argue that the process will increase voter turnout. Experts estimate that more than 100 million Americans will vote on November 2, but this number represents only about half of those who are eligible to vote. Low voter turnout has been an important issue in many elections, and voter registration drives are a key component of an election year. Representatives of political parties and various civic groups can be found at local shopping malls, movie theaters, and other public places and events, handing out registration cards to those who recently have become eligible to vote by turning 18 years old or by becoming U.S. citizens, as well as to people who may have been eligible to vote for some time but have not registered.