Election Day is almost three weeks away, but voters can actually head to the polls starting next Monday. This is the first year Connecticut is offering in-person Early Voting.

State election leaders said Wednesday that they are ready. They’re also hoping to reassure voters with security concerns.

Early Voting runs from Oct. 21 through Nov. 3, including weekends. The hours are from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. But on October 29 and 31, hours are extended from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

“Voting is the perfect Halloween treat,” said Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.

For the most part, Early Voting is the same as showing up on Election Day – except for one big difference.

“Early Voting is available for every eligible voter,” said Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas. “It is in person, but it won't be at your same polling location.”

Instead of coming to your neighborhood polling site, Early Voting happens at one or two central locations in each municipality – usually town or city hall.

Click HERE to see your community’s location.

In 2022, voters approved an amendment to the state constitution allowing Early Voting. But some people still aren’t aware that it’s an option this year.

“I didn't actually know that,” said Frank Schneider, of Norwalk. “I’ll probably be going on Election Day. Typical, just out of habit. But that’s cool. I might; you never know.”

Early Voting turnout was low for the August party primaries. But with a major presidential race this fall, others states are already seeing record crowds. On Tuesday, 250,000 people voted on the first day of Early Voting in battleground Georgia.

Here in Connecticut, election officials said they’re ready.

“We were a little nervous that we would have a poll worker shortage, but this year, over 2,800 people have signed up to serve as poll workers,” Thomas told reporters.

If you want to vote early, the deadline to register is this Friday. But you can also register on the same day when you show up to vote.

Another difference with Early Voting: ballots aren’t actually counted until Election Day.

“After you vote, instead of just putting your ballot into the tabulator machine, you’ll put it inside an envelope,” Thomas said. “And you’ll seal it and sign it and place that in the secure receptacle. And none of those votes will be counted until Election Day.”

That worries some voters.

“I think it might be harder to control ballots that are not valid by doing that,” said Tom Liberati, who plans to vote on Election Day.

But state leaders said voters should not be concerned because Connecticut uses all paper ballots, and counting is done locally.

“That’s why people should feel very secure about the way we vote, because there is a piece of paper as evidence of every person’s ballot,” Bysiewicz said.

Vote counting is about to get faster and more accurate. Connecticut is purchasing new, high-speed voting tabulators. They will launch in nine communities this fall, with the rest of the state getting the machines next year.

Click HERE for more information on voting in Connecticut.

Anyone encountering problems should contact the Election Day Hotline at (866) 733-2463 or send an email to elections@ct.gov.