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Although in Seder Hazzanut on page 203 paragraph Bb is explicitly written to start Arvit with nightfall, we don’t do that. We strive to read the words בלילה ההוא with nightfall, and therefore we start Arvit 35 minutes before nightfall and the reading about 20 minutes before nightfall
See בית יוסף או”ח תרפ”ז ד”ה כתוב:
נהגו לקרותה מבעוד יום ליל ארבעה עשר כדי להקל על האנושים והמעוברות שלא להתענות יותר מדאי
(It was customary to read it during the day preceding the fourteenth to make it easier for the sick and the pregnant women, so they would not have to fast for an excessive amount of time.).
In the Shulchan Aruch שו”ע או”ח סימן תרצ”ב סעיף ד’ the Mechaber (=author, which is the בית יוסף) writes that יכול לשמוע קריאתה מבעוד יום מפלג המנחה ומעלה (One may hear it during the day, from Plag HaMincha onwards) which means one can read the Megila as of one hour and 15 minutes before nightfall.
Most of the later sages refer to both above texts and tend to disagree to this very early start. Some say to start קצת מבעוד יום (close to the end of the day) and some say מבין השמשות, which is in the twilight. What we do, starting the reading 20 minutes before nightfall, thus fits the last opinions.
One possible indication for our minhag can be found in מגילה י”ט-א. Here the Gemara writes:
ומהיכן קורא אדם את המגילה ויוצא בה ידי חובה? רבי מאיר אומר: כולה … רבי שמעון בן יוחאי אומר: מבלילה ההוא …אמר רבי חלבו… הלכה כדברי האומר כולה.
Beginning from where must a person read the Megilla in order to fulfill his obligation? Rabbi Meir says: he must read all of it… Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai says: one must start to read from “On that night” (Esther 6:1 בלילה ההוא)… Rabbi Ḥelbo says … the Halachah is in accordance with the statement of the one who says that the Megilah must be read in its entirety.
We see that here is a discussion how much of the Megilah must be read on Purim in order to fulfil the Mitzvah. According to rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai it is enough to read from בלילה ההוא.
Thus, according to rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai`s opinion, the part of the Megilah leading to בלילה ההוא is not necessary. Therefore one can read this before nightfall on the eve op Purim and still fulfil the Mitzvah, as long as one reads בלילה ההוא with nightfall. And this is what we do. Of course, the Gemara concludes that the Halachah is that one has to read it all, yet it may be another indication to our minhag
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