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Voting gives eligible American citizens a small but meaningful voice in choosing the people who will represent them and make decisions and laws for their country. Unfortunately, the processes of registering to vote in the United States can get a little bit complicated, and it can differ depending on what state you live in.
To help shed a bit of light on the process, here’s how to register to vote — at least in most states.
Table of contents
- Get a state ID
- Registering in person to vote
- Registering online to vote
- How to register to vote by mail
- I live in North Dakota
- I think I’m registered to vote, but I’m not sure
- When is the deadline for registration in each state?
Get a state ID
While state IDs aren’t strictly necessary to register to vote in every state, the chances are good that you’ll need to have one at one step or another in the process, so it’s a good idea to get that first. To do that, you’ll need to provide proof of citizenship, proof of residency at a valid address, and (most often) your Social Security Number. In most states, you’ll need to head to a local Department of Motor Vehicles office to get your ID card. For a guide on how to get an ID in each state, you can check out this helpful page from Rocket Lawyer.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many DMVs around the country currently require appointments, and some are booked for the next several weeks or months. You’ll want to try to get an appointment at your local DMV as soon as possible to get your ID.
While an ID can be very helpful for registering to vote, many states also require them for the actual practice of voting as well. To check what your state will require when you show up to vote on election day, check out this page from the National Conference of State Legislators.
Registering in person to vote
Every state offers the ability to register to vote in-person, usually at a local election office and sometimes at the DMV. You’ll need proper identification and the necessary paperwork, which you can print out from home, or you may use a local library to print the paperwork. To find out exactly what you’ll need to register in person, visit vote.gov and select your state from the drop-down menu.
Just like with the IDs, any business that requires the use of a DMV while the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing will likely require an appointment. Because appointments are sometimes scheduled several weeks in advance, you’ll want to schedule yours as early as possible.
Registering online to vote
This is the easiest way to register to vote, and it’s an available option for most states. However, each state has specific requirements for how to register to vote online. To figure out exactly how you can register online to vote, go to vote.gov. Next select your state (or territory) and follow the prompts to start your registration. Or you can just click on your state in the list below.
Here’s a list of states that allow online voter registration:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
How to register to vote by mail
While most states offer the ability to register online, a few states are limited to in-person or mail-in registration. In those states, you’ll need to print off the specific form and either bring it to the DMV — as described above — or mail it in per your state’s instructions, which you can find at vote.gov.
Here are the states where you’ll need to mail in your registration or register in person:
- Arkansas
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire (New Hampshire residents must register in person, so refer back to the ID section of this post)
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Wyoming
I live in North Dakota. Why isn’t it on any of these voting lists?
North Dakota is noticeably absent from these lists because you do not need to register to vote in North Dakota. All you need to do to vote in North Dakota is have a state ID with a valid and current address. Refer to the ID section of this post for information on how to get that.
I think I’m registered to vote, but I’m not sure
There’s actually a website to check whether or not your state has your voter registration on file. It’s on the website of the National Association of Secretaries of State, and it usually requires your name and birthday to see if you’re registered. If you follow these steps and it says your registration is fine, then you’re good to go. If not, search for your state in this post and get started on registering.
When is the deadline for registration in each state?
As you can probably guess if you’ve made it this far, the deadline for each state is different, so here you go:
- Alabama
In Person: 15 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day
Online: 15 days before Election Day
- Alaska
In Person: 30 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Sunday, postmarked 31 days before Election Day.
Online: 30 days before Election Day
- Arizona
In Person: 29 days before Election Day, or on the next immediate business day if the deadline falls on a legal holiday or weekend.
By Mail: Postmarked 29 days before Election Day, or on the next immediate business day if the deadline falls on a legal holiday or weekend.
Online: 29 days before Election Day
- Arkansas
In Person: 30 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Sunday, postmarked 29 days before Election Day
Online: N/A
- California
In Person: 15 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day
Online: 15 days before Election Day
- Colorado
In Person: Election Day
By Mail: Received 8 days before Election Day
Online: 8 days before Election Day
- Connecticut
In Person: 7 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 7 days before Election Day
Online: 7 days before Election Day
- Delaware
In Person: 24 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 24 days before Election Day
Online: The fourth Saturday before Election Day
- District of Columbia
In Person: Election Day, with proof of residency
By Mail: Received 21 days before Election Day
Online: 21 days before Election Day
- Florida
In Person: 24 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 29 days before Election Day
Online: 29 days before Election Day
- Georgia
In Person: 24 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 29 days before Election Day
Online: The fifth Monday before Election Day
- Hawaii
In Person: 30 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day
Online: 30 days before Election Day
- Idaho
In Person: 24 days before Election Day. If you miss this deadline, you may also register on Election Day. (You must show proof of residence to register at the polls on Election Day.)
By Mail: Postmarked 25 days before Election Day.
Online: 25 days before Election Day.
- Illinois
In Person: 27 days before Election Day, after which you may register during the early voting period through Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 28 days before Election Day
Online: 16 days before Election Day
- Indiana
In Person: 29 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 29 days before Election Day
Online: 29 days before Election Day
- Iowa
In Person: 10 days before Election Day. If you miss the deadline you can also register to vote in-person during early vote or on Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day or received 10 days before Election Day
Online: 10 days before Election Day
- Kansas
In Person: 21 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day
Online: 21 days before Election Day
- Kentucky
In Person: 29 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 29 days before Election Day
Online: 29 days before Election Day
- Louisiana
In Person: 30 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day
Online: 20 days before Election Day
- Maine
In Person: Election Day
By Mail: Received 21 business days before Election Day
Online: N/A
- Maryland
In Person: 21 days before Election Day. You may also register during early voting or on Election Day with proof of address.
By Mail: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day
Online: 21 days before Election Day
- Massachusetts
In Person: 20 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 20 days before Election Day
Online: 20 days before Election Day
- Michigan
In Person: 15 days before Election Day. Or Election Day at your city or township clerk office.
By Mail: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day
Online: 15 days before Election Day
- Minnesota
In Person: Election Day
By Mail: Received 21 days before Election Day
Online: 21 days before Election Day
- Mississippi
In Person: 30 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day
Online: N/A
- Missouri
In Person: 27 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 27 days before Election Day
Online: 27 days before Election Day
- Montana
In Person: Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day or received 27 days before Election Day
Online: N/A
- Nebraska
In Person: 11 days before Election day
By Mail: Postmarked 18 days before Election Day or received 14 days before Election Day if there’s an illegible postmark
Online: 18 days before Election Day
- Nevada
In Person: Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 28 days before Election Day
Online: 5 days before Election Day
- New Hampshire
In Person: Election Day. Before Election Day, the last day to register is the last meeting of the Supervisors of the Checklist. The supervisors meet once, 6-13 days before Election Day
By Mail: Received between 6 and 13 days before Election Day depending on which town you live in
Online: N/A
- New Jersey
In Person: 21 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day
Online: N/A
- New Mexico
In Person: Saturday before Election day at the county clerk’s office. 28 days before Election Day otherwise
By Mail: Postmarked 28 days before Election Day. However, an application may be accepted through the Friday following the deadline if the application is postmarked before the deadline
Online: 28 days before Election Day
- New York
In Person: 25 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 25 days before Election Day or received 20 days before Election Day
Online: 25 days before Election Day
- North Carolina
In Person: The Saturday before Election Day if voting early in person. Otherwise 25 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 25 days before Election Day. If the postmark is missing or unclear, the application will still be processed if it is received 20 days before Election Day
Online: 25 days before Election Day
- North Dakota
North Dakota residence do not need to register to vote. They only need to bring valid proof of ID and residency to the polls to vote
- Ohio
In Person: 30 days before Election Day, extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day, extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday
Online: 30 days before Election Day
- Oklahoma
In Person: 25 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 25 days before Election Day
Online: N/A
- Oregon
In Person: 21 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day
Online: 21 days before Election Day
- Pennsylvania
In Person: 15 days before Election Day
By Mail: Received 15 days before Election Day
Online: 15 days before Election Day
- Rhode Island
In Person: 30 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day. If the postmark is missing or unclear and the registration form is received no later than 5 days after the deadline, the dinvidual shall be presumed to have registered by the deadline
Online: 30 days before Election Day
- South Carolina
In Person: 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Sunday, the last preceeding day that the county board of voter registration and elections is open
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day, the deadline is extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday
Online: 30 days before Election Day
- South Dakota
In Person: 15 days before Election Day
By Mail: Received 15 days before Election Day
Online: N/A
- Tennessee
In Person: 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Sunday, 29 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day, the deadline is extended if this falls on a Sunday
Online: 30 days before Election Day
- Texas
In Person: 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Sunday, 29 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day, the deadline is extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday
Online: N/A
- Utah
In Person: 7 days before Election Day in clerk’s office, but may also register during early vote and on Election Day. However, individuals must vote by provisional ballot if they: (i) register online or in person between 7 and 14 days before Election Day, (ii) register during early voting, or (iii) register on Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day, the deadline is extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday
Online: 7 days before Election Day
- Vermont
In Person: Election Day (you must show proof of residence to register at the polls on Election Day)
By Mail: Received Election Day
Online: Election Day. But if you register online the day before or on Election Day, your application may not be processed and your name may not appear on the checklist and you may be asked to fill out another application at the polls. To be sure your name appears on the checklist , please register by the Friday before Election Day
- Virginia
In Person: 22 days before Election Day. If this day falls on a Sunday, 21 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 22 days before Election Day, the deadline is extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday
Online: 22 days before Election Day
- Washington
In Person: Election Day
By Mail: Received 8 days before Election Day
Online: 8 days before Election Day
- West Virginia
In Person: 21 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day
Online: 21 days before Election Day
- Wisconsin
In Person: The Friday before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked the 3rd Wednesday before Election Day
Online: 20 days before Election Day
- Wyoming
In Person: 14 days before Election Day
By Mail: Postmarked 14 days before Election Day. After this date, individuals may register to vote by mail if their registration is also accompanied by an absentee ballot request
Online: N/A
Polygon is part of Vox Media. Find more coverage of the 2020 election across its other 13 networks: how to vote, in-depth analysis, and how policies will affect you, your state, and the country over the next four years and beyond.
