What voter registration is
Voter registration is how you tell election officials that you're eligible to vote and where you live, so they can add you to the voter roll and assign you to the right polling place and ballot. In nearly every state you must register before you can vote. North Dakota is the well-known exception that does not require registration.
Because elections are administered at the state and local level, each state sets its own process, forms, and deadlines. The general shape is the same everywhere; the details differ.
General eligibility
To register in federal elections, you generally must:
- be a U.S. citizen;
- meet the residency requirements of the state where you register;
- be 18 years old by Election Day (many states let you pre-register at 16 or 17).
Some states have additional conditions — for instance, rules that apply to people with certain felony convictions. Confirm the specifics on your state's official page.
Ways to register
Most people can register in one of three ways. Which options are available to you, and what each requires, depends on your state.
Online registration
Many states offer secure online voter registration through their official election website. You'll usually need identification such as a state-issued driver's license or ID number. Not every state offers online registration, so check whether yours does.
Register by mail
Most states accept the National Mail Voter Registration Form, a federal form maintained by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. You fill it out and mail it to the address in the form's state-specific instructions. A few states and territories don't accept this federal form and use their own process instead, so read the instructions for your state before mailing. Our guide to registering by mail covers exactly who can use the federal form.
Register in person
You can typically register in person at your local election office. In many states you can also register at motor-vehicle offices and public-assistance agencies. Several states offer same-day registration, letting you register and vote during early voting or on Election Day.
Registration deadlines
Deadlines vary a lot. Some states require you to register up to about 30 days before an election; others allow same-day registration. Online, mail, and in-person deadlines can differ even within the same state. The safe approach is simple: register as early as you can, and verify the current deadline on your state's official page. See our guide to registration deadlines for the full picture.
Updating your registration
Keep your registration current. You generally need to update it when you change your name or address, or — in states that record party preference — when you want to change it. Depending on your state, updates can often be made online, by mail with the National Mail Voter Registration Form, or in person — see how to update your registration. It's also wise to check your registration status before each election using your state's official lookup tool.
Moving to another state
If you move within the same state, you usually just update your address with your state or local election office. If you move to a different state, you typically need to register again in your new state and meet its residency and deadline requirements. Do this as soon as you can after moving so you don't miss a deadline.
Find official information
This guide is written to be accurate as general information, but your state's official source always takes precedence. When you're ready, open the official page for your state or territory:
Check Your State's Official Information
See also our FAQ and official sources.