How to Register to Vote and Check Your Registration

Registration rules and deadlines vary by state. Here's who can vote, how to register or update your details, and how to make sure you're ready before Election Day.

In the United States, elections are run by the states, so the rules for registering to vote differ depending on where you live. The basics, however, are the same everywhere — and in most states you can register or update your registration online in a few minutes.

Who can vote in federal elections?

To vote in U.S. federal elections, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Meet your state's residency requirements.
• Be 18 years old on or before Election Day. Many states let 16- and 17-year-olds pre-register, and some allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the general election to vote in primaries.
• Be registered by your state's deadline (every state except North Dakota requires registration).

Some states restrict voting for people with certain felony convictions or who have been declared mentally incapacitated by a court, and the rules for restoring voting rights vary widely by state. Non-citizens, including permanent residents, cannot vote in federal elections.

How to register

Online

Most states offer online voter registration. The easiest starting point is Vote.gov, the official U.S. government site, which directs you to your state's registration page. You'll usually need a state driver's license or ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

By mail

You can use the National Mail Voter Registration Form, available on Vote.gov and from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, or your state's own form. Follow the state-specific instructions for where to send it.

In person

You can register at your local election office, and often at state motor vehicle offices when you get or renew a license, as well as at some public assistance offices and armed forces recruitment offices.

Know your deadline

Registration deadlines range from about a month before Election Day to the day itself. Many states offer same-day registration, letting you register and vote at the same time, while others close registration weeks earlier. Look up your state's deadline on Vote.gov well in advance — don't wait until the last week.

Check your registration

Even if you've voted before, it's smart to confirm your registration before each election. You could have been moved to inactive status, or your polling place may have changed. Your state or local election office website has a lookup tool; you can also find it through Vote.gov or the National Association of Secretaries of State at CanIVote.org.

When to update your registration

Update your registration if you:

• Move, even within the same city or county.
• Change your name, for example after marriage or divorce.
• Want to change your party affiliation, which can matter for primary elections in some states.

Ways to vote

• In person on Election Day at your assigned polling place.
• Early in-person voting, offered by most states for a period before Election Day.
• By mail. Every state allows some voters to vote by mail; some mail ballots to every registered voter, while others require a reason or an application. Check request and return deadlines carefully.

Military members, their families and U.S. citizens living abroad can register and request absentee ballots through the Federal Voting Assistance Program at FVAP.gov.

Bring the right ID

Voter ID rules vary a lot. Some states require a photo ID, some accept non-photo documents, and some require no ID for most voters. First-time voters who registered by mail may need to show ID. Check your state's rules before you go.

Get reliable information

Rely on your state or local election office for official information about dates, locations and rules. Be skeptical of texts or social media posts telling you voting has moved to a different day or that you can vote by text — those are false. For more on spotting false claims, read our guide on how to spot misinformation.