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Legal & Civic

Registering to vote

Start at vote.gov, pick your state, and follow its steps: online, by mail or in person. Every state but North Dakota requires registration, and deadlines can be a month before Election Day.

Easy10 min to doFree

You'll need

  • A driver's license or state ID number, in most states

Do it like this

  1. Go to vote.gov and select your state or territory (USA.gov).
  2. Register online, by mail or in person, depending on your state's rules. You can also use the National Mail Voter Registration Form (USA.gov).
  3. Have your driver's license or state ID number ready. Some states accept other documents like a bank statement or utility bill (USA.gov).
  4. Check your state's deadline. It can be as much as a month before an election (USA.gov).
  5. Register again when you move or change your name.
Watch out. Sign the mail form before you send it. An unsigned form won't count.

If it doesn't work

  • Not sure if you're registered? Check through your state's election office, linked from vote.gov.
  • No home address? You don't need one to register and vote (vote.gov).
  • Living abroad or in the military? The Federal Voting Assistance Program helps you register and request an absentee ballot (USA.gov).

Good to know

North Dakota

North Dakota is the only state that doesn't require voter registration (USA.gov).

After a felony conviction

Eligibility varies from state to state (vote.gov).

Local elections count

Once registered, you can vote in national, state and local elections (vote.gov).

Sources

  1. Vote.gov Register to vote
  2. USA.gov How to register to vote
  3. USA.gov Voter registration deadlines

Lesson L2.1 · Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed. See a mistake?