Eligibility

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

• be a U.S. citizen
• meet your state’s residency requirements
• be 18 years old on or before Election Day
• be registered to vote in your state by its registration deadline. North Dakota does not require voter registration
• follow state rules regarding felony convictions and mental incapacity

While the legal voting age in the U.S. is 18, voter registration and pre-registration rules and ages are different in every state. Check HERE or go to your state’s official voter registration page for up-to-date information.

You can use this tool to CHECK to see if you are registered

How to Register

You can register to vote in person or by mail in all states. You can register to vote online in 41 states and the District of Columbia, but not in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Hampshire and Maine. North Dakota does not require voter registration.

• USA.gov/election-office links to your state voter registration site which provides information about how to register, where to vote, and the voting requirements.
• National Mail Voter Registration Form, allows you to fill out the form online and print the completed form; or print the blank form and fill it out by hand, and mail it in.
• Fair Elections Center is an easy-to-use comprehensive resource aimed at making voter registration, voting, and election administration accessible for every American, especially for students and underrepresented voters.

Online Voter Registration

Forty-one states and the District of Columbia now offer online voter registration. The voter fills out a form on an Internet site which is submitted electronically to election officials in the proper state. The application is reviewed, and if confirmed to be valid, the new voter is added to the state’s voter registration list. You generally need a state-issued driver’s license or identification card to register.

• Vote.gov takes you directly to the online voter registration site for the selected state. For states without online registration, it links you to the state elections site.
• Vote.org is easy to use and allows you to check your voter registration, register to vote, get an absentee ballot, get election reminders, and pledge to register if you are too young to vote.
• Rock the Vote is mobile-friendly, easy to use and available in 13 languages. It provides information on each state’s voting requirements, including dates of elections, registration deadlines, and absentee voting. It also provides information for students, members of the military and those who have been convicted of felonies.
• Vote 411, from the League of Women Voters, allows you to register to vote, check your voter registration status and find what’s on your ballot. You can also search for state-specific information.
• Turbo Vote lets you sign up for election reminders, register to vote, and apply for an absentee ballot.

Overseas and Military Voters

The Federal Voting Assistance Program allows you to register to vote and request an absentee ballot if you’re a

• U.S. citizen living outside the United States.
• Service member stationed overseas
• Spouse or eligible family member of a service member stationed overseas

Additional Voting Information

The U.S. Vote Foundation has election dates, voting requirements, election officials, and absentee ballot information. It lets you create an account and request an absentee ballot and track it. It has a section for overseas voters that caters to those in the military.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission offers information for voting and registration in many languages.

Many states now require voter identification for you to vote. The National Conference of State Legislatures has a complete list of requirements by state.