Get Registered & Know How to Vote

Being eligible isn't enough. You have to be registered, and every state does it differently.

1Check

Find out whether you are already registered at your current address. Moving, changing your name, or years without voting can drop you from the rolls. Pick your state below and go straight to your state's own election office to check.

2Register or update

Pick your state below to see how to register there: online, by mail or in person, what ID or proof you may need, and where to find your exact deadline.

3Know how you'll vote

Early voting, mail ballots, and what ID to bring to the polls are all set by your state. Know your options before Election Day.

Select Your State

Or Choose from the List

Rules change. Registration, ID and proof-of-citizenship laws are being updated and challenged in court in several states. Always confirm the details, and your exact dates, with your state's official election office before you rely on them.

Your situation

First-time or young voter

Pre-registering at 16 or 17 and what to expect the first time.

Naturalized citizen

Registering after you become a citizen, and what to bring.

Just moved

Update your address so you are not dropped from the rolls.

Name change or marriage

Keep your name matching across your ID and registration.

College student

Home address or school address? Which is right for you.

Military or overseas

Past conviction

Find out whether your right to vote was restored.

No ID or no fixed address

Options if you lack a license or a home address.

Missing a birth certificate, marriage record or other document?

Our Gather Documents section shows how to get vital records in every state, so you can prove who you are and that you are eligible.

Gather Documents