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How to register to vote in United States, Where to register to vote in US, Am I registered to vote, Registered to vote ,Register vote ,Voter Registration 2016 US polls,How to register to vote 2016 US polls

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How to register to vote in United States, Where to register to vote in US, Am I registered to vote, Registered to vote ,Register vote ,Voter Registration 2016 US polls,How to register to vote 2016 US polls

United States requires citizens to individually register to vote in the jurisdictions of residence. Some states accept citizen registration at the county level. The only exception is North Dakota, although local jurisdictions in North Dakota may create voter registration requirements.In most U.S. states, citizens registering to vote may declare an affiliation with a political party. This declaration of affiliation does not require the citizen to be a dues-paying member of a party, and may be changed at any time; declaration of affiliation also does not oblige voters to actually cast a ballot for that party's candidate(s) in an election. In many states, only voters affiliated with a party may vote in that party's primary elections, which are then called closed primaries.

Voting Rules in the U.S. Are Different in Every State

Register to Vote

If you need to register to vote, visit Vote.USA.gov. Depending on your state’s voter registration rules, the site can help you

Start Your Voter Registration

Check or Update Your Voter Registration: How, When, Why

If You’ve Recently Registered to Vote

If you’ve recently submitted a voter registration application, wait a few weeks for your voter registration card to arrive in the mail.

  • If there’s a problem with your application, you will be notified.
  • If you don’t receive any response, check with your state or local election office.


How to Check or Update Your Registration Information

  • Check your registration information, including your name, address, and political party, online at Can I Vote.
  • You may be able to update your registration information at Can I Vote.
  • You may have to register to vote again to update your registration information.
  • Contact your state or local election office for other ways to verify and update your registration information.

 


First Time Voters

First time voters who didn’t register in person and haven’t previously provided proof of ID are required by federal law to show some form of identification.

 

Who Can and Who Can’t Vote
Who Can Vote?

You can vote in U.S. elections if you:

 

  • Are a U.S. citizen
  • Meet your state’s residency requirements

     

    • You can be homeless and still meet these requirements.
  • Are 18 years old on or before Election Day

     

    • You can register to vote before you turn 18 if you will be 18 by Election Day. Check your state’s registration age requirements.
  • Register to vote by your state’s voter registration deadline

     

    • The one exception is for residents of North Dakota, which doesn’t have voter registration.

Who CAN’T Vote?

  •  Non-citizens, including permanent legal residents
  • For President in the general election: U.S. citizens residing in U.S. territories
  • Some people with felony convictions. Rules vary by state. Check with your state elections office about the laws in your state.
  • Some people who are mentally incapacitated. Rules vary by state.

Whose Options Are Limited Due to Primaries, Caucuses or Political Party?

No one’s. In the general election, you can vote for any Presidential candidate on the ballot from any party:

  1. Whether you voted in your state’s primaries or caucuses or not   
  2. Regardless of who you voted for in the primaries or caucuses
  3. Regardless of whether you’re registered with a political party or not

If you miss the deadline for an absentee ballot

If you’re registered to vote but don’t receive your absentee ballot in time, you can still submit a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (pdf) on the FVAP website, or with assistance from a US embassy or consulate. If your regular absentee ballot arrives later, send it back still—the FWAB will only count if the regular ballot doesn’t reach the intended state’s office.

Or, of course, you can return to the US to vote in your state.

Voter Registration Age Requirements by State

State Earliest Age
Alabama 18 on or before next election
Alaska Be at least 18 years old or within 90 days of your 18th birthday
Arizona 18 on or before next General Election
Arkansas 18 on before before next election
California 18 on or before next election
Colorado 18 before next election
Connecticut Be at least 17 and turning 18 before Election Day
Delaware 18 before next election
District of Columbia Be at least 17 years old, and turn 18 years old on or before the date of the next general election
Florida You can pre-register at 16, but you have to be 18 to vote
Georgia At least 17 1/2 years of age to register and 18 to vote.
Hawaii You can pre-register at 16, but you have to be 18 by election day to vote
Idaho 18 on or before next election
Illinois (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) Must be at least 18 years of age by Election Day; 17 years of age to vote in a General Primary if individual will be 18 as of the following General Election.
Indiana Be at least 18 years of age on or before the next General or Municipal Election.
Iowa 6 months before 18th birthday
Kansas (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) Reached the age of 18 before the next election.
Kentucky (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) 18 on or before next election
Louisiana Must be 17 years old (16 years old if registering in person at the registrar of voters office or at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles), but must be 18 years old to vote.
Maine 18 by next General Election (note: you can vote at age 17 in a primary, if you'll be 18 by the next General Election)
Maryland You may register to vote if you are at least 16 years old but cannot vote unless you will be at least 18 years old by the next general election.
Massachusetts Be at least 18 years of age on or before the next election.
Michigan At least 18 years old by Election Day
Minnesota 18 on or before next election
Mississippi (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) 18 on or before next election
Missouri 17 ½ years of age to register, 18 years of age to vote
Montana 18 on or before next election
Nebraska (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) 18 years of age on or before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the current calendar year.
Nevada 18 on or before next election
New Hampshire 18 on or before next election
New Jersey 17 years of age to register, 18 years of age to vote
New Mexico 17 years of age to pre-register, 18 years of age to vote
New York 18 by end of calendar year that you register (note: you must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote).
North Carolina (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) 18 on or before next election
North Dakota No registration required. Must be at least 18 years old on the day of the election to vote.
Ohio Be at least 18 years old on or before the day of the general election.
Oklahoma 18 on or before next election
Oregon If you are 17 years of age, you will not receive a ballot until an election occurs on or after your 18th birthday.
Pennsylvania 18 on or before next election.
Rhode Island You can pre-register at 16, but you have to be 18 to vote
South Carolina 18 on or before next election
South Dakota 18 on or before next election
Tennessee 18 on or before next election
Texas Be at least 18 years old on election day.
Utah (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) You can preregister to vote if you are 16 or 17 years of age. Must be at least 18 years old on or before the next election to vote.
Vermont Must be 18 years old before election.
Virginia Be 18 years old (any person who is 17 years old and will be 18 years of age at the next general election shall be permitted to register in advance and also vote in any intervening primary or special election).
Washington 18 before next election.
West Virginia Must be 17 years old and 18 before the next general election. 17 year olds may register and vote in primary elections if they turn 18 before the next general election.
Wisconsin (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) Be at least 18 years of age on the day of the election to be eligible to vote. Persons who are otherwise eligible to vote may register to vote at 17 years of age if they will be 18 by the next election.
Wyoming 18 on or before next election.

Voter Registration Deadlines for the General Election by State

Find your state's voter registration deadlines for the Federal General Election—to be held on November 8, 2016—below. This page provides information taken from state election office websites as of October 14, 2016. This information can change due to holidays, natural disasters or other extensions applied in a state by state basis. We recommend contacting your local state election office to confirm. Or you can select your state name below to be taken directly to its election office website.

State Registration Deadline Election Day Registration
Alabama (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online- Oct 24
  • Mail-Oct 24
  • In Person- Oct 24
Not available. 
Alaska
  • Online- Oct 9
  • Mail- Oct 9
  • In Person- Oct 9
In a Presidential Election year, for November General Election only, you can register to vote on Election day.
Arizona (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online- Oct 10
  • Mail- Oct 8
  • In Person- Oct 10
 Not available. 
Arkansas (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online-  NA
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Oct 11
Not available. 
California
  • Online- Oct 24
  • Mail- Oct 24
  • In Person- Oct  24
 Not available.
Colorado (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online- Oct 31
  • Mail- Oct 31
  • In Person- Nov 8
You may also register in person on Election Day.
Connecticut (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online- Nov 1
  • Mail- Nov 1
  • In Person- Nov 1
You may also register in person on Election Day, but only at designated locations.
Delaware
  • Online- Oct 15
  • Mail- Oct 15
  • In Person- Oct 15
Not available. 
District of Columbia (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online – Oct 11
  • Mail – Oct 11
  • In Person – Nov 8
You may also register in person on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residency.
Florida
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- Oct 18
  • In Person- Oct 18
Not available.
Georgia
  • Online- Oct 11
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Oct 11
Not available.
Hawaii
  • Online – Oct 10
  • Mail- Oct 10
  • In Person – Oct 10
Late registration available in person from Oct 25 – Nov 5. 
Idaho
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- Oct 14
  • In Person- Nov 14
You may also register in person on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residency.
Illinois (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online- Oct 23
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Nov 8
You may also register in person at designated locations on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residency.
Indiana
  • Online- Oct 11
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Oct 1
Not available. 
Iowa (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online- Oct 29
  • Mail- Oct 24
  • In Person- Nov 8
You may also register in person on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residency and identification.
Kansas
  • Online- Oct 18
  • Mail- Oct 18
  • In Person- Oct 18
Not available. 
Kentucky
  • Online- Oct 11
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Oct 11
Not available. 
Louisiana
  • Online- Oct 11
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Oct 11
Not available. 
Maine
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- Oct 18
  • In Person- Nov 8
You may also register in person on or before Election Day.
Maryland
  • Online- Oct 18
  • Mail – Oct 18
  • In Person- Oct 18
*Same day registration is available during early voting period. 
Massachusetts
  • Online- Oct 19
  • Mail- Oct 19
  • In Person- Oct 19
Not available. 
Michigan (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- October 11
  • In Person- Oct 11
Not available. 
Minnesota
  • Online- Oct 18
  • Mail- Oct 18
  • In Person- Nov 8
You may also register in person on Election Day as long as you can provide proof of residency.
Mississippi (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- Oct 8
  • In Person- Oct 8
Not available. 
Missouri
  • Online- Oct 12
  • Mail- Oct 12
  • In Person- Oct 12
Not available.
Montana
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Nov 8
You may register in person at the county election office on Election Day.
Nebraska (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online- Oct 21
  • Mail- Oct 21
  • In Person- Oct 28
Not available. 
Nevada
  • Online- Oct 18
  • Mail- Oct 8
  • In Person- Oct 18
Not available. 
New Hampshire
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- Oct 29
  • In Person- Nov 8
You may register to vote on Election Day as long as the polls are open. 
New Jersey
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- Oct 18
  • In Person- Oct 18
Not available. 
New Mexico
  • Online- Oct 11
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Oct 11
Not available. 
New York
  • Online- Oct 14
  • Mail- Oct 14
  • In Person- Oct 14
Not available. 
North Carolina
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- Oct 14
  • In Person- Oct 14
Not available. 
North Dakota (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
Only state without voter registration. Learn about voting requirements in North Dakota. 
North Dakota is the only state without voter registration.
Ohio (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Oct 11
*You can register and vote the same day during the early voting period. 
Oklahoma
  • Online- Not available
  • Mail- Oct 14
  • In Person- Oct 14
Not available. 
Oregon
  • Online- Oct 18
  • Mail- Oct 18
  • In Person- Oct 18

Not available. 
Pennsylvania
  • Online- Oct 11
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Oct 11
Not available. 
Rhode Island
  • Online- Oct 9
  • Mail- Oct 9
  • In Person- Oct 9
You may register and vote for President/Vice-President only at your local Board of Canvassers on Election Day.
South Carolina
  • Online- Oct 9
  • Mail- Oct 11
  • In Person- Oct 8
Not available. 
South Dakota
  • Online – Not available
  • Mail- Oct 24
  • In Person-Oct 24
Not available. 
Tennessee
  • Online – Not available
  • Mail – Oct 11
  • In Person – Oct 11
Not available.
Texas
  • Online – Not available
  • Mail – Oct 11
  • In Person – Oct 11
Not available. 
Utah
  • Online – Nov 1
  • Mail – Oct 9
  • In Person – Nov 1
Not available.
Vermont
  • Online – Nov 2
  • Mail – Nov 2
  • In Person – Nov 2
Not available. 
Virginia
  • Online – Oct 17
  • Mail – Oct 17
  • In Person – Oct 17
Not available. 
Washington
  • Online – Oct 10
  • Mail – Oct 10
  • In Person – Oct 31
Not available. 
West Virginia
  • Online – Oct 18
  • Mail – Oct 18
  • In Person – Oct 18
Not available. 
Wisconsin
  • Online- Not availale
  • Mail – Oct 19
  • In Person – Nov 8
You may also register in person on Election Day.
Wyoming (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
  • Online – Not available
  • Mail – Oct 24
  • In Person – Nov 8
You may also register in person on Election Day.

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