How to register to vote

• ✺Registering to vote is the first step to participating in elections and having a say in who represents you.
• ✺Missing a registration deadline can mean being unable to vote in an upcoming election, even if you're otherwise eligible.
• ✺Keeping your registration updated after a move ensures you can vote without complications at your new polling location.

1. 1Visit Vote.gov to find your state's specific voter registration requirements and portal.
2. 2Check your state's registration deadline for the next election.
3. 3Gather any required information, such as a driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
4. 4Complete the registration online, by mail, or in person before the deadline.
5. 5Confirm your registration status with your state's election website, and update it if you move or change your name.

Voter registration

The process of signing up with your state's election system in order to be eligible to vote.

Residency requirement

A state's rule about how long or where you must live to register to vote there.

Same-day registration

A policy in some states allowing voters to register and vote on the same day, including Election Day.

Polling location

The specific place assigned to you, based on your address, for voting in person.

• ✗Assuming registration deadlines are the same in every state.
• ✗Forgetting to update your voter registration after moving to a new address.
• ✗Waiting until the last minute and missing a mail-in registration deadline due to mailing time.
• ✗Not checking registration status before an election, especially after a long period of not voting.

• !Registration rules, deadlines, and required documents vary by state — always check your specific state's requirements.
• !Some states allow same-day registration, while others require registering weeks in advance.
• !Many states let you register or pre-register before age 18, as long as you'll be 18 by the election.
• !If you have a past felony conviction, voting eligibility rules vary significantly by state, so it's worth checking your state's specific rules.

• Voter registration is managed by each state, with varying rules and deadlines.
• Vote.gov can direct you to your state's specific registration process.
• You can often register online, by mail, or in person.
• Update your registration after moving, changing your name, or changing party affiliation where relevant.

Totally optional. Nobody's grading you.

1. 1.Visit Vote.gov to check your voter registration status or register for the first time.
2. 2.Note your state's registration deadline for the next upcoming election.

Related lessons:

• Important documents to keep
• What jury duty is
• How government benefits work

• Register to vote
  Vote.gov (U.S. General Services Administration)(opens in a new tab)
• Voting and elections
  USA.gov(opens in a new tab)