USAGov is committed to informing and making sure members of the military, their families, and other Americans outside the U.S. don’t miss the chance to vote.
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:
Download the National Mail Voter Registration Form. You can fill it out onscreen and print the completed form, or print the blank form and fill it out by hand. Remember to sign the form before mailing it to the location listed for your state.
Find guidance for states and territories with different registration procedures.
State and county public assistance offices (SNAP/food stamps, WIC, services for the disabled), where you may fill out and submit a National Mail Voter Registration Form.
The National Mail Voter Registration Form, which you must print, complete, sign, and mail to the location listed for your state, is available in Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
Voter's guides, which include information on registering to vote, are available in Cherokee, Dakota, Navajo, and Yupik, as well as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
In all states except North Dakota, you must register before you can vote. Registration deadlines vary. Some states close registration 30 days before the election, while others allow voters to register up to and on Election Day.
Primaries and Caucuses
Find your state’s voter registration deadline for the Presidential primary elections.
Caucuses are run by the state’s political parties, not by the state election office. If your state holds Presidential caucuses rather than primaries, contact your state election office or the political party of your choice for complete information on participating, including voter registration requirements.
The Election Assistance Commission’s voter resources page provides a quick checklist to help ensure you meet your state’s voting requirements and have a seamless experience on Election Day.
It’s important to check and update your voter registration information before an election.
If your name or address has changed, you are required to update it.
If you want to participate in a Presidential primary, caucus or national convention, you may need to register with the political party of your choice.
The name and address you are registered under must match the voter ID (identification) card or document you plan to use at the polls. Voter ID requirements vary by state. Allow enough time to update your registration and obtain a new voter ID if necessary.
Voter Registration is by State
You must be registered in your state of legal residence. If you’ve changed states permanently, you must re-register in your new state.
You can’t be registered to vote in more than one place at a time. When you register to vote in a new location, you’ll be asked for your previous address. Your new election office will send a cancellation form to your previous election office.
If you’ll be temporarily away from home during the election, you can vote by absentee ballot with your state of legal residence. Examples of voters who’ve moved or are away temporarily include:
Military members stationed outside of their state of legal residence
Students attending college out of state
People on vacation or business trips
Check Your Registration Status and Information
If you don’t have your voter registration card, there are several other ways to make sure you’re registered and your information is accurate.
If you’ve recently submitted a voter registration application, you should receive a voter registration card within a few weeks. 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.
If your state has online voter registration, you can usually check your registration status and information online.
If you’re checking to see which political party you’re registered with, keep in mind that you may not be registered with any political party. This could be because:
Your state doesn’t accept party affiliations.
You didn’t indicate a party preference when you registered to vote.
You can register to vote and participate in general elections and nonpartisan primary elections without ever choosing a party affiliation.
To find out if you must register with a party to participate in Presidential primaries, caucuses, and national conventions, see item 7 of your state’s instructions in the National Mail Voter Registration Form.
Update Your Information
You can usually update your name, address, or political party online if your state has online voter registration.
In most cases, you can use the National Mail Voter Registration Form to update your name, address, or political party. A few states and territories require you to use their state or territory form.
Some states let you report a change of name or address by phone.
Two-thirds of states request or require that you provide some form of identification before you’re allowed to vote at the polls. The type of ID required, if any, depends on your state’s laws.
Photo ID versus Non-Photo ID
About half of the states with voter ID laws accept only photo IDs, such as driver’s licenses, state-issued ID cards, military ID cards, and passports. Many of these states now offer a free voter photo ID card if you don’t have another form of valid photo ID.
Other states accept certain types of non-photo IDs, such as birth certificates, Social Security cards, bank statements, and utility bills. Each state is specific about the documents it will accept as proof of identification. Be sure you know your state’s voter ID requirements prior to Election Day.
You should also be aware that legal challenges continue to affect some states’ voter ID laws, and requirements can change as a result. It’s always wise to check directly with your state election office to ensure you have the proper ID.
Procedures for Voting Without ID
Even if you don’t have a form of ID that your state asks for, you may be allowed to vote. But some states require you to take additional measures after you vote to make sure that your vote counts.
Some states may ask you to sign a form affirming your identity. Other states will let you cast a provisional ballot, which is used when there is a question regarding a voter's eligibility. In some states, election officials will investigate the voter’s eligibility and decide whether to count the vote.
Other states require that you return to an election office within a few days and show an acceptable form of ID. If you don’t, your vote won’t be counted.
Name or Address Mismatch
Even if you have a form of ID that your state accepts, you may be required to cast a provisional ballot if the name or address on your ID doesn’t match the name or address on your voter registration. This may happen, for example, if:
You get married, change your last name, update your voter registration but present a driver’s license with your unmarried name.
You move, present a current utility bill as proof of ID but forget to update your address on your voter registration beforehand.
Additionally, some states require you to notify your local registration office of any change in your name to remain a qualified registered voter.
You can avoid problems by always updating your voter registration whenever you move and if you change your name.
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.
Sometimes circumstances might make it difficult or impossible for you to vote on Election Day. But your state may allow you to cast your ballot during a designated early voting period.
Registered voters from every state can request an absentee ballot to vote. However, some states require an excuse to vote absentee.
Members of the United States military, their spouses, and eligible family members routinely request absentee ballots when stationed outside their state of permanent residence.
How do I vote when I am away from home?
You can vote by absentee ballot, which allows you to vote before the election.
You can return the ballot by mail to your local election officials.
Members of the military stationed overseas or outside their legal voting residence always have the right to vote absentee.
Military spouses and other eligible family members are also allowed to vote absentee, under the same law that protects the military member’s right to vote.
The majority of states have early voting, which allows registered voters to cast their ballot during a designated period prior to Election Day.
States with early voting do not require voters to submit an excuse explaining why they need to vote early.
Some states don’t have early voting, but do have in-person absentee voting, which may allow you to cast your vote early as well. But in-person absentee voting will require you to obtain an absentee ballot, and may require an excuse accepted by your state.
The designated time period for early or in-person absentee voting varies from state to state. The best place to check the timeframes and rules for early voting and in-person absentee voting is your state/territorial election office website.
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