How to Register to Vote in the United States

You register to vote in the United States through your state or territory's election office, and vote.gov is the official starting point that directs you to the right rules for where you live. Most people need a driver's licence or state ID, though other documents may be accepted.

• A driver's licence or a state ID, in most cases.
• If you do not have either of those, other documentation may be accepted, such as a bank statement or a utility bill. Check with your state's election office to find out what they accept.
• Access to a printer and a postage stamp, if you register by mail.
• A signature on file with the relevant state agency, if you register online in some states.

1. Go to vote.gov and select your state or territory.
2. Follow the instructions shown for your state. Depending on its rules, you will find how to register online, by mail, or in person at your local election office.
3. If you register online, complete the state's online voter registration system. Some states require a driver's licence or state ID and a signature already on file with the motor vehicles agency.
4. If you register by mail, 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.
5. Sign the form, then mail it to the location listed for your state.
6. If you prefer to register in person, check with local government offices to see if you can. Options include your department of motor vehicles office and state and county public assistance offices such as SNAP or TANF offices.
7. If you are a U.S. citizen living outside the U.S., a service member stationed abroad, or the spouse or eligible family member of a service member stationed abroad, use the Federal Voting Assistance Program to register and request an absentee ballot.

Each state and territory administers elections differently, so the rules, documents and timelines that apply to you come from your state, not from a single national set of rules. The Election Assistance Commission provides summary information pulled from state websites, but voters must verify that information through the linked state and local sources to ensure registration details and timelines are up to date.

Registration deadlines are set by each state. As one example, Oklahoma accepts voter registration applications at any time, but they must be received at least 25 days before an election to participate in that election. Massachusetts, by contrast, has an online, mail-in and in-person registration deadline of 10 days before Election Day, and its mail-in form must be postmarked 10 days before Election Day. Because these dates differ, check your own state's election office for the deadline that applies to you.

Eligibility also varies. In Oklahoma, you can register if you are a U.S. citizen, a resident of the state, and at least 18 years old, or you can pre-register from age 17 and a half. In Massachusetts, you must be a U.S. citizen, a Massachusetts resident, and at least 16 years old to pre-register, though you must be 18 to vote. Your eligibility to vote after a felony conviction can be different from state to state.

In Oklahoma, for example, you receive a letter explaining why the application was not approved and the steps you need to take, which may mean returning the letter with additional information or submitting a new application.

Can I register online? It depends on your state. Vote.gov will show you whether online registration is available where you live, and some states require a driver's licence or state ID and a signature on file.

What documents do I need? The required documents vary by state. In most cases you will need either a driver's licence or a state ID, but if you do not have either, you may be able to provide other documentation such as a bank statement or utility bill.

Can I register by mail? Yes. You can download the National Mail Voter Registration Form, fill it out onscreen and print it, or print the blank form and fill it out by hand. Remember to sign it before mailing it to the location listed for your state.

Can I register in person? Possibly. Check with local government offices to see if you can register in person, including your department of motor vehicles office and state and county public assistance offices such as SNAP or TANF offices.

I am a U.S. citizen living abroad or a service member stationed abroad. How do I register? Use the Federal Voting Assistance Program, which lets you register to vote and request an absentee ballot. It also covers the spouse or eligible family member of a service member stationed abroad.