Every time you move to a new home – even within the same city – there is a long laundry list of places where you’ll need to update your address. As another election season approaches, it’s also essential to remember to update the address on your voter registration. Even if you just moved across town, changing your voter information will ensure you can cast your vote easily. If you move to a new state, you must re-register to vote. You can also change your voting information anytime if you change your name or political party affiliation.
Though voting is an essential part of life for many Americans, it can be confusing to know where to go to register or update your information before an election. Each state and territory has unique rules and policies for registering voters. We discovered in a recent study of 1,000 Americans that many young adults don’t know how to register to vote at all.
Note: All study participants were age 18 or older.
Our recent research revealed a significant gap between baby boomers and Gen Zers regarding knowing how to register to vote. Ninety percent of Boomers said they know how to register to vote, compared to just 63 percent of Generation Z, which is a 27-point difference. This means as many as one in three people aged 18-24 and one in four people 25-41 will not be voting in the 2022 midterms, partly because they do not know how to sign up to vote.
This difference could be significant for the future of many politicians, particularly Democrats, as Gen Z was the most enthusiastic generation in voting for President Joe Biden in 2020. Sixty-five percent of voters in that generation cast their ballots for the Democrat, 11 points more than any other generation. Any party wanting newly-eligible 18-year-olds to get out and vote should help them understand how to register well before elections.
Voter Registration Deadlines by State
If you’re eager to cast a ballot this November but aren’t sure how, we’ve got you covered. While going to a department of motor vehicles is the most common way Americans sign up to vote, it’s not the only way: most states allow you to register or update your registration online easily, by mail, or in person. Find your state in our table below to find out its voting registration deadlines and rules.
State registration website | Voter registration deadlines | Can you register or update online? | Can you register on Election Day? |
|---|---|---|---|
In Person: 15 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day. Online: 15 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: 30 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked at least 30 days before Election Day. Online: 30 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: 29 days before Election Day or on the next immediate business day if the deadline falls on a legal holiday or weekend. By Mail: Postmarked 29 days before Election Day and received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Online: 29 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then the deadline is the following day that’s not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then on the following day, which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. | No | No | |
In Person: 15 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day. Online: 15 days before Election Day. | Yes | If the voter registration deadline has passed, you can still conditionally register to vote and cast a provisional ballot in person at your County Elections Office on Election Day. | |
In Person: you can register up to and on Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 8 days before Election Day. Online: 8 days before Election Day. | Yes | You can register and cast a ballot up through Election Day by appearing in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center during the Early Voting period or on Election Day. | |
In Person: Register by noon on the last business day before Election Day of a primary election, or 7 days before a general Election Day. Connecticut also has Election Day registration on the Election Day of general elections. By Mail: Registration must be postmarked 5 days before Election Day of a primary election, or 7 days before Election Day of a general election. Online: Submit registrations at least 5 days before Election Day of a primary election, or 7 days before Election Day of a general election. | Yes | Yes. If the voter registration deadline has passed and you are not yet registered in CT, you can still register to vote and vote in person at a designated Election Day Registration office from 6am to 8pm during general elections. | |
In Person: Until polls close on Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked by the fourth Saturday before Election Day. Online: The fourth Saturday before Election Day. | Yes | Under new state law, you can register to vote in person up to the close of the polls on Election Day if you miss the deadline. | |
In Person: If you submit your application at the Board of Elections or another voter registration agency, your application should be received no later than the day before the start of the early voting period. If you miss the deadline, Same-Day Registration is available during Early Voting and on Election Day. By Mail: Received 21 days before Election Day. Online: 21 days before Election Day. | Yes | If you have missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time during early voting or on Election Day. Simply register and vote at your regular polling place or early voting site. Bring valid ID and proof of residency. | |
In Person: 28 days before Election Day. By Mail: Received or postmarked 28 days before Election Day. Online: 28 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: The fifth Monday before Election Day, unless that day is a legal holiday. Otherwise, the deadline is the close of business on the following day. By Mail: Postmarked the fifth Monday before Election Day. Online: The fifth Monday before Election Day, unless that day is a legal holiday, then the deadline is the close of business on the next day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: Election Day, though voters who register fewer than 10 days before Election Day may need to vote a provisional ballot. By Mail: Postmarked 10 days before Election Day, extended to the next business day if this falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Online: Election Day, though voters who register fewer than 10 days before Election Day may need to vote a provisional ballot. | Yes | Yes. If you have missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register to vote online any time on or before Election Day. You can also register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time on or before Election Day at a Voter Service Center in your county, starting 10 days before Election Day. | |
In Person: 25 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 25 days before Election Day. Online: 25 days before Election Day. | Yes | Yes: If you have missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time during early voting (if your county conducts early voting) or on Election Day. | |
In Person: Received 28 days before Election Day (If voters miss this deadline, they may also register during the registration grace period.) By Mail: Postmarked 28 days before Election Day. Online: Received 16 days before Election Day. | Yes | You can register in person and vote at your local elections office during the "grace period." The grace period starts 27 days before Election Day and ends on Election Day. Grace Period Voting does not occur at your regular polling place but at a local election office. | |
In Person: Received by close of business 29 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 29 days before Election Day. Online: 29 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: 15 days before Election Day. You can also register to vote in person during early voting or on Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day. Online: 15 days before Election Day. | Yes | You can register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time during early voting or on Election Day. Simply go to your regular polling place or early voting site to register and vote with ID and/or proof of residence. | |
In Person: 21 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day. Online: 21 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: 29 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 29 days before Election Day. Online: 29 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: 30 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day. Online: 20 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: Received by close of polls on Election Day. By Mail: Received by close of business 21 days before Election Day. | No | If you register to vote within 21 days of an election, including on Election Day, you must register in person at the municipal registrar. | |
In Person: 21 days before Election Day. You may also register with proof of address during early voting or on Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day. Online: 21 days before Election Day. | Yes | You can register to vote in person during early voting and on Election Day. You must bring a current and valid photo ID card and proof of address. You can register and vote during early voting at an early voting center or your assigned polling place on Election Day. | |
In Person: 10 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 10 days before Election Day. Online: 10 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: Any time up to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day at your city or township clerk's office. The voter registration deadline is 15 days before Election Day, if you submit an application form through a voter registration drive or deliver it to a county clerk or secretary of state office. By Mail: Postmarked 15 days before Election Day. Online: 15 days before Election Day. | Yes | If you have missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time during early voting or on Election Day at your city or township clerk's office (not at your polling location). | |
In Person: Election Day. By Mail: Received 21 days before Election Day. Online: 21 days before Election Day. | Yes | If you have missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time during the in-person absentee voting period or on Election Day. Simply go to your regular in-person absentee voting site (or your regular polling place) to register and vote. | |
In Person: 30 days before Election Day. If the 30th day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, then the in-person deadline is extended to the next regular business day. By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day. If the 30th day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, then the postmark deadline is extended to the next regular business day. | No | No | |
In Person: Received by the fourth Wednesday prior to Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked by the fourth Wednesday before Election Day. Online: Received by the fourth Wednesday before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: Noon, the day before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day and received 27 days before Election Day. | No | No | |
In Person: Received 11 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 18 days before Election Day; or, if the postmark is not readable, received 14 days before Election Day. Online: Received 18 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: 28 days before Election Day (or same-day registration during early voting or on Election Day). By Mail: Postmarked 28 days before Election Day. If you miss this deadline, you may be eligible to register during early voting or on Election Day. Online: 5 days before Election Day. | Yes | You may register to vote in person at the polling place either during early voting or on Election Day. You must show a valid Nevada driver’s license or identification card at the polls to vote. If the identification does not have your current address, you must also show proof of residency. | |
In Person: Election Day. Before Election Day, the last day to register is the last meeting of the Supervisors of the Checklist. The supervisors meet once, 6-13 days before Election Day. Check your town/city website, or call your clerk's office for the supervisor's meeting date, time, and location. By Mail: Received between 6 and 13 days before Election Day, depending on your town. | No | If you have missed the voter registration deadline, you can still register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time on Election Day. Simply register and vote at your regular polling place or early voting site. Voters should bring a valid photo ID to vote. Voters that do not bring a valid photo ID can execute a challenged voter affidavit form and will later receive a letter requesting confirmation they voted. | |
In Person: 21 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day. Online: 21 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: Through the Saturday before Election Day at the county clerk's office (or other location the county clerk authorizes). 28 days before Election Day otherwise. By Mail: Postmarked 28 days before Election Day. An application may be accepted through the Friday following the deadline if the application is postmarked before the deadline. Online: 28 days before Election Day. | Yes | New Mexico may offer same-day voter registration in 2022. To register before voting, you will need to bring one of the following: (1) a New Mexico driver’s license or New Mexico identification card (2) any document that contains an address in your county together with a photo identification card; or (3) a current valid student photo identification card from a post-secondary educational institution in New Mexico accompanied by a current student fee statement that contains the student’s address in the county. | |
In Person: 25 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 25 days before Election Day and received 20 days before Election Day. Online: 25 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: The Saturday before Election Day if voting early in person. (Otherwise 25 days before Election Day.) By Mail: Postmarked 25 days before Election Day. If the postmark is missing or unclear, the application will still be processed if it is received 20 days before Election Day. Online: 25 days before Election Day. | Yes | Same-day registration is generally only available during the early voting period, but not on Election Day. | |
Voter registration isn’t required in North Dakota. You just need to bring a valid, accepted form of ID when you go to the poll. | N/A | N/A | |
In Person: 30 days before Election Day, extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday or holiday. By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day, extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday or holiday. Online: 30 days before Election Day, but extended to the next business day if a Sunday or holiday. | Yes | No | |
In Person: 25 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 25 days before Election Day. | No | No | |
In Person: 21 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day. Online: 21 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: Received 15 days before Election Day. By Mail: Received 15 days before Election Day. Online: Received 15 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: 30 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day. Online: 30 days before Election Day. | Yes | You may register in person on Election Day 30at your local Board of Canvassers but only for Presidential elections. | |
In Person: 30 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day. The postmark deadline is extended to the next business day if this falls on a Sunday or holiday. Online: 30 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: 15 days before Election Day. By Mail: Received 15 days before Election Day. | No | No | |
In Person: 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, then the next business day. By Mail: Postmarked 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, then the next business day. Online: 30 days before Election Day. If this falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, then the next business day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: Received 30 days before Election Day. If that day is a weekend or national holiday, then must be received by the next business day. By Mail: Postmarked by 30 days before Election Day. If that day is a weekend or national holiday, then must be postmarked by the next business day. | No | No | |
In Person: Received 11 days before Election Day by the county clerk, but voters may also register during the early vote and on Election Day. However, voters must vote by provisional ballot if they register in person during early voting or on Election Day. By Mail: Received 11 days before Election Day. Online: Received 11 days before Election Day. | Yes | An individual not registered to vote may register and vote on Election Day or during the early voting period by voting a provisional ballot. | |
In Person: Election Day (you must show proof of residence to register at the polls on Election Day). By Mail: Received Election Day. However, if your application is received on Election Day, your application may not be processed and your name may not appear on the checklist and you may be asked to fill out another application at the polls. To be sure your name appears on the checklist, please register by the Friday before the election. Online: Election Day. To be sure your name appears on the checklist, please register by the Friday before the election. | Yes | You can register to vote on Election Day at your polling place. You must show proof of residence to register at the polls on Election Day. | |
In Person: Received by close of business 22 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 22 days before Election Day. Online: Received by 11:59 PM 22 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: Election Day. By Mail: Received 8 days before Election Day. Online: 8 days before Election Day | Yes | Individuals may register to vote in their county auditor's office, the division of elections if in a different city from the county auditor's office, a voting center, or other location designated by the county auditor in their county of residence no later than 8:00 pm on the day of the primary, special election, or general election. | |
In Person: 21 days before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked 21 days before Election Day. Online: 21 days before Election Day. | Yes | No | |
In Person: The Friday before Election Day. By Mail: Postmarked at least 20 days before Election Day. Online: 20 days before Election Day. | Yes | Individuals may register to vote at your polling place on Election Day. All individuals must provide both a proof of residency document and proof of identification to register on Election Day. | |
In Person: 14 days before Election Day. After this date, individuals may still register and vote absentee at the same time within those two weeks or at the polls on Election Day. By Mail: Received 14 days before Election Day. After this date, individuals may register to vote by mail if an absentee ballot request also accompanies their registration. | No | You may register to vote at the polls. |
Sources: U.S. Vote Foundation, Vote.org
If you live in one of the 24 states that allow voter registrations on Election Day, you’ll likely need to provide a valid, state-issued photo ID that includes your current address. If your ID doesn’t list your current address, you’ll probably need to bring another official document as proof of residency. In many cases, this could be a utility bill, lease, or a letter from a government office. Please see your state voting website above for full details on what type of identification and proof of residency you’ll need to provide.
Most states allow you to register to vote or update your voter information online. However, if you live in a state or territory that does not allow online registration, send your registration form by mail or deliver it in person well in advance of the deadline in case of any delays.
States with New Voter Registration Rules
Some people may not know how to register to vote because the rules and requirements can change often. In fact, several states have updated their voting laws this year, and some have revised their voter registration processes. If you live in one of these states, make sure you understand these changes and new registration requirements before casting your vote.
Arizona
State lawmakers passed a law in March 2022 that changes what documentation voters need to register. Under the new law, you must show proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in local, state, and federal elections. If you do not have documented proof of citizenship, you may vote only in federal elections, and you must use a special voter registration form. Those without citizenship documentation are also not allowed to vote by mail.
Election officials will verify applicants’ status using state and national databases, and applicants will need to present their citizenship documents. You can use your Arizona driver’s license, a U.S. passport, Indian Affairs ID card, U.S. naturalization documents, or a Tribal Certificate of Indian Blood to prove your citizenship.
According to another new law in Arizona, you can also register to vote through the Department of Fish and Game while applying for hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses.
Delaware
Voter registration in Delaware has gotten easier thanks to some new legislation. Delaware voters may register at any point up to and on Election Day. Previously, the registration deadline was the fourth Saturday before an election for primary and general elections and ten days before a special election. Additionally, if you register to vote by mail, it now needs to be received before the application deadline rather than just be postmarked by the deadline.
Louisiana
New law in Louisiana makes it easier for high school students to register to vote. Public and charter schools are required to allow high school seniors 17 or older to register to vote using school computers or printed and mailed forms.
Mississippi
Like Arizona, Mississippi now also verifies that new voter registrants are American citizens. When you register to vote, your citizenship will be cross-checked and verified using state and national databases.
Missouri
New state law in Missouri has changed the voter ID requirements for those registering to vote. Fewer forms of ID will be accepted for registration and voting. You must have a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID, to vote.
New Hampshire
This year, legislators created a new “affidavit ballot” for voters who don’t bring proper ID to the polls. This means voters can submit ballots on Election Day if they don’t have their ID, but they must send in a verification letter along with a copy of their valid ID within 10 days of the election for their vote to be counted. However, this will not go into effect until 2023.
Pennsylvania
New state law requires voters to show valid ID to get their ballots at the polls. Whether you have a photo ID or another type of ID, there are many types that you can use for voting:
- Pennsylvania driver’s license or PennDOT ID card
- ID issued by any Commonwealth agency
- ID issued by the U.S. Government
- U.S. passport
- U.S. Armed Forces ID
- Student ID
- Employee ID
- Confirmation issued by the County Voter Registration Office
- Non-photo ID issued by the Commonwealth
- Non-photo ID issued by the U.S. Government
- Firearm permit
- Current utility bill
- Current bank statement
- Current paycheck
- Government check
The law also says that individuals who don’t have any of these types of ID can receive one for free, though it does not say how.