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What Are the 4 Simple Steps of Voting?Step 1: Register to vote. You can do so by clicking the "Register to Vote" banners on the left side of the screen.
Step 2: Find out where to vote. You'll receive your polling place information in the mail after you register. Polling places can change at the last minute, so be sure to double-check it right before Election Day. Visit Where Do I Vote? tab for more information.
Step 3: Become an educated voter. Do through research to learn more about the candidates and issues that are important to you. Check back periodically as we provide links to sites that can provide detailed information.
Step 4: Mark your calendar for the upcoming election day and VOTE!
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Am I eligible to vote?According to the Federal Election Commission, you must:
- Be a citizen of the United States
- Be a resident of the state in which you're planning to register (If you just moved to a new state for school, click here to find out more about absentee voting.)
- Be at least 18-years-old at the time of the next election
Most states require a person to be 18 at least 30 days before the next election. Click here for your state's information to see if you'll be eligible.)
In addition, most states have the following two requirements. You must:
- Not be imprisoned or on parole for the conviction or a felony
- Not currently be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law
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How do I register to vote? And when?Before you can vote, you have to register to vote (except in North Dakota). Each state has a different deadline for voter registration, but in most states, you need to register at least 30 days before the election.
Simply Click Here to register to vote. Follow the directions for completing the form and then mail it to the address that's listed for your state's chief election official. Remember that this form is for use by people who live in or have an address within the United States. (So, if you just moved away to college, you need to be a resident (have a lease, energy bill, etc.) in order to register to vote in that state.
Also, if you are registering to vote for the first time, you must include a photocopy of a government-issued ID with your photo and address on it (a driver's license or U.S. passport will work). (If you don't have a driver's license, you can call your local election official to find out what other forms of ID will work.) This photocopy must be mailed along with your completed and signed voter registration form to your state's election office (the address already on the form).
A few states do not accept MAIL-IN voter registration forms, which means that you must register in person. The states that don't accept mailed-in voter registration forms include: New Hampshire (will only accept a mailed-in form as a request for its own absentee voter registration form) and Wyoming.
Click here to find out the voter registration deadlines and first vote rules for your state.
Make sure you understand the rules for your state. Some states have same-day registration while some states require your first vote to be in person. Click here to see the latest on your states rules to make sure your vote counts in the upcoming election!
Don't forget your ID: If you register for the first time in a state by mail, you must present ID at the polls. Just keep that photo ID with you when you go to vote, because you just might need it. -
I just moved away to go to college, how do I vote here?If you just moved to a new county or state for college, don't worry, you can still vote in the upcoming election. You just have to do things a little differently... If you're a resident of the town you live in (have a lease, utility bill in your name, etc.) you can register and vote where you currently live. If you live in on-campus housing you most likely still have residency in your home state (the address on your driver's license or ID card) and you can vote absentee. See below for more information on absentee voting. It's easy!
A little about voting and living on campus:
- If you live in a dorm with a school mailbox address or get your mail at a Post Office Box address you need to do things a little differently. If you receive mail in a Post Office box you can sign an affidavit or get a letter from your college's Residential Life office, asserting that you live at your dorm address.
- If you have a Post Office Box as your permanent address, your voter registration form will not be processed. There is a section on the voter registration form to put your mailing address, in addition to your physical address.
In both cases you can also register to vote absentee using your home state address. It's easy to vote absentee!
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Once I register for the first time, do I have to do it again?You must re-register (complete the whole form all over again), or provide a written note to your election official, every time you move or change addresses; make sure you register in the state in which you are a resident. You must also re-register or provide a written note to your election official if you change your name.
