Who can vote? Who can’t? Voter registration rules, dates and deadlines

Federal law dictates that only U.S. citizen’s can vote in election, who must also be 18 years old on or before Election Day.

Each state makes its own voting and election rules, including when and how to register. Vote.gov gives full detailed information state by state, explaining exactly what steps you need to follow.

The quickest and easiest way to register is online. This service is available in 42 states and Washington, D.C. You can find direct links to the registration site for them in this table. North Dakota does not require voter registration.

With this link you can find a comprehensive list of registration deadlines by state.

What if I can’t register online?

Then you need to download the National Voter Registration Form. It’s available here in 21 languages with an easy to follow guide about how to fill it out.

You can fill it out on screen 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.

You’ll also find the address to send the completed form for each state clearly marked.

Registering in person

You can also register in person with your state or local election office.

You may also be able to register at one of these nearby public facilities. Check with the actual location first: the department of motor vehicles, armed forces recruitment centers, and state and county public assistance offices such as SNAP/food stamps and WIC.