|
^Top Where can I register to vote?
Registration applications may be obtained from either the local election official in your county or city, or through registration outreach programs sponsored by such groups as the League of Women Voters. In addition, you can also register to vote when applying for a driver’s license or identity card at State DMV or driver's licensing offices, State offices providing public assistance, State offices providing State-funded programs for the disabled, and at armed forces recruitment offices.
Many States also offer registration opportunities at public libraries, post offices, unemployment offices, and at public high schools and universities. Colleges, universities, and trade schools participating in federal student loan programs also offer voter registration applications to enrolled students prior to general elections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Form?
The National Mail Voter Registration Form consists of four parts:
- The Application itself
- The General Applications
- The Application Instructions
- The State Instructions
Download the form: http://www.eac.gov/docs/nvra.pdf
^Top Can I register to vote in any State or the District of Columbia using the National Form?
Yes, with the following exceptions: North Dakota does not have voter registration; Wyoming, by State law, cannot accept the National Form; and New Hampshire town and city clerks will accept the National Form only as a request for their own mail-in absentee voter registration form.
^Top Can the Form be photocopied?
Yes. States that accept the national form will accept copies of the application printed from the computer image on regular paper stock, signed by the applicant, and mailed in a envelope with first class postage.
^Top Can my organization supply just the applications and simply provide the instructions separately as hand-outs or on posters?
Yes. As a money saving alternative to printing the entire National Mail Voter Registration Form, you may want to furnish a supply of only the voter registration applications either, printed on card stock according to the FEC specifications, or produced on 8.5' x 11’ regular weight paper. Be sure to include envelopes with the regular weight applications. The General and State Instructions could then either be photocopied and handed out with each application, or enlarged and posted at the registration site.
^Top I want to do a massive voter registration drive. How many of the National Forms can I get at one time?
The number of Voter Registration Forms distributed to a single organization is generally at the discretion of the chief State election official. Many States base the number of Forms distributed on the size of the target population of the proposed registration drive, method of distribution, number of individuals registered by the organization in any previous voter registration drive and a number of other variables. Organizations interested in conducting voter registration activities should remember that the voter registration forms are paid for from tax dollars and should plan to request a realistic number of forms to minimize wastage.
^Top Can my organization mail the completed Forms we receive in our registration drive, or do the individuals need to mail them personally?
If we can mail them, do they have to be individually stamped or can they be bundled? An organization may mail completed Voter Registration Applications to the appropriate election office(s) individually or in a bundle. The Department of Justice interprets the cost of first class postage to fall into the realm of "facilitating" voter registration, and not as an attempt to induce an individual to register to vote by giving something of value, which would be prohibited by the "vote buying" provisions of the Voting Rights Act.
State Voter Registration Deadlines
| Alabama |
Voter registration is closed during the ten days preceding an election. Applications must be postmarked or delivered by the eleventh day prior to the election. |
| Alaska |
30 days before the election. |
| Arizona |
29 days before the election. |
| Arkansas |
30 days before the election. |
| California |
15 days before the election. |
| Colorado |
29 days before the election. If the application is received in the mails without a postmark, it must be received within 5 days of the close of registration. |
| Connecticut |
14 days before the election. |
| Delaware |
20 days prior to the general election and 20 days prior to any primary election. |
| District of Columbia |
30 days before the election. |
| Florida |
29 days before the election. |
| Georgia |
The fifth Monday before any general primary, general election, or presidential preference primary, or regularly scheduled special election pursuant to the Georgia Election Code. In the event that a special election is scheduled on a date other that those dates prescribed by the Georgia Election Code, registration would close on the 5th day after the call. |
| Hawaii |
30 days before the election. |
| Idaho |
25 days before the election. |
| Illinois |
28 days prior to each election. |
| Indiana |
29 days before the election. |
| Iowa |
Must be delivered by 5 p.m. 10 days before the election, if it is a state primary or general election; 11 days before all others. Registration forms which are postmarked 15 or more days before an election are considered on time even if received after the deadline. |
| Kansas |
Delivered 15 days before the election. |
| Kentucky |
29 days before the election. |
| Louisiana |
30 days before the election. |
| Maine |
Delivered 10 business days before the election (or a voter may register in-person up to and including election day). |
| Maryland |
9:00 p.m. 21 days before the election. |
| Massachusetts |
20 days before the election. |
| Michigan |
30 days before the election. |
| Minnesota |
Delivered by 5:00 p.m. 21 days before the election (there is also election day registration at polling places). |
| Mississippi |
30 days before the election. |
| Missouri |
28 days before the election. |
| Montana |
30 days before the election. |
| Nebraska |
The third Friday before the election (or delivered by 6 p.m. on the second Friday before the election). |
| Nevada |
9:00 p.m. on the fifth Saturday before any primary or general election. 9:00 p.m. on the third Saturday before any recall or special election. However, if a recall or special election is held on the same day as a primary or general election, the registration closes at 9:00 p.m. on the fifth Saturday before the day for the elections. |
| New Hampshire |
New Hampshire town and city clerks will accept this application only as a request for their own absentee voter mail-in registration form, which must be received by your city or town clerk by 10 days before the election. |
| New Jersey |
29 days before the election. |
| New Mexico |
28 days before the election. |
| New York |
25 days before the election. |
| North Carolina |
Postmarked 25 days before the election or received in the elections office or designated voter registration agency site by 5:00 p.m. 25 days before the election. |
| North Dakota |
North Dakota does not have voter registration. |
| Ohio |
30 days before the election. |
| Oklahoma |
25 days before the election. |
| Oregon |
21 days before the election. |
| Pennsylvania |
30 days before an election or primary. |
| Rhode Island |
30 days before the election. |
| South Carolina |
30 days before the election. |
| South Dakota |
Received 15 days before the election. |
| Tennessee |
30 days before the election. |
| Texas |
30 days before the election. |
| Utah |
20 days before the election. |
| Vermont |
Delivered to the town clerk before 12:00 noon on the second Saturday before the election. |
| Virginia |
Delivered 29 days before the election. |
| Washington |
30 days before the election (or delivered in-person to the local voter registration office 15 days before the election). |
| West Virginia |
20 days before the election. |
| Wisconsin |
For municipalities where voter registration is required, 13 days before the election (or completed in the local voter registration office up to 5:00 pm. 1 day before the election, or completed at the polling place on election day). |
| Wyoming |
Wyoming by law, cannot accept this form unless State law is changed. |
|
