Here's how to register to vote in every U.S. state
LatestNo matter how you feel about the 2016 election—whether you’re #WithHer or hoping to Make America Great Again—you can’t do much to calm your nerves unless you’re registered to vote.
The election in November might be the most important election of your lifetime, and voter registration drives by both parties—plus some third-party efforts, like those of Planned Parenthood—have been signing up millions of new voters to take part in the historic showdown between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
But voting isn’t as simple as showing up on Election Day. Each state handles voter registration differently, and some states’ processes are simpler than others. To make it easier for you, we’ve put together this state-by-state breakdown of how to register to vote. (Since each state also has its own restrictions on who can and can’t vote, you will need to find out if you meet the legal requirements to vote in your state before signing up.)
Alabama
Deadline: October 24
Online: Alabama lets you register online, if you haven’t already.
Mail: Download the registration form or call 1-800-274-8683 to have one sent to you. Fill out the form and mail to your local county board of registrars (who have forms on hand if you visit) by the Oct. 24 deadline.
Alaska
Deadline: October 9
Online: Register online if you are not already registered.
Mail: Download the form or call (866) 952-8683 to have one sent to you. Mail, fax, or scan and email the completed form to the nearest elections office by the Oct. 9 deadline.
In Person: The regional elections offices will have the forms available as do Alaska Division of Motor Vehicle offices, certain public libraries, and many other government offices.
Arizona
Deadline: October 10
Online: If you haven’t already done so, you can register here. Forms are available in both English and Spanish.
Mail: Download and print out the completed form and send to the local county recorder. You may also request a form from the same office or pick one up in person.
Arkansas
Deadline: October 10
Online: None
Mail: Download and print the registration form, request a form online, or call 1-800-482-1127 to request a form. Send to your county clerk.
In person: All county clerks’ offices have the physical form available to pick up and drop off. The State Revenue Office, Driver Services Office, public libraries, Arkansas State Library, public assistance and disability assistance agency offices, military recruiter offices, and the Arkansas National Guard all have the forms as well.
California
Deadline: October 24
Online: You can register online, if you haven’t already. You’ll need several pieces of ID or other information, including a driver’s license or state ID, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and your date of birth.
Mail: Call your local elections office or 1-800-345-VOTE to have a form sent to you. Mail the completed form to the elections office in your county.
In person: You can pick up the form at an elections office, and branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and most post offices, public libraries, and other government offices.
Colorado
Deadline: October 17 (third-party registration drives), October 31 (online and mail), November 8 (in person)
Online: You can register here if you haven’t already.
Mail: Download the form or call your county clerk and recorder to have one mailed to you. Send the completed form to:
Colorado Department of State
Elections Division
1700 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80290
You may also mail or scan and email the completed form to the county clerk and recorder.
In person: Clerk and recorder offices have the form, as do DMV locations, public assistance offices, and military recruitment centers. Voter service and polling centers will be up and accepting in-person registration between Oct. 28 and Election Day.
Connecticut
Deadline: November 1 (online and mail), November 8 (in person)
Online: If your signature is on file with the DMV, you can register online if you haven’t already.
Mail: Download the form or pick one up at a registrar’s office, public or disability assistance office, or public library. It must be postmarked or received by any of those offices by the deadline.
In person: If you miss the first deadline, you can register at an Election Day registration center.
Delaware
Deadline: October 15
Online: Using your license or Social Security number, you can register online if you haven’t already.
Mail: Download the form or request one from the Department of Elections at (302) 577-3464. Return the completed form, postmarked or dropped off before the deadline, to:
Delaware Department of Elections, New Castle County Office
Carvel State Office Building
820 N. French Street, Suite 400
Wilmington, DE 19801-3531
In person: The form can be picked up at the Department of Elections, any DMV office (and can be done when applying for, renewing, or updating your Driver’s License or State ID), various State Service Centers such as the Department of Health and Social Services, and many other government offices. Drop it off at the Department of Elections office at the address above.
Florida
Deadline: October 11
Online: No way to register online, but you can check if you are already registered here.
Mail: Download the registration application and mail to
The Florida Division of Elections which is located at:
Room 316, R.A. Gray Building
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
It can also be mailed or submitted in person to any county supervisor of elections, the DMV, tax collectors offices that issue driver’s licenses or state IDs, voter registration agencies, disability assistance agencies, military recruitment centers, and public libraries.
Georgia
Deadline: October 11
Online: If your signature is on file with the Department of Driver Services, you can register online if you haven’t already.
Mail: Download the form and return it to the Secretary of State:
Hon. Brian P. Kemp
Secretary of State
State of Georgia
P.O. Box 105325
Atlanta, GA 30348-9562
In person: Pick up the form at the county board of registrars office, an election office, any state or governmental office such as a public library, public school, county or municipal clerk’s office, and government revenue offices. You can return it to those places or to the Secretary of State’s address above.
Hawaii
Deadline: October 10
Online: You can register online and you can call (808) 435-VOTE to see if you already are registered.
Mail: Download and print the form before sending to your county clerk.
In person: Download the form or pick it up at any of the following locations: the state Office of Elections, County Clerk’s Offices, state libraries, USPS locations, state agencies, or satellite city halls. It must be returned to the county clerk or the Hawaii Office of Elections at:
802 Lehua Avenue
Pearl City, Hawaii 96782
Idaho
Deadline: October 14 (see In Person section)
Online: There is no way to register online, but you can check your registration status here.
Mail: Download and print the form or email [email protected] to have one sent to you. Send to the county clerk.
In person: Pick up a form at the county clerk. You can also register in person on election day or at early voting locations between Oct. 24 and Nov. 4 if you have valid ID and a document with your address on it.
Illinois
Deadline: October 11 (mail), October 23 (online), November 8 (in person)
Online: Register online if you are not already registered to vote.
Mail: Get the form online and return to your county board of elections of board of election commissioners or mail to:
Illinois State Board of Elections
2329 S. MacArthur Blvd.
Springfield, IL 62704
In person: You can pick up a registration form at a board of elections office, a county clerk, board of election commissioners office, who will accept it as well. Contact any of those offices to see where you can register on Election Day.
Indiana
Deadline: October 11
Online: If you are not already registered, you can do so here.
Mail: Download the form or call 1-800-622-4941 to have one sent to you. Mail the completed form to the county voter registration office or to:
Indiana Election Division
302 West Washington Street, Room E204
Indianapolis, IN 46204
In person: The form can be picked up at the Election Division, county voter registration office, Bureau of More Vehicle license branches, public libraries, and public assistance offices. They can be returned to the voter registration office.
Iowa
Deadline: October 24 (mail), October 29 (online or in person)
Online: You can register online if you haven’t already.
Mail: Download the form and send the completed version to the county auditor.
In person: Pick up the form at the county auditor, DMV or any Treasurer’s office that issues driver’s licenses. Return it to the county auditor or the government office from where you picked up the form.
Kansas
Deadline: October 18
Online: Register online here if you are not already registered. You will have to submit (mail, fax, upload, or email) documentation to prove your U.S. citizenship.
Mail: Download the form or call 1-800-766-3777 to have one sent to you. Return, along with proof of citizenship to the county elections office.
In person: The form can be picked up at and returned to the county elections office.
Kentucky
Deadline: October 11
Online: Register online if you’re not already registered.
Mail: Download the form and return it to the county clerk’s office or to:
State Board of Elections
140 Walnut Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
In person: Pick up and drop off the form at the county clerk.
Louisiana
Deadline: October 11
Online: Register online here if you’re not already registered.
Mail: Download the form and send it to your local parish’s Registrar of Voters.
In person: Pick up and drop off the form at any parish’s Registrar of Voters, Office of Motor Vehicles, Department of Children and Family Services, public assistance agency administration or provider, disability assistance, or military recruitment location.
Maine
Deadline: October 18 (mail), November 8 (in person)
Online: There is no way to register online, but you can call (207) 624-7650 or your registrar to see if you already are.
Mail: Download the application and return to your registrar or to:
Maine Division of Elections
101 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0101
In person: The voter registration form is available at any municipal clerk and registrar, the Department of the Secretary of State, the Bureau of Corporations Elections and Commissions, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, any Maine state agency providing public assistance, Military recruitment offices, and public high schools. Proof of identity and residency is needed when registering in person. On Election Day, you can register by appearing before the registrar.
Maryland
Deadline: October 18 (online and mail), November 3 (in person)
Online: You can register here if you haven’t already.
Mail: Download the form, or call the local or state Board of Elections at 410-269-2840 to request one. Return it to the local Board of Elections or to:
Maryland State Board of Elections
P.O. Box 6486
Annapolis, Maryland 21401-0486
In person: The application can be picked up at many government offices in the state. Between Oct. 27 and Nov. 3, you can register at an early voting center in your county.
Massachusetts
Deadline: October 19
Online: Register online. Find out if you’re already registered here.
Mail: Download the form and return to the election official in your area.
In person: Pick up and submit the form at any city or town clerk’s office, the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Election Division office, the DMV, any military recruiter, and all public assistance agencies.
Michigan
Deadline: October 11
Online: There is no way to register online, but you can check if you are already registered here.
Mail: Download the form and send to your local clerk.
In person: The form is available at Secretary of State branches, county, city, or township clerk’s offices, several state agency offices like Human Services, Community Health, and Labor and Economic Growth, as well as all military recruitment centers. You can return the form to your local clerk.
Minnesota
Deadline: October 18
Online: Register online (with a valid email address) here if you are not already registered.
Mail: Download the form or request one from your county election office. It must be sent and received by 5pm on Oct. 18 at:
Secretary of State
60 Empire Drive
Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55103
In person: You can pick up and submit the form at your county election office. You may also drop the completed form off in person at the Secretary of State address above. If you can prove residency, you can also register to vote on Election Day at your poll location.
Mississippi
Deadline: October 8
Online: There is no way to do so, but you can call your county election office to check if you are already registered.
Mail: Download the application here or call 1-800-829-6786 to request one be sent to you. It must be sent to your county election office and postmarked by the deadline.
In person: Pick up and mail the completed form to your county election office by noon on October 8.
Missouri
Deadline: October 12
Online: There is no way to register online but you can check if you are already registered to vote here.
Mail: Download the form here, or call the Elections Division at 1-800-669-8683 to request a form. Return to your county clerk.
In person: The application form is available for pick up and submission at your local county clerk.
Montana
Deadline: October 11 (mail), November 8 (in person)
Online: There is no way to register online, but you can check your status here.
Mail: Download the form or request one from your county election office. Return to the county election office.
In person: You can pick up the form from a county election office anytime before November 7, but it must be submitted by noon that day. On Election Day, you can register at your polling place.
Nebraska
Deadline: October 21 (online and mail), October 28 (in person)
Online: You can register to vote here and check to see if you have already registered here.
Mail: Download and print the form or contact the county election office to have one sent to you. Return to the election office.
In person: You can also pick up a form at the county election office and drop it off there as well.
Nevada
Deadline: October 8 (mail), October 18 (online and in person)
Online: Register here if you have not already done so.
Mail: Complete and print out the application online before printing or request one from your county election office. Mail the finished application to that election office.
In person: Forms are available for pick up and submission at every county election office.
New Hampshire
Deadline: October 29 (mail), November 8 (in person)
Online: You cannot register to vote online, but you can check your registration status here.
Mail: People who are temporarily absent from the state and those who have a disability preventing them from registering in person can mail a registration form to the county or town clerk after requesting one.
In person: Forms can be picked up and submitted in person to the city or town clerk’s office, at specific local Supervisors of the Checklist meetings, and at polling locations on Election Day.
New Jersey
Deadline: October 18
Online: You may not register to vote online, but can check your registration status here.
Mail: Download the form or contact your county commissioner of registration or Superintendent of Elections to request one. Send it back to them.
In person: You may also pick up and submit the form to those same offices.
New Mexico
Deadline: October 11
Online: You can register online if you haven’t already.
Mail: Download the form and send the completed version to the county clerk’s office.
In person: You can pick on up at the county clerk or DMV. It must be signed and dated by Oct.11 but can be handed in until Oct. 14.
New York
Deadline: October 14
Online: Register here, unless you’re already registered to vote.
Mail: Download the form or call 1-800-FOR-VOTE to receive a form by mail. Return to the county board of elections.
In person: You can pick up and submit the application at your county board of elections.
North Carolina
Deadline: October 14
Online: You cannot register online, but you can check if you’ve previously registered here.
Mail: Download the form or call (919) 733-7173 to request one. Applications postmarked by Oct. 14 can be sent to the county board of elections if received by Oct. 19. Fax or email your form to the board by 5pm on Oct. 14.
In person: You can pick up and return your forms by 5pm on Oct. 14 at your local board of elections, the DMV, Social Services, Public Health, and other public assistance agencies.
North Dakota
Residents of North Dakota do not need to register to vote. On Election Day, if you have valid ID, you can vote if: you are a U.S. citizen, are at least 18 on November 8, 2016, have had a North Dakota address since at least Oct. 9, are not currently imprisoned on a felony conviction, and are not currently seen as mentally incompetent by a court.
Ohio
Deadline: October 11
Online: You cannot register to vote online, but you can check if you are already registered here.
Mail: Download the form or call 1-877-767-6446 to have one sent to you. Mail to your local Board of Elections or to:
Secretary of State of Ohio
Elections Division
180 E. Broad Street – 15th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
In person: Pick up and submit the form at the Board of Elections, any bureau of motor vehicles or county treasurer’s office, or public library.
Oklahoma
Deadline: October 14
Online: There’s no registration through the internet, but you can check to see if you’ve already registered here.
Mail: Download the form or call (405) 521-2391 to request one. Mail to:
Oklahoma State Election Board
P.O. Box 528800
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-8800
In person: Applications can be picked up at the county board of elections, any BMV office, any public library, or any post office. Return to the board of elections.
Oregon
Deadline: October 18
Online: Register here unless you already have.
Mail: Download the form or call (503) 986-1518 to have one sent to you. Return to your local county elections office (addresses found on the second page of the form).
In person: Forms can be picked up from your local elections official, and any public library or post office. Drop off completed applications with the county elections office.
Pennsylvania
Deadline: October 11
Online: Register here unless already registered.
Mail: Download a form or email your full name and address to [email protected] to have one sent to you. Send to the county voter registration office.
In person: Pick up and submit forms at the county elections office.
Rhode Island
Deadline: October 9
Online: Check to see if you’re already registered here, otherwise do so here.
Mail: Download the form or contact the local board of canvassers to request one. Mail back to the board at the address on the form.
In person: You can pick up and drop off the form at the board of canvassers as well.
South Carolina
Deadline: October 8
Online: You can register online as long as your address is current with the DMV. You can check if you’re already registered here.
Mail: Download the application or have the county elections office send it to you. Send completed form to your county voter registration office.
In person: You can pick up and drop off forms at the voter registration office, too.
South Dakota
Deadline: October 24
Online: You can’t register online, but you can check if you’ve already registered here.
Mail: Download the form and return it to the county auditor.
In person: Pick up and submit the form at the county auditor or a municipal finance office.
Tennessee
Deadline: October 11
Online: You cannot register online, but you can see if you’ve already registered.
Mail: Download the form or call (877) 850-4959 to receive one. Send to your county elections office.
In person: Your county elections office has the forms, pick up and drop off there.
Texas
Deadline: October 11
Online: No online registration, but prior registration can be checked here.
Mail: Complete the form online or request for one to be sent to you. Mail to the nearest voter registrar’s office.
In person: Pick up the form at your county voter registrar’s office or at libraries, government offices, and high schools. Return to the voter registrar.
Utah
Deadline: October 9 (mail), November 1 (online or in person)
Online: register online if you’re not already registered.
Mail: Get the form online or call (801) 983-0275 to have one sent to you. Send it to your county clerk.
In person: You can pick up and submit an application at your county clerk, too.
Vermont
Deadline: November 2
Online: Register online with your license or Social Security number here. Check if you’re already registered here.
Mail: Download the form or call 1-800-439-8683 (inside Vermont) or 1-802-828-2464 (outside Vermont) to get one sent to you. Mail to you town or city clerk’s office.
In person: You can pick up and drop off forms at your nearest clerk’s office, too.
Virginia
Deadline: October 17
Online: Register online here if you haven’t already.
Mail: Download the form or call 1-800-552-9745 to receive one. Mail to your local voter registration office or to:
Department of Elections
1100 Bank Street, First Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
In person: Pick up the form at the voter registration office, the DMV, or military recruitment centers. Drop off with the voter registration office.
Washington
Deadline: October 10 (online and mail), October 31 (in person)
Online: Register here if you haven’t already.
Mail: Download the form or request one on this site or by calling (360) 902-4180. Mail to your county elections office or to:
Washington State Elections Division
PO Box 40229
Olympia, WA 98504-0229
In person: Pick up the form at your county election office or the DMV. You can drop off the form at your election office.
Washington, D.C.
Deadline: October 8 (in person, with some exceptions—see below), October 11 (online and mail)
Online: Register here, check prior registration here.
Mail: Download the form or call 202) 727-2525 to have on sent over. Mail to:
District Board of Elections and Ethics
441 4th Street NW, Suite 250 North
Washington, DC 20001
In person: Pick up and drop off at board of elections (address above), the DMV, or the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. You can also drop the form off at early voting locations from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5, at the Board of Elections by Nov. 7, or at your polling place on Election Day as long as you have valid ID, a utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck.
West Virginia
Deadline: October 18
Online: Register online here unless you already did.
Mail: Download the application or request it by calling (866) 767-8683. Send to your county clerk.
In person: Pick up a form at the county clerk, the DMV, or an armed services recruitment center. Return the completed version to the county clerk.
Wisconsin
Deadline: October 19 (mail), November 8 (in person)
Online: You cannot register to vote online, but you can check if you’re already registered here.
Mail: Get the form online or by calling (866) 868-3947 to ask for one. Send the form, and a copy of your valid ID, to a municipal clerk’s office.
In person: Pick up a form at the municipal clerk, the DMV, or a military recruiter. Return and bring valid ID to your municipal clerk by Nov. 4 or to your polling location on Election Day.
Wyoming
Deadline: October 25 (mail), November 8 (in person)
Online: You can’t register or check if you’re already registered online. Call your county clerk instead.
Mail: Download the form or have one sent by calling (307) 777-5860. Mail back to the county clerk with a copy of your ID.
In person: Pick it up and submit to your county clerk by Oct. 25. You may also register to vote at your polling place on Election Day or when declaring to vote by in-person absentee at your county clerk between Oct. 26 and Nov. 7.
David Matthews operates the Wayback Machine on Fusion.net—hop on. Got a tip? Email him: [email protected]