Requirements to be able to vote in the United States:
​​
​
​
Must be a US citizen to be able to vote in federal, state, and local elections
-
US citizens living outside of the United States can vote abroad via mail, email, etc (varies by state)
-
US citizens who were born abroad and have never lived in the US, eligibility is based on the state where their parents last lived or were registered to vote. The following states allow to vote absentee: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
-
Dual citizens living in the US or elsewhere can vote
-
Must meet the state’s residency requirements
-
Homeless people can still meet these requirements
-
Must be 18 years of age or older on or before election day
-
Must be registered to vote by their state’s voter registration deadline
-
Use this site to select your state and figure out when you must register by: https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-deadlines/
​
​
People who are not able to vote in the United States:
​
​
-
Non-citizens are not allowed to vote in federal, state, and most local elections
-
Some people cannot vote after being convicted of a felony or if they are currently serving time for other crimes. The rules regarding this vary by state.
-
People with certain mental disabilities are not able to vote. Rules vary by state.
-
US citizens in US territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands) cannot vote in the presidential general election
How to register to vote (Online, By-Mail, and In-Person):
Assuming this unregistered citizen meets the requirements above, they should follow the steps below:
Online Voting Registration:
-
First, click on this site, and select the state that you are currently residing in: https://vote.gov/register
-
Then, check your registration by clicking on your state’s election website.
-
Once on that page, follow the instructions until you complete them.
-
The screen should look something like this, depending on the state:
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
-
After all steps are completed, registration is complete.
-
If registration status needs to be updated, use your state’s website.
​
Voting Registration By Mail:
-
Download and print out the following form: https://www.eac.gov/sites/default/files/eac_assets/1/6/Federal_Voter_Registration_ENG.pdf
-
Find your state in that document and follow the instructions.
-
Once the necessary information is complete, mail this form to the address listed in your state’s instructions, in an envelope properly marked and with the correct amount of postage.
​
Register in Person:
-
You may register to vote in person at your local Department of Motor Vehicles or at your state or local election office.
-
Ask a staff member for assistance to help you register and follow the instructions provided.
​
When registering to vote, complete all steps thoughtfully, thoroughly, and accurately.
​
On election day, ensure that all registration information (name, address, etc) is up to date and be sure to cast your ballot. To vote, find your closest polling location, https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/. If you need to vote absentee, you can request an absentee voting ballot, fill it out, and mail it back by the requested.
​
​