Here Are Registration + Voting Instructions For All 50 States
By Thoughtis
Montana
To Register: Register in-person at the polls on election day or fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: And do not have a Montana state-issued ID, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Deadline: October 9th by mail, or in-person at the polls on election day.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. Bring one form of ID to the polls, including a Montana state-issued ID, a passport, a photo-ID from another state, or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it. If you do not bring ID, you can still vote by requesting a “Polling Place Elector ID” form.
Official Bird: Western Meadowlark
Nebraska
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: You must include a photocopy of either a valid Nebraska state-issued ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Deadline: October 19th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. You do not need to bring ID to the polls, provided you included it with your registration.
Official Bird: Western Meadowlark
Nevada
To Register: If you have a Nevada state-issued ID, you can register online here.
If You’re New: Fill out & mail this Registration Application. You can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Deadline: October 16th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. At the polls, you will be asked to sign your name in a register, and that signature must match the signature on a piece of photo-ID, such as a Nevada state-issued ID, the voter card that will be mailed to you upon acceptance of your registration, a passport, or a photo-ID issued by another state. If you bring out-of-state ID, it is recommended you also bring a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Official Bird: Mountain Bluebird
New Hampshire
To Register: Register in-person at the polls on election day. Voters can also register by mail via this Absentee Registration form.
If You’re New: All voters registering for the first time are required to have proof of identity and Registered Address. If you do not have a New Hampshire state-issued ID with your Registered Address, bring a photo-ID, either from New Hampshire, a passport, or from another state that does not have your Registered Address and a a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document that does have your name and Registered Address on it. You may register at the polls without ID by signing an Affidavit as to your identity.
Deadline: By mail before October 27th, or in-person at the polls on election day.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. If you have a New Hampshire state-issued ID, you must present it. If not, be prepared to sign an Affidavit. A first-time voter registering on election day must present the aforementioned ID.
Official Bird: Purple Finch
New Jersey
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: And do not have a New Jersey state-issued ID, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Deadline: October 16th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. Bring ID to the polls, either a photo-ID, including those issued by another state, a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Official Bird: Eastern Goldfinch
New Mexico
To Register: New Mexico does not make their state Registration Application available online. You can fill out & mail the national multi-state registration form for New Mexico.
If You’re New: And don’t have a New Mexico state-issued ID, you can use your full Social Security number, and include a photocopy of proof-of-residence such as a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Deadline: October 9th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. If you did not include ID with your Registration Application, you must bring it to the poll. Otherwise, there is no voter ID requirement in New Mexico, though it is recommended to bring the Registered Voter card your county will send you upon processing your registration.
Official Bird: Roadrunner
New York
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: And do not have a New York state-issued ID, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number, or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Deadline: October 12th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. If you are a first-time voter in New York state and you did not include any ID with your Registration Application, then you must bring ID to the polls, such as a New York state-issued ID, a passport, a Student ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it. Otherwise, New York has no voter-ID requirements.
Official Bird: Eastern Bluebird
North Carolina
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: And don’t have a North Carolina state-issued ID, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Deadline: October 12th via mail. North Carolina also presents the opportunity to register and vote-early in-person at state agencies from October 18th to November 3rd.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. If you are a first-time voter in North Carolina, you must bring ID and proof-of-residence to the polls, such as a North Carolina state-issued ID, or a passport, a photo-ID issued by another state, a student ID and a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Official Bird: Northern Cardinal
North Dakota
To Register: North Dakota does not have voter registration.
If You’re New: N/A
Deadline: N/A
To Vote: Find your polling place here. All voters must bring ID to the polls. If you do not have a North Dakota state-issued ID, bring another photo-ID, such as a passport, a photo-ID issued by another state, or a student ID, along with proof-of-residence, such as a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Official Bird: Western Meadowlark
Ohio
To Register: If you have registered in Ohio before, have an Ohio state-issued ID, and need to update your Registered Address, you can do so online here.
If You’re New: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
Deadline: October 9th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. You must bring an ID to the polls that has your Registered Address on it, such as an Ohio state-issued ID, a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Official Bird: Northern Cardinal
Oklahoma
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: And do not have an Oklahoma state-issued ID, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Deadline: October 12th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. You must bring the voter ID card mailed to you upon acceptance of your Registration Application, or, in lieu of that, an Oklahoma state-issued ID, a passport or other Federal Government-issued ID (that need not have your Registered Address on it).
Official Bird: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Oregon
To Register: If you have an Oregon state-issued ID, you can register online here.
If You’re New: And do not have an Oregon state-issued ID, follow the same online registration, use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number, and print out, sign, and mail the form.
Deadline: October 16th.
To Vote: In Oregon, you do not go to the polls. Instead, a ballot will be mailed to your Registered Address; you fill it out and mail it back. You can track your ballot to ensure it is received and counted here.
Official Bird: Western Meadowlark
Pennsylvania
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: And don’t have a Pennsylvania state-issued ID, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Deadline: October 9th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. You must bring a valid photo-ID, either a Pennsylvania state-issued ID, a passport (which can have an old address on it), another photo-ID issued by the Federal Government, or a student ID from a Pennsylvania school. If you do not have one of these, you may be eligible to obtain a state-ID card for free here.
Official Bird: Ruffed Grouse
Rhode Island
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: And don’t have a Rhode Island state-issued ID, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Deadline: October 16th. If you miss the deadline, you can register in-person at the polls on election day to vote only for the Presidential election.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. You must bring an ID, such as a a Rhode Island state-issued ID, a passport, a student ID or a bank or credit card with your photo. The photo-ID does not need to match your Registered ADdress. If you don’t have a photo-ID, you can use a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it. However, beginning in 2013, only a photo-ID will be acceptable in Rhode Island.
Official Bird: Rhode Island Red Chicken
South Carolina
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: You must include with your Registration Application a photocopy of your South Carolina state-issued ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Deadline: October 6th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. You must bring one either: the Voter Registration card mailed to your Registered Address upon the acceptance of your Registration Application, or a South Carolina state-issued ID.
Official Bird: Carolina Wren
South Dakota
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: And don’t have a South Dakota state-issued ID, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Deadline: October 22nd.
To Vote: Locate your polling place here. If you have a South Dakota state-issued ID or a Federal Government issued-ID with your Registered Address on it, bring it. If you do not, you can sign an Affidavit as to your identity and address.
Official Bird: Ring-necked Pheasant
Tennessee
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: And don’t have a Tennessee state-issued ID, you can use your entire Social Security number.
Deadline: October 6th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. You must bring photo-ID to the polls, including ID issued by any state or the Federal Government. The photo-ID does not need to match your Registered Address.
Official Bird: Northern Mockingbird
Texas
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: And don’t have a Texas state-issued ID, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. If you don’t have either, you are still eligible to vote, but must provide ID at the polling place.
Deadline: October 9th.
To Vote: Your registration certificate will be mailed to your Registered Address and will include your precinct number, which you can use to look up your polling location in a local newspaper or on your county’s website. Bring this certificate to the polls. If you lose it, bring either a Texas state-issued ID, or another photo-ID with some proof-of-residence, such as a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Official Bird: Northern Mockingbird
Utah
To Register: If you have a Utah state-issued ID, you can register online here.
If You’re New: And do not have a Utah state-issued ID, fill out & mail this Registration Application.
Deadline: October 9th by mail; October 22nd online.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. You must bring either a Utah state-issued ID or a passport or other Federal Government-issued ID with your Registered Address on it, or you must bring two of the following documents (photocopies OK): a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, social security card, birth certificate, vehicle registration, student ID card, naturalization documents, or other government-issued identifying document which, where applicable, have your name and Registered Address on them.
Official Bird: California Gull
Vermont
To Vote: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: Include with your registration a copy of a Vermont state-issued ID, a passport or a photo-ID issued by another state, or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Deadline: October 31st.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. If you included ID with your Registration Application you do not need to bring ID to the polls.
Virginia
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: You must include a photocopy of current & valid ID, either a Virginia state-issued ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Deadline: October 15th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. If you included ID with your Registration Application, bringing the Voter Registration card mailed to your Registered Address will suffice. If not, you must bring either a Virginia state-issued ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Official Bird: Northern Cardinal
Washington
To Register: If you have a Washington state-issued ID, you can register online via Washington’s MyVote Facebook App.
If You’re New: And don’t have a Washington state-issued ID, or don’t want to register via Facebook, fill out & mail this Registration Application.
Deadline: October 6th.
To Vote: In Washington, you do not go to the polls. Instead, a ballot will be mailed to your Registered Address; you fill it out and mail it back.
Official Bird: Willow Goldfinch
West Virginia
To Register: Fill out & mail this Registration Application.
If You’re New: You must include with your Registration Application a photocopy of a proof-of-residence document, either a West Virginia state-issued ID with your Registered Address, or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Deadline: October 16th.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. If you did not include an aforementioned proof-of-residence document with your Registration Application, then you must bring it to the polls.
Official Bird: Northern Cardinal
Wisconsin
To Register: Register in-person at the polls on election day, or fill out & mail this Registration Application. You can only register at the polls if you can bring ID and proof-of-residence, such as a Wisconsin state-issued ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
If You’re New: And don’t have a Wisconsin state-issued ID, you can use the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
Deadline: October 17th by mail, or in-person at the polls on election day.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. While Wisconsin has a well-reported photo-ID voting law pending, this law is currently blocked by the court, so Wisconsin does not require ID at the polls. However, if you are a first-time voter and you registered by mail, you must bring proof-of-residence to vote, such as a Wisconsin state-issued ID with your Registered Address on it, or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or other government-issued identifying document with your name and Registered Address on it.
Official Bird: American Robin
Wyoming
To Register: You can register in-person at the polls on election day. To register by mail, you must bring this form and fill it out in front of a notary public while showing them ID, either a Wyoming state-issued ID, a photo-ID issued by another state, a passport, a student ID or another form of photo-ID issued by the Federal Government.
If You’re New: And do not have a Wyoming state-issued ID, you can use any photo-ID (including out-of-state ID) alongside the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. You do not need to prove your Registered Address.
Deadline: October 22nd by mail, or in-person at the polls on election day.
To Vote: Find your polling place here. You do not need to show any ID at the polls, though if you are registering on election day, follow the above protocol.
Official Bird: Western Meadowlark
Some Notes & Tips on Voting:
*”State-issued ID” is most often a Driver’s License or State ID card, but it can also include hunting licenses. Military IDs are accepted in most states.
*Most states provide for Absentee voting under certain circumstances. Here is one resource for determining your eligibility and what to do to vote Absentee; here is another.
*Most states provide time off of work to vote under certain circumstances. You can learn more here.
*If you are in the line at a polling location before the end of their stated hours, you have the right to vote (e.g. if you show up in the queue at 6:59 p.m. for a station closing at 7:00 p.m., you have a right to vote).
*If you do not have the ID requested by your State or County, you still have the right to vote on a Provisional Ballot and prove your ID at a later date.
*Voter fraud is a serious crime.
*While this is my best effort at an accurate compilation of voting laws for all 50 states, these laws are determined and implemented at the Federal, State, and County level. It is encouraged to check with your individual county.
*In lieu of an in-state ID, many states ask for a full or partial Social Security number. If you do not have a Social Security number, you are likely still eligible to vote. Where the state provided a clear remedy, I tried to include it here; where it didn’t, you should still call your state or county office.
*In some states, you can register in-person at a State or County office with a lessened ID burden.
*U.S. Territories, such as Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands do not vote in Presidential elections. However, there may be local elections taking place on November 6th. You can learn more about these at your local government website.
How This List Was Compiled:
This list was compiled from the Secretary of State and/or Elections-specific websites for all 50 states and D.C. I then ran my understandings based on those websites against several third-party sources, including the National Conference of State Legislatures, Rock The Vote, Project VoteSmart, and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. In 34 cases, I placed successful phone calls to state election officials to clarify ambiguity or to get confirmation on a certain interpretation of a voting law or policy. In cases where there was still a conflict, or where county-by-county laws significantly differ, I went with the more conservative interpretation. The goal of this list was to create a resource particularly for younger folks who may have moved around a lot and so may not have ID that matches perfectly to their state or current residence.
All of this was considered in light of the Federal Motor Voter and Help America Vote Acts. In most cases, states prefer & claimed to process faster their own forms over the National form. With regards to the Help America Vote Act, all first-time voters are required to present some form of ID, but it is left to states & counties to determine what sort of ID is acceptable.
If I am wrong, missed anything, or this post can be improved in any way, please let me know, either privately or in the comments.
Everyone has permission to syndicate or re-blog this piece (and only this piece!) from Thought Catalog. Credit/a link would be appreciated, but not necessary. Anyone doing anything to further democratic participation is a friend in my book!