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voter registration in the United States

{{Short description|Requirement for most elections in the United States of America}}

{{Use American English|date=August 2017}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018 | cs1-dates=ll}}

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File:Map of states and territories in the United States the require voter registration to vote.svg

All U.S. states and territories, except North Dakota, require voter registration by eligible citizens before they can vote in federal, state and local elections. In North Dakota, cities in the state may register voters for city elections, and in other cases voters must provide identification and proof of entitlement to vote at the polling place before being permitted to vote. Voter registration takes place at the county level in many states or at the municipal level in several states. Many states set cutoff dates for registration or to update details, ranging from two to four weeks before an election, while 25 states and Washington, D.C. have same-day voter registration, which enables eligible citizens to register or update their registration on the same day they cast their vote. In states that permit early voting, and have voter registration, the prospective voter must be registered before casting a vote.

Some historical registration requirements, including poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses, were part of the systematic disenfranchisement of African Americans in the Jim Crow South.

More recently, several common misconceptions have developed around the supposed consequences of registering to vote—that it exposes the person to the military draft, or affects car insurance rates, or requires a permanent address. Despite being untrue, these beliefs are sometimes deterrents for registration.[https://lifehacker.com/the-most-common-myths-about-voter-registration-debunke-1829497517 The Most Common Myths About Voter Registration, Debunked] lifehacker.com The impact and fairness of other requirements, such as voter identification laws, are the subject of ongoing debate.{{Cite web |last=Skelley |first=Geoffrey |date=2021-05-17 |title=How The Republican Push To Restrict Voting Could Affect Our Elections |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-the-republican-push-to-restrict-voting-could-affect-our-elections/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=FiveThirtyEight |language=en-US}}

The legal case Pitts v. Black in 1984 established that eligible American voters residing in non-conventional accommodations, like a park bench, cannot be refused to register to vote, allowing people experiencing homelessness to participate in elections.{{cite web |title=Pitts v. Black, 608 F. Supp. 696 |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/608/696/1464605/ |website=Justia}}

A 2023 study by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) found that 85.4% of the citizen voting age population (CVAP) in the United States were registered to vote at the time of the 2022 general elections, more than 203 million U.S. citizens.{{Cite web |date=June 29, 2023 |title=2022 Election Administration and Voting Survey Report |url=https://www.eac.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/2022_EAVS_Report_508c.pdf |access-date=January 22, 2025 |website=The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC)}}

While voters were historically required to register at government offices by a certain date before an election, the federal government in the mid-1990s made efforts to increase turnout by easing the registration process. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (the "Motor Voter" law) requires state governments to either provide uniform opt-in registration services through drivers' license registration centers, disability centers, schools, libraries, and mail-in registration, or to allow Election Day voter registration, where voters can register at polling places immediately prior to voting.

In 2016, Oregon became the first state to make voter registration fully automatic (opt-out) when issuing driver licenses and ID cards, since followed by 15 more states and the District of Columbia. Political parties and other organizations sometimes hold voter registration drives to register new voters.

In 31 states and the District of Columbia, persons registering to vote may at the same time declare an affiliation with a political party.{{Cite web |last=Cook|first=Rhodes|title=Registering By Party: Where the Democrats and Republicans Are Ahead – Sabato's Crystal Ball|url=https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/registering-by-party-where-the-democrats-and-republicans-are-ahead/|access-date=January 21, 2022|date=July 12, 2018|language=en-US}}

History

In 1800, Massachusetts was the first state to require voter registration as a prerequisite for voting in the state.{{Cite web |url=https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/actsResolves/1800/1800acts0074.pdf |title=Acts, 1800. – Chapter 74 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205003203/https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/actsResolves/1800/1800acts0074.pdf |url-status=dead }} This was followed by Maine (1821), Pennsylvania (1836) and Connecticut (1839). During the 19th century, and especially after the Civil War, more states and cities set a voter registration as a prerequisite to voting, partially to prevent voting by immigrants in cities. However, it was not until 1913 when Nebraska became the first state to establish a permanent statewide voter register, overseen by an election commissioner.

According to a 2020 study, voter registration laws adopted in the period 1880–1916 reduced turnout as much as 19%.{{Cite journal|last1=Perez|first1=Vanessa M.|date=2021-02-01 |title=America's first voter identification laws: The effects of personal registration and declining political party competition on presidential election turnout, 1880–1916|journal=Electoral Studies |volume=69|pages=102263 |doi=10.1016/j.electstud.2020.102263|issn=0261-3794|doi-access=free}}

North Dakota abolished voter registration in 1951 for state and federal elections, the only state to do so. Since 2004 it has required voters to produce ID at time of casting a vote. This has led to North Dakota being accused of voter suppression because many Native American were denied a vote because the address on their tribal IDs had a post office box address, which continues to be a common practice.{{Cite web |last= Ortiz|first= Eric|date= February 14, 2020|url= https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/north-dakota-native-tribes-settle-voter-id-lawsuit-combat-voter-n1137141|title= North Dakota, native tribes agree to settle voter ID lawsuits |website= NBC News}}

In 2002, Arizona made online voter registration available. In 2016, Oregon became the first state to implement a fully automatic (opt-out) voter registration system tied to the process of issuing driver licenses and ID cards.

No registration jurisdiction

North Dakota is the only state that does not have voter registration, which was abolished in 1951, although cities in North Dakota may register voters for city elections.{{cite web |url=http://votesmart.org/elections/voter-registration/ND#.WCFO5NxXQSQ |title=The Voter's Self Defense System |website=Vote Smart|access-date=August 31, 2017}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.nd.gov/sos/electvote/voting/vote-history.html|title=Voter Registration in North Dakota|author=Secretary of State North Dakota|access-date=August 4, 2010}} In North Dakota voters must provide identification and proof of entitlement to vote at the polling place before being permitted to vote.

North Dakota is exempt from the requirements of the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Because of this exemption, North Dakota has since 2004 required voters to produce an approved form of ID before being able to vote, one of which was a tribe ID commonly used by Native Americans. It was common and lawful for a post office box to be used on this ID, instead of a residential address, because there are no street addresses on reservations. In 2016, a change required tribal ID to have a residential address to be accepted, and North Dakota has been accused of voter suppression with many Native Americans being denied a vote because they did not have an approved form of ID with a residential address.

North Dakota's ID law especially adversely affected large numbers of Native Americans, with almost a quarter of Native Americans in the state, otherwise eligible to vote, being denied a vote on the basis that they do not have proper ID; compared to 12% of non-Indians. A judge overturned the ID law in July 2016, also saying: "The undisputed evidence before the Court reveals that voter fraud in North Dakota has been virtually non-existent."{{cite web |website=NPR |date=August 2, 2016 |title=As November Approaches, Courts Deal Series Of Blows To Voter ID Laws |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/08/02/488392765/as-november-approaches-courts-deal-series-of-blows-to-voter-id-laws}} However, the denial of a vote on this basis was also an issue in the 2018 mid-term election.

Federal jurisdiction

While the United States Congress has jurisdiction over laws applying to federal elections, it has deferred most aspects of election law to the states. The United States Constitution prohibits states from restricting voting rights in ways that infringe on a person's right to equal protection under the law (14th Amendment), on the basis of race (15th Amendment), on the basis of sex (19th Amendment), on the basis of having failed to pay a poll tax or any tax (14th Amendment (see: Harper v. VA Elections Board) & 24th Amendment), or on the basis of age for persons age 18 and older (26th Amendment). The administration of elections, however, vary widely across jurisdictions.

In general, US citizens over the age of 18 have the right to vote in federal elections.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=fb853a4107083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fb853a4107083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD|title=The Right to Vote|publisher=United States Citizenship and Immigration Services|access-date=October 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017175045/http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=fb853a4107083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fb853a4107083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD|archive-date=October 17, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} In a few cases, permanent residents ("green card" holders) have registered to vote and have cast ballots without realizing that doing so was illegal. Non-citizens convicted in criminal court of having made a false claim of citizenship for the purpose of registering to vote in a federal election can be fined and imprisoned for up to a year. Deportation and removal proceedings have resulted from several such cases.Kirk Semple, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/nyregion/17voting.html "Immigrants Find Voting Can Come At a Cost"]. New York Times, October 15, 2010. Some municipalities allow non-citizen residents to vote in municipal or school district elections.

All states except Maine and Vermont (and the District of Columbia) deny the vote to convicted felons for some duration, a practice known as felony disenfranchisement. In 16 states, voting is only prohibited during incarceration. 21 states additionally prohibit voting during parole or probation but allow voting after. Eleven states either indefinitely suspend voting rights or require special action to have voting rights restored.{{cite web|url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/felon-voting-rights.aspx|title=Felon Voting Rights|date=October 1, 2020 |website=ncsl.org|access-date=October 30, 2020|author=}}

Security issues

In 2023 a contractor, WSD Digital, developing a voter registration and e-pollbook system for New Hampshire put in code to link to websites in Russia and used open source software managed by a Russian. New Hampshire found those issues by hiring another company, ReversingLabs, to review the code of the first company.{{Cite web |last=Sakellariadis |first=John |date=2024-09-01 |title=Hacking blind spot: States struggle to vet coders of election software |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/01/us-election-software-national-security-threats-00176615 |website=Politico}}

In 2016 Russian hackers probed all states and breached voter registration systems in two states. Breaches have the potential to add, remove or change voters, allowing later addition of ballots in those names.

Effect on participation

File:Florida Voter Information Card 2020.jpg, Florida Voter Information Card]]

A 2012 study by The Pew Charitable Trusts estimates that 24% of the voting-eligible population in the United States are not registered to vote, a percentage that represents "at least 51 million eligible U.S. citizens."{{Cite news

|url=http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/pcs_assets/2012/PewUpgradingVoterRegistrationpdf.pdf

|title=Inaccurate, Costly, and Inefficient: Evidence That America's Voter Registration System Needs an Upgrade

|publisher=The Pew Charitable Trusts

|date=February 2012|access-date=February 16, 2015}}{{Cite news

|url=http://www.democracyjournal.org/28/make-it-easy-the-case-for-automatic-registration.php

|title=Make It Easy: The Case for Automatic Registration

|publisher=Democracy

|date=2013|access-date=February 16, 2015}} The study suggests that registration requirements contribute to discouraging people from exercising their right to vote, thereby causing a lower voter turnout. The extent of discouragement and its effect on increasing the socioeconomic bias of the electorate however remain contested.

In a 1980 landmark study, Raymond E. Wolfinger and Steven J. Rosenstone came to the conclusion that less restrictive registration requirements would substantially increase the electoral turnout. According to their probit analysis, if all states adopted the procedures of the most permissive state regulations, which would mean:

  1. eliminating the closing date
  2. opening registration offices during the forty-hour work week
  3. opening registration offices in the evening or on Saturday
  4. permitting absentee registration for the sick, disabled and absent

(p 73) turnout in the 1972 presidential election would have been 9.1% higher, with 12.2 million additional people having voted.{{cite book |author1=Raymond E. Wolfinger and |author2=Steven J. Rosenstone |title=Who Votes? |publisher=Yale University Press |year=1980 |isbn=978-0-300-02552-1 |url={{Google books|XmspYgn-syYC|page=73|plainurl=yes}} |pages=73, 78}} In a seminal 1988 book, sociologists Richard Cloward and Francis Fox Piven argued that lowering registration requirements would improve socioeconomic equality in the composition of the electorate.{{cite book |author1=Frances Fox Piven |author2-link=Richard A. Cloward |author2=Richard A. Cloward |title=Why Americans don't vote |publisher=Random House |year=1988 |isbn=978-0394553962 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/whyamericansdont00pive_0 |author1-link=Frances Fox Piven }}

Findings such as this have inspired lawmakers to facilitate the registration process, eventually leading to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (or "Motor Voter" act) that required states to allow voter registration at various public offices, including drivers' license registration centers, disability centers, schools, libraries, as well as mail-in registration, unless a state adopts Election Day voter registration. The way towards passing this piece of federal legislation was however lengthy and rocky, as these reforms were highly contested. In an expanded 1990 edition of their 1988 book, titled "Why Americans still don't vote: and why politicians want it that way," Cloward and Piven argued that the reforms were expected to encourage less-privileged groups which happen to lean towards the Democratic Party.{{cite book |author=Toby S. James |title=Elite Statecraft and Election Administration: Bending the Rules of the Game? |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-230-30842-8 |url={{Google books|keywords="Why Americans still don't vote"|plainurl=y}}}}

While the turnout at federal elections did substantially increase following the electoral reforms, the effect fell short of Wolfinger and Rosenstone's expectations while Cloward's and Piven's hope of improving the demographic representativeness of

the electorate wasn't fulfilled at all. Political scientist Adam Berinsky concluded in a 2005 article that the reforms designed to make voting "easier" in their entirety had an opposite effect, actually increasing the preexisting socioeconomic biases by ensuring "that those citizens who are most engaged with the political world – those with politically relevant resources – continue to participate, whereas those individuals without such resources fall by the wayside."{{cite journal |author=Adam Berinsky |title=The perverse consequences of electoral reform in the United States |journal=American Politics Research |volume=33 |number=4 |date=July 2015 |doi=10.1177/1532673X04269419 |url=http://web.mit.edu/berinsky/www/ElectoralReform.pdf |pages=471–491|citeseerx=10.1.1.524.5567 |s2cid=18424415 |author-link=Adam Berinsky }} As Berinsky reaffirms in a 2016 piece, the only way to increase turnout while improving representativeness is making more people become interested in politics.{{cite journal |author=Adam Berinsky |title=Making Voting Easier Doesn't Increase Turnout |journal=Stanford Social Innovation Review |url=http://ssir.org/articles/entry/making_voting_easier_doesnt_increase_turnout |date=February 8, 2016 |access-date=April 7, 2016|author-link=Adam Berinsky }}

The lack of a place of residence, a mailing address or a form of identification{{cite web |title=The Potential Voters Everyone Forgets |date=May 11, 2024 |url=https://www.newsweek.com/homelessness-voter-turnout-underrepresented-election-1899475 |publisher=Newsweek}} are barriers for the homeless to vote.

In a 2012 Pew Research Center study, researchers found that military personnel were disproportionately affected by voter registration errors. Most often these involved members of the military and their families who were deployed overseas.{{cite web |author=Kate Kelly |date=February 2012 |title=Inaccurate, Costly, and Inefficient Evidence That America's Voter Registration System Needs an Upgrade |url=http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/pcs_assets/2012/pewupgradingvoterregistrationpdf.pdf |access-date=February 12, 2017 |publisher=Pew Research Center |page=7 |location=Washington}}

Registration centers

Traditionally, voter registration took place at government offices, but the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which came into effect on January 1, 1995, simplified registration. The Act requires state governments to provide opt-in registration services through drivers' license registration centers, disability centers, schools, libraries, as well as providing for mail-in registration. However, six states are exempt from the streamlined processes under the Act: North Dakota, Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Innovative voter registration methods

In the years since the 2000 presidential election, many states have implemented innovative policies that streamline the process of voter registration, promote voter list accuracy, and create options for eligible citizens to register or to update their registration. Such innovations include online voter registration, automatic voter registration, and same-day voter registration.

A September 2024 study by the Center for Election Innovation & Research found that the implementation of at least one of these three voter registration methods increased from seven states in 2000 to 46 states in 2024. To underscore this point: during the 2000 general election, fewer than 6 percent of voting-age citizens lived in states with one of these registration methods. As of this study, nearly 90 percent of voting-age citizens live in states that will have at least one of these methods in place for the 2024 presidential election, and roughly one-third of voting-age citizens now live in states that have implemented all three methods.

The maps below show the innovative registration methods available in each state and Washington, D.C., in 2024.

File:Voter Registration Methods for 2024 U.S. Election.svg

= Online voter registration =

As of September 2024, online voter registration is available in 43 states and the District of Columbia. North Dakota does not have voter registration. Since a federal judicial order in September 2020, Texas allows residents to register to vote online if and when they are renewing their driver's licenses or state identification cards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/23/register-vote-online-texas/|title=Texas begins letting people register to vote online when they're updating their driver's licenses|date=September 24, 2020}}

class="wikitable sortable"

| colspan="3" |

State or federal district

! Date online voter
registration implemented

! Website

{{flag|Alabama}}

| 2016-12-01{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/news/2016/02/you_can_now_register_to_vote_o.html|title=You can now register to vote online in Alabama|first=Leada|last=Gore|date=February 1, 2016|website=al}}

| [https://www.alabamavotes.gov/olvr/default.aspx Alabama Votes]

{{flag|Alaska}}

| 2015-11

| [https://voterregistration.alaska.gov/ Alaska Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Arizona}}

| 2002-07[http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/pcs_assets/2010/onlinevoterregpdf.pdf Online Voter Registration (OLVR) Systems in Arizona and Washington: Evaluating Usage, Public Confidence and Implementation Processes]

| [https://servicearizona.com/VoterRegistration/ Service Arizona Voter Registration]

{{flag|California}}

| 2012-09-19{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-sep-20-la-me-voter-registration-20120920-story.html|title=California launches online voter registration|date=September 20, 2012|website=Los Angeles Times}}

| [http://registertovote.ca.gov/ California Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Colorado}}

| 2010-04-01{{Cite web|url=https://www.deltacounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/1019/Online-Voter-Registration|title=Online Voter Registration}}

| [https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter-classic/pages/pub/olvr/verifyNewVoter.xhtml Go Vote Colorado]

{{flag|Connecticut}}

| 2014-01-01{{Cite web|url=http://www.town.new-hartford.ct.us/town-clerk/pages/voter-registration-and-absentee-ballots|title=Voter Registration and Absentee Ballots}}

| [https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/ Connecticut Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Delaware}}

| 2014-04{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/electronic-or-online-voter-registration.aspx|title=Online Voter Registration|website=www.ncsl.org}}

| [https://ivote.de.gov/ I Vote Delaware]

{{flag|District of Columbia}}

| 2015

| [https://www.vote4dc.com/Voter/Home/SearchMain District of Columbia Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Florida}}

| 2017-10-01

| [https://registertovoteflorida.gov/en/Registration/Eligibility Register to Vote Florida Voter Registration]

{{flagicon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} Georgia

| 2014-03

| [https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov/GAOLVR/#no-back-button Georgia Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Guam}}

| 2022{{Cite web |title=Online Voter Registration |url=https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/online-voter-registration |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=www.ncsl.org}}

|[https://gec.guam.gov/register/ Guam Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Hawaii}}

| 2015-08-04{{Cite web|url=https://www.khon2.com/local-news/office-of-elections-launches-online-voter-registration-system/|title=Office of Elections launches online voter registration system|date=August 4, 2015}}

| [https://olvr.hawaii.gov/ Hawaii Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Idaho}}

| 2017-12-06{{Cite web | url=http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2017/dec/06/idaho-launches-online-voter-registration/ | title=Idaho launches online voter registration | the Spokesman-Review}}

| [https://idahovotes.gov/ Idaho Votes]

{{flag|Illinois}}

| 2014-06-17{{Cite web|url=https://abc7chicago.com/online-registration-voter-illinois-voting/119701/|title=Online voting registration begins in Illinois|website=ABC7 Chicago}}

| [https://ova.elections.il.gov/ Illinois Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Indiana}}

| 2010-07-01{{Cite web|url=http://www.indy.gov/eGov/County/Voter/Registration/Pages/forms.aspx|title=Voter Registration}}

| [http://indianavoters.in.gov/PublicSite/OVR/Introduction.aspx Indiana Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Iowa}}

| 2016-01-04{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Iowa-Residents-Can-Register-to-Vote-Online-364176011.html|title=Iowa Residents Can Register to Vote Online|website=kcrg.com|date=January 4, 2016 }}

| [https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/voterregistration.html Iowa Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Kansas}}

| 2009-05{{Cite web|url=https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/publications/Voter_Registration_Digital_Age_2015.pdf|title=List of States Adopting Electronic Registration, Online Voter Registration, or Both}}

| [https://www.kdor.org/voterregistration/Default.aspx Kansas Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Kentucky}}

| 2016-03-01[http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article65982842.html Online voter registration comes to Kentucky]

| [https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/ Kentucky Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Louisiana}}

| 2010-04

| [http://www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsAndVoting/Pages/OnlineVoterRegistration.aspx Geaux Vote]

{{flag|Maine}}

| 2023-11{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/technology-maine-voter-registration-7e4c6a874c0d199511822de0865f6d30|title = Maine to allow online voter registration in November 2023| website=Associated Press |date = July 23, 2021}}

| N/A

{{flag|Maryland}}

| 2012-07-01{{Cite web|url=http://www.projectvote.org/wp-content/uploads/Policy-Paper-Online-Voter-Registration.pdf|title=Online Voter Registration}}

| [https://voterservices.elections.state.md.us/OnlineVoterRegistration/VoterType Maryland Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Massachusetts}}

| 2015-06-23{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2015/06/23/mass-launches-online-voter-registration|title=Massachusetts Launches Online Voting Registration System|website=www.wbur.org|date=June 23, 2015 }}

| [https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/ Massachusetts Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Michigan}}

|2019-12-02{{Cite web|url=https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1640_61055-513568--,00.html|title=SOS – Benson announces beginning of online voter registration and availability of eNotary services in Michigan|website=www.michigan.gov|access-date=2020-01-23}}

|[https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/RegisterVoter Michigan Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Minnesota}}

| 2013-09-26{{Cite web|url=https://thevotingnews.com/online-voter-registration-offers-multiple-advantages-mark-ritchiepostbulletin/|title=Editorials: Online voter registration offers multiple advantages | Mark Ritchie/PostBulletin|date=October 30, 2013 }}

| [https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterRegistration/VoterRegistrationStep1.aspx MN Votes]

{{flag|Missouri}}{{efn|In Missouri, a person can register to vote online and electronically provide a signature using a mobile device, tablet computer or touchscreen computer, but not a standard desktop computer. The state reviews the information and prints out the registration form, which it sends to the person's local elections office for verification.}}

| 2014

| [http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/register.aspx Vote Missouri]

{{flag|Nebraska}}

| 2015-09-22{{Cite web

|url=https://omaha.com/news/state_and_regional/want-to-register-to-vote-online-in-nebraska-now-you-can/article_7f1893e7-26d4-54bc-bf20-eada7155b15b.html

|title=Want to register to vote online in Nebraska? Now you can

|first=Martha

|last=Stoddard

|website=Omaha World-Herald

|date=September 23, 2015 }}

| [https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/ Nebraska Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Nevada}}

| 2012-09

| [https://nvsos.gov/sosvoterservices/Registration/step1.aspx Nevada Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|New Jersey}}

| 2020-09-04{{Cite web|url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/campaigns/online-voter-registration-in-n-j-goes-live/|title=Online voter registration in N.J. goes live|last=Wildstein|first=David|date=2020-09-04|website=New Jersey Globe|language=en|access-date=2020-09-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://nj.gov/state/press-2020-0908.shtml|title=New Jersey Department of State – Press Releases – September 8, 2020, NJ Division of Elections|website=nj.gov}}

| [https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/register New Jersey Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|New Mexico}}

| 2016-01-01{{Cite web|url=http://www.socorrocounty.net/Public-Information/News/onlinevoterregistrationnowavailableinnewmexico|title=Online Voter Registration Now Available in New Mexico!}}

| [https://portal.sos.state.nm.us/OVR/(S(od4445h5uj2f5tyucvvhszdf))/WebPages/InstructionsStep1.aspx New Mexico Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|New York}}

| 2011

| [http://dmv.ny.gov/org/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application New York Electronic Voter Registration ]

{{flag|North Carolina}}{{efn|Prior to March 30, 2020, applicants could only apply online as an extra option in the process of conducting a separate transaction through the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. In response to the closure of most DMV offices due to COVID-19, the NCDMV opened online voter registration for all holders of North Carolina driver's licenses and state ID cards and removed the need for a transaction.}}[https://twitter.com/NCSBE/status/1244707072312250368 NCSBE Press Release]

| 2020-03-20

| [https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx North Carolina Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Ohio}}

| 2017-01-01{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.oh.us/media-center/press-releases/2017/2017-01-01/#gref|title=Ohio's Online Voter Registration System is Now Live}}

| [https://olvr.sos.state.oh.us/ Ohio Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Oklahoma}}

| 2020{{Cite web|url=https://www.ok.gov/elections/Online_Voter_Registration.html|title=Online Voter Registration}}

| Not fully implemented yet{{efn|In Oklahoma, registered voters can update their registration information online but new voters and voters who have changed names or moved to a different county must fill out a paper form.}}

{{flag|Oregon}}

| 2010-03-01{{Cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2010/02/oregon_offers_online_voter_reg.html|title=Oregon offers online voter registration|first=The Oregonian|last=Bill Graves|date=March 1, 2010|website=oregonlive}}

| [https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/vr/register.do?lang=eng&source=SOS OreStar]

{{flag|Pennsylvania}}

| 2015-08-27{{Cite web|url=https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/pennsylvania-launches-online-voter-registration-to-increase-efficiency-and-offer-convenience/|title=Pennsylvania Launches Online Voter Registration|date=August 27, 2015}}

| [https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx PA Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Rhode Island}}

| 2016-08-01{{Cite web|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2016/08/01/ri-secretary-of-state-voter-registration-is-easier-with-new-online-system/27381965007/|title=R.I. secretary of state: Voter registration is easier with new online system|first=Alisha A.|last=Pina|website=The Providence Journal}}

| [https://vote.sos.ri.gov RI Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|South Carolina}}

| 2012-10-02{{Cite web|url=https://www.scvotes.org/node/236|title=South Carolina Launches Online Voter Registration System}}

| [https://info.scvotes.sc.gov/eng/ovr/start.aspx S.C. Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Tennessee}}

| 2017-08-29{{Cite web|url=https://wpln.org/post/after-a-year-in-the-works-online-voter-registration-goes-live-in-tennessee/|title=After A Year In The Works, Online Voter Registration Goes Live In Tennessee|first1=Chas|last1=Sisk|date=August 29, 2017|website=wpln.org}}

| [https://ovr.govote.tn.gov/ GoVote TN Voter Registration]

{{flag|Texas}}

| 2020-09

| N/A{{efn|Since a federal judicial order in September 2020, Texas allows residents to register to vote online if and when they are renewing their driver's licenses or state identification cards. Voters with neither card must register by paper.}}

{{flag|Utah}}

| 2010-06

| [https://secure.utah.gov/voterreg/index.html Utah Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Vermont}}

| 2015-10-12{{Cite web|url=https://www.vermontpublic.org/vpr-news/2015-10-12/online-voter-registration-now-open-in-vermont|title=Online Voter Registration Now Open In Vermont|date=October 12, 2015|website=Vermont Public}}

| [http://olvr.sec.state.vt.us/ Vermont Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Virginia}}

| 2013-07-23{{Cite web|url=https://www.wtvr.com/2013/07/23/virginia-residents-can-now-register-to-vote-online|title=Virginia residents can now register to vote online|date=July 23, 2013|website=CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR}}

| [https://www.vote.virginia.gov/ Virginia Voter Registration]

{{flagicon|Washington (state)}} Washington

| 2008-01

| [https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/pages/myvote.aspx MyVote]

{{flag|West Virginia}}

| 2015-09

| [https://ovr.sos.wv.gov/Register#Landing West Virginia Online Voter Registration]

{{flag|Wisconsin}}

| 2017-01-09{{Cite web|url=http://elections.wi.gov/node/4879|title=The Launch of Online Voter Registration in Wisconsin through MyVote.wi.gov}}

| [https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ My Vote Wisconsin]

{{notelist}}

= Automatic voter registration =

As of September 2023, 24 states and the District of Columbia had automatic registration of citizens who interact with state agencies such as the DMV, along with 3 other states that have passed legislation or committed administratively to create automatic registration systems, but not yet implemented it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-voter-registration-summary|title = Automatic Voter Registration, a Summary|website = Brennan Center for Justice}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/automatic-voter-registration.aspx|title=National Conference of State Legislatures: Automatic Voter Registration|date=April 22, 2019|website=ncsl.org|access-date=October 7, 2019}} Those interacting with the state agencies have the option to opt-out of registering.

On January 1, 2016, the Oregon Motor Voter Act implemented automatic voter registration of eligible citizens tied to the process of issuing driver licenses and ID cards, with the person having the right to opt out.{{cite web|url=http://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/motor-voter-faq.aspx|title=Oregon Secretary of State: Oregon Motor Voter Act FAQ|website=sos.Oregon.gov|access-date=August 31, 2017}} By April 2016 three more states – California, West Virginia, and Vermont – adopted the system, and in May 2016 Connecticut announced plans to implement it administratively rather than by legislation.{{cite news|url=https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/automatic-voter-registration|title=Automatic Voter Registration|date=April 1, 2016|access-date=April 12, 2016|publisher=Brennan Center for Justice}}{{cite news|url=http://vermontbiz.com/news/april/shumlin-signs-law-automatic-voter-registration|title=Shumlin signs into law automatic voter registration|date=April 28, 2016|access-date=April 28, 2016|publisher=Vermont Business Magazine}} Alaskan voters approved Measure 1 on November 8, 2016, to allow residents to register to vote when applying annually for the state's Permanent Dividend Fund.{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/petitions/15PFVR/15PFVR%20Sponsor%20Petition%20Proper%20Filing%20Letter.pdf|title=Proper Filing Letter|author=Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott|date=March 7, 2016|publisher=Alaska Division of Elections|access-date=December 10, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.elect.alaska.net/data/results.pdf#page=6|title=Unofficial Results – November 8, 2016 General Election|date=November 23, 2016|publisher=Alaska Division of Elections|access-date=December 10, 2016}} Voter approval of Measure 1 made Alaska the first state to implement automatic (opt-in) voter registration via ballot initiative. New York passed automatic voter registration on December 22, 2020, with implementation to commence in 2023.{{Cite web|title=Cuomo Signs Automatic Voter Registration Measure|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/ny-state-of-politics/2020/12/22/cuomo-signs-automatic-voter-registration-measure|access-date=2020-12-22|website=spectrumlocalnews.com|language=en}} Several more states have considered legislation for automatic registration.{{cite web|url=https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/automatic-voter-registration|title=Automatic Voter Registration|website=Brennan Center for Justice|access-date=May 12, 2016}} On August 28, 2017, Illinois set July 1, 2018, for implementation of automatic voter registration at motor vehicle agencies, and a year later at other state agencies.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/illinois-governor-signs-automatic-voter-registration-law/2017/08/28/7b3960c0-8c00-11e7-9c53-6a169beb0953_story.html|title=Illinois governor signs automatic voter registration law|date=August 28, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=August 31, 2017|archive-date=September 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901022713/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/illinois-governor-signs-automatic-voter-registration-law/2017/08/28/7b3960c0-8c00-11e7-9c53-6a169beb0953_story.html|url-status=dead}}

In 2023, the Center for Election Innovation & Research conducted a study of the impact of automatic voter registration in Georgia, which has operated through the state's Department of Driver Services (DDS) since 2016. Among the key findings:

  • Active voter registration increased from 78 to 98 percent of eligible citizens in the first four years of AVR’s implementation
  • The registered voter population became more representative of the state’s population in terms of age and gender
  • The majority of new voter registrations in Georgia are now through DDS transactions.{{Cite web |title=Analyzing the Impacts of Automatic Voter Registration in Georgia |url=https://electioninnovation.org/research/georgia-automatic-voter-registration/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=The Center for Election Innovation & Research |language=en-US}}

class="wikitable sortable"
State or federal district

! Automatic voter
registration implemented

!Type of opt-out

{{flag|Alaska}}

| 2017-03-01{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/doc/info/PFD%20AVR%20FAQ%27s%20FINAL.pdf|title=PFD Automatic Voter Registration & Updates to Registrations FAQ's}}

|back-end (post-transaction mailer)

{{flag|California}}

| 2017-04{{cite web | url = https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/automatic-voter-registration | title = Automatic Voter Registration | date = July 24, 2018 | access-date = October 10, 2018 | website = Brennan Center for Justice }}

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Colorado}}

| 2017-02

|back-end (post-transaction mailer)

{{flag|Connecticut}}

|2018{{Cite web |title=Automatic Voter Registration in Connecticut |url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/rpt/pdf/2017-R-0358.pdf}}

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Delaware}}

| 2023{{Cite web|url=https://www.capegazette.com/node/220242|title=DMV voter registration approved by General Assembly|website=Cape Gazette}}{{Cite web|url=https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=48446|title = Bill Detail – Delaware General Assembly}}

|back-end (post-transaction mailer)

{{flag|District of Columbia}}

| 2018-06-26{{Cite web|url=https://dmv.dc.gov/release/automatic-voter-registration-begins-dc-dmv-june-26-2018|title=Automatic Voter Registration Begins at DC DMV on June 26, 2018|website=dmv}}

|front-end (point of service)

{{flagicon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} Georgia

| 2016-09

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Hawaii}}

| 2021

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Illinois}}

| 2018-07-02{{Cite web|url=http://www.kfvs12.com/story/38557733/automatic-voter-registration-at-dmv-begins-in-il|title=Automatic voter registration at DMV begins in IL}}

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Maine}}

|2022-01{{Cite web|url=https://www.lwvme.org/AVR.html|title=Automatic Voter Registration|website=League of Women Voters|access-date=2020-01-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wabi.tv/content/news/State-lawmakers-get-update-on-automatic-voter-registration-567018391.html|title=State lawmakers get update on automatic voter registration|last=Dwyer|first=Paul|date=January 15, 2020 |website=www.wabi.tv|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Maryland}}

| 2019-07-01

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Massachusetts}}

| 2020-01

|back-end (post-transaction mailer)

{{flag|Michigan}}

|2019-09-09{{Cite web|url=https://www.michigan.gov/som/0,4669,7-192-26847-508246--,00.html|title=SOM – Secretary Benson announces modernized voter registration on National Voter Registration Day|website=www.michigan.gov|access-date=2020-01-23}}

|front-end (point of service)

{{Flag|Minnesota}}

|2023-05-05{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Secretary Of State – Sec. Simon Celebrates Signing of Historic New Elections Legislation |url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/about-the-office/news-room/sec-simon-celebrates-signing-of-historic-new-elections-legislation/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=www.sos.state.mn.us}}

|back-end (post-transaction mailer)

{{flag|Nevada}}

|2020-01{{Cite web|url=https://elkodaily.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/nevada-voter-rolls-swell-as-automatic-registration-takes-effect/article_3b0f15d1-5ba7-5ec9-bdf0-0c292df5dc4c.html |title=Nevada voter rolls swell as automatic registration takes effect|author1=Tabitha Mueller Shannon Miller |author2=Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez Kristyn Leonard |agency=The Nevada Independent |website=Elko Daily Free Press|date=January 20, 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-24 |url-access=subscription}}

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|New Jersey}}

| 2018-11-01{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/politics/voter-registration-now-automatic-at-nj-motor-vehicle-commission/article_0a64ccca-92aa-54fe-a0bf-ff592ce8129d.html|title=Voter registration now automatic at NJ Motor Vehicle Commission|author=Michelle Brunetti Post |website=Press of Atlantic City|date=November 2018 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-24 |url-access=subscription}}

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|New Mexico}}

| 2020{{Cite web|url=https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2019/03/27/gov-lujan-grisham-enacts-same-day-automated-voter-registration/|title=Gov. Lujan Grisham enacts same-day, automated voter registration|date=March 27, 2019 |website=Office of the Governor – Michelle Lujan Grisham|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-24}}

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|New York}}

| 2020-12-22{{Cite web|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/ny-state-of-politics/2020/12/22/cuomo-signs-automatic-voter-registration-measure|title = Cuomo Signs Automatic Voter Registration Measure}}

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Oregon}}

| 2016-01-01{{Cite web|url=http://sos.oregon.gov/|title=Oregon Secretary of State|website=sos.oregon.gov}}

|back-end (post-transaction mailer)

{{flag|Pennsylvania}}

| 2023-09-19

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Rhode Island}}

| 2018-06

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Vermont}}

| 2017-01

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|Virginia}}

| 2020-04{{Cite web|url=https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+sum+HB235|title=LIS > Bill Tracking > HB235 > 2020 session|website=lis.virginia.gov}}

|front-end (point of service)

{{flagicon|Washington (state)}} Washington

| 2019-07

|front-end (point of service)

{{flag|West Virginia}}

| 2019-07

|front-end (point of service)

=Same-day voter registration=

Most states require voters to register two to four weeks before an election, with cutoff dates varying from 15 to 30 days. An increasing number of states allow same-day voter registration (SDR), which enables eligible citizens to register to vote or update their registration on the same day they vote.

Same-day registration allows eligible citizens to register or update their registration at the polls or their local election office by showing valid identification to a poll worker or election official, who checks the identification, consults the registration list and, if they are not registered or the registration is out of date, registers them on the spot.

Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia will offer same-day voter registration for the 2024 general election, which allows any qualified resident of the state to register to vote and cast a ballot the same day.{{Cite web |title=The Expansion of Innovative Voter Registration Methods, 2000–2024 |url=https://electioninnovation.org/research/expansion-voter-registration-methods/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=The Center for Election Innovation & Research |language=en-US}}

Voter turnout is much higher in states using same-day registration than in states that do not. A 2013 report analyzing turnout in the 2012 United States presidential election had SDR states averaging at a turnout of 71%, well above the average voter turn-out rate of 59% for non-SDR states.{{Cite web|url=http://www.demos.org/blog/new-report-higher-voter-turnout-linked-sdr|title=New Report: Higher Voter Turnout Linked to SDR|author=Timpe, Brenden|publisher=Demos (U.S. think tank)|date=March 14, 2013|access-date=May 29, 2013}} According to official turnout data report in the 2014 edition of America Goes to the Polls,{{cite web|url=http://www.nonprofitvote.org/america-goes-to-the-polls-2014/|title=America Goes to the Polls 2014 – Nonprofit Vote|website=www.NonprofitVote.org|access-date=August 31, 2017}} voter turnout in SDR states has averaged 10–14 percent higher than states that lack that option.{{cite web|last1=Pillsbury|first1=George|last2=Johannesen|first2=Julian|title=America Goes to the Polls 2014|url=http://www.nonprofitvote.org/documents/2015/03/america-goes-polls-2014.pdf|website=www.NonprofitVote.org|publisher=Nonprofit Vote|date=March 2015}} A 2021 study found that same-day registration disproportionately increases turnout among young voters; young voters move more frequently, which disproportionately burdens them under traditional voter registration laws.{{Cite journal|last1=Grumbach|first1=Jacob M.|last2=Hill|first2=Charlotte|date=2021|title=Rock the Registration: Same Day Registration Increases Turnout of Young Voters|url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/714776|journal=The Journal of Politics|volume=84 |pages=405–417 |doi=10.1086/714776|s2cid=213194639 |issn=0022-3816}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Federal district or state

! Same day voting registration implemented

! Early voting period registration implemented

{{flag|California}}

| 2012{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/same-day-registration.aspx|title=Same Day Voter Registration|website=www.ncsl.org}}

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|Colorado}}

| 2013

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|Connecticut}}

| 2012

| 2024{{Cite web |title=Connecticut General Assembly House Bill 5004 |date=June 7, 2023|url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2023&bill_num=5004}}

{{flag|District of Columbia}}

| 2010

| N/A

{{flag|Hawaii}}

| 2014

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|Idaho}}

| 1994

| N/A

{{flag|Illinois}}

| 2005 and 2015

| N/A

{{flag|Iowa}}

| 2007

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|Maine}}

| 1973 {{cite news|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2011/10/11/politics/maine-municipalities-endorse-yes-on-1/?ref=latest |title=Maine towns back Yes on 1, same-day voter signup – Politics |newspaper=Bangor Daily News |date=2011-10-11 |access-date=2015-12-17}}

| N/A

{{flag|Maryland}}

| 2013 and 2018

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|Michigan}}

|2019{{Cite web|url=https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MISOS/bulletins/21f2f89|title=News Update – Transition to QVF Refresh, Recount Request Deadline Elapses, and More|website=Michigan Secretary of State|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}

|2019

{{flag|Minnesota}}

| 1974

| N/A

{{flag|Montana}}

| 2005

| N/A

{{Flag|Nevada}}

|2019

|

{{flag|New Hampshire}}

| 1996

| N/A

{{flag|New Mexico}}

| 2019{{Cite web|url=https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2019/03/27/gov-signs-same-day-voter-registration-bill/|title=Gov. signs same-day voter registration bill|last=Reichbach|first=Matthew|date=2019-03-27|website=The NM Political Report|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-24}}

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|North Carolina}}

| 2007

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|Utah}}

| 2018

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|Vermont}}

| 2015

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|Virginia}}

| 2022

| N/A

{{flagicon|Washington (state)}} Washington

| 2018

| 2019

{{flag|Wisconsin}}

| 1975

| N/A

{{flag|Wyoming}}

| 1994

| N/A

{{notelist}}

= Voter re-registration =

In many jurisdictions in the United States, registered voter must re-register to vote upon changing residential addresses (even within the same county),{{Cite journal |last=Kim |first=Seo-Young Silvia |date=2022 |title=Automatic Voter Reregistration as a Housewarming Gift: Quantifying Causal Effects on Turnout Using Movers |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/automatic-voter-reregistration-as-a-housewarming-gift-quantifying-causal-effects-on-turnout-using-movers/14624CB0F652198DFBDCF7253E64E403 |journal=American Political Science Review |language=en |volume=117 |issue=3 |pages=1137–1144 |doi=10.1017/S0003055422000983 |issn=0003-0554 |s2cid=237924248}}{{Cite web |title=Update or Change Your Voter Registration |url=https://www.usa.gov/change-voter-registration |access-date=October 11, 2022 |work=USA.gov |quote=You will need to update or change your voter registration if you: Move within your state, Change your name, Want to change your political party affiliation}} or changing names. In the 31 states (and District of Columbia) where voters register by political party, a voter desiring to switch party affiliation must also re-register to vote in closed primaries.[https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/primary-types.aspx State Primary Election Types], National Conference of State Legislatures (January 6, 2021).

Some jurisdictions have automatic voter re-registration whereby existing registrants are automatically re-registered after changing home addresses. A 2022 study found that automatic voter re-registration would increase voter turnout in the US by 5.8 percentage points.

= Partial automatic =

This type does transfer some data from DMV electronically to election officials. For instance, name, age and address. However, does not fully meet the definition of an fully automated system, because it is still relying on paper forms in some way.{{Cite book |last=Ponoroff |first=Christopher |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/legacy/Democracy/Paperless_Registration_FINAL.pdf |title=Voter Registration in a Digital Age |publisher=Brennan Center For Justice |year=2010 |pages=3–8}}

Permanent and portable registration

File:Permanent & portable voter registration in the United States by state and territory.svg

As of 2014, Delaware, Hawaii, Oregon, and Texas allow registered voters who have moved within the state to update their registrations when they vote, and are given a regular ballot when they vote. Florida briefly allowed any registered voter who moved to another county and another voting precinct to vote by provisional ballot, except if "the precinct to which you have moved has an electronic poll book or you are an active military member", in which case the voter was given a regular ballot when they voted.{{Cite web|url=https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/contacts/frequently-asked-questions/faq-voting/|title=FAQ – Voting – Division of Elections – Florida Department of State|website=dos.myflorida.com}} As of 2014, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Ohio, and Utah allow registered voters who have moved within the state or the District of Columbia to vote in their new county without re-registering at their new address, but they can only vote a provisional ballot, which could require further action from the voter before it is counted.[https://www.demos.org/policy-briefs/millions-polls Millions to the Polls]

=Preregistration=

File:Preregistration in the United States.svg

Preregistration allows individuals younger than 18 years of age to register to vote, but not to actually vote until they reach 18. All states have some form of preregistration, starting at age 16, except for North Dakota which does not have any registration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/preregistration-for-young-voters.aspx|title=Preregistration for Young Voters|website=www.ncsl.org}}

class="wikitable sortable

! Federal district or state

! Preregistration requirements

{{flag|Alabama}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Alaska}}

| Within 90 days preceding 18th birthday

{{flag|Arizona}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Arkansas}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|California}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Colorado}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Connecticut}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Delaware}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|District of Columbia}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Florida}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Georgia (U.S. state)|name=Georgia}}

| 17.5-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Hawaii}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister, and 17-year-olds may register but not vote

{{flag|Idaho}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Illinois}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Indiana}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Iowa}}

| 17.5-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Kansas}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Kentucky}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Louisiana}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Maine}}

| 17-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Maryland}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Massachusetts}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Michigan}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Minnesota}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Mississippi}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Missouri}}

| 17.5-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Montana}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Nebraska}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Nevada}}

| 17-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|New Hampshire}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|New Jersey}}

| 17-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|New Mexico}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|New York}}

| 16 year olds may preregister

{{flag|North Carolina}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Ohio}}

| 18-year-olds by the election date

{{flag|Oklahoma}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Oregon}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Pennsylvania}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Rhode Island}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister, and 17-year-olds may register if they will be 18 years old by the election

{{flag|South Carolina}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|South Dakota}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Tennessee}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Texas}}

| Individuals 17 years and 10 months old may register

{{flag|Utah}}

| 16-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Vermont}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Virginia}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Washington}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|West Virginia}}

| 17-year-olds may preregister

{{flag|Wisconsin}}

| 18 years old by the election date

{{flag|Wyoming}}

| 18 years old by the election date

Registration drives

{{see also|Voter registration campaign}}

File:ObamaVoterRegistrationRallyPhiladelphia2008.jpg, on Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway]]

A voter registration drive is an effort undertaken by a government authority, political party or other entity to register to vote persons otherwise entitled to vote. In many jurisdictions, the functions of electoral authorities includes endeavours to get as many people to register to vote as possible. In most jurisdictions, registration is a prerequisite to a person being able to vote at an election.

In the United States, such drives are often undertaken by a political campaign, political party, or other outside groups (partisan and non-partisan), that seeks to register persons who are eligible to vote but are not registered. In all U.S. states except North Dakota, registration is a prerequisite to a person being able to vote at federal, state or local elections, as well as to serve on juries and perform other civil duties. Sometimes these drives are undertaken for partisan purposes, and target specific demographic groups considered to be likely to vote for one candidate or other; on the other hand, such drives may be undertaken by non-partisan groups and targeted more generally.

In 2004, the Nu Mu Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity held a voter registration drive in DeKalb County, Georgia, from which Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox (Dem.) rejected all 63 voter registration applications because the fraternity did not obtain specific pre-clearance from the state to conduct their drive. Nu Mu Lambda filed Charles H. Wesley Education Foundation v. Cathy Cox (Wesley v. Cox)[https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-11th-circuit/1062271.html Charles H. Wesley Education Foundation v. Cathy Cox]. asserting that the Georgia's long-standing policy and practice of rejecting mail-in voter registration applications that were submitted in bundles, by persons other than registrars, deputy registrars, or "authorized persons", violated the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 by undermining voter registration drives. A senior U.S. District Judge upheld earlier federal court decisions in the case, which found that private entities have a right, under the federal law, to engage in organized voter registration activity in Georgia at times and locations of their choosing, without the presence or permission of state or local election officials.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0034.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829032217/http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0034.html|title=Cox Violated Voter Rights, Judge Declares|archive-date=August 29, 2014}}

Organizations that regularly work to register voters and promote citizens' engagement in elections include the following (some working nationally and others more locally):

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Party affiliation

File:States with partisan voter registration.svg

In 31 states and the District of Columbia, voters are allowed to mark their party affiliation, or their unaffiliated status, on their voter registration form. In those states which host closed primaries for political parties, voters are often mandated to declare their party affiliation prior to receiving a primary ballot, whether on the day of the primary or by a prior deadline. In addition, regardless of the method of primary in these states, voters who are party-affiliated in their voter files are most often allowed to participate in intra-party elections and decision-making. Missouri, an open-primary state, became the most recent state to instate an optional party affiliation question on voter registration forms in 2023.

= States with party affiliation questions =

class="wikitable sortable"

! Federal district of state

! Party affiliation question?

! Year of adoption

{{flag|Alabama}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Alaska}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Arizona}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Arkansas}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|California}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Colorado}}

| Yes

| ?

{{nowrap|{{flag|Connecticut}}}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Delaware}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|District of Columbia}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Florida}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Hawaii}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Idaho}}

| Yes

| 2011

{{flag|Indiana}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Illinois}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Iowa}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Kansas}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Kentucky}}

| Yes

|

{{flag|Louisiana}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Maine}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Maryland}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Massachusetts}}

| Yes

| 1916

{{flag|Michigan}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Minnesota}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Mississippi}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Missouri}}

| Upcoming

| 2023

{{flag|Montana}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Nebraska}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Nevada}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|New Hampshire}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|New Jersey}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|New Mexico}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|New York}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|North Carolina}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|North Dakota}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Ohio}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Oklahoma}}

| Yes

| ?

{{Flag|Oregon}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Pennsylvania}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Rhode Island}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|South Carolina}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|South Dakota}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Tennessee}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Texas}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Utah}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Vermont}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Virginia}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Washington}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|West Virginia}}

| Yes

| ?

{{flag|Wisconsin}}

| No

| N/A

{{flag|Wyoming}}

| Yes

| ?

= Deadline to re-register with a party for a primary election =

class="wikitable sortable"

! Federal district of state

! Deadline to re-register with a political party for a partisan primary election

! Deadline to re-register with a political party for the 2020 U.S. Presidential Caucuses and Primary elections

{{flag|Colorado}}

| 29th day prior to the partisan primary election{{Cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/calendars/2020ElectionCalendar.pdf|title=2020 Election Calendar}}

| 2020-02-03

{{nowrap|{{flag|Connecticut}}}}

| 3 months prior to the partisan primary election{{Cite web|url=https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Registration-Deadlines/Registration-Deadlines|title=Registration Deadlines|website=CT.gov – Connecticut's Official State Website}}

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/deadline-looming-to-switch-party-before-connecticut-primary/|title=Deadline looming to switch party before Connecticut primary|date=May 8, 2018|website=The Seattle Times}}

{{flag|Delaware}}

| The last Saturday in May of the year of the partisan primary election

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.delaware.gov/2018/05/18/party-affiliation-deadline-approaching/|title=Party affiliation change deadline approaching|date=May 18, 2018}}

{{flag|District of Columbia}}

| 21st day prior to the partisan primary election{{Cite web|url=https://www.dcboe.org/Community-Outreach/Events/Deadline-to-change-party-affiliation-status|title=Deadline to change party affiliation status}}

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|Idaho}}

| 10th Friday prior to the partisan primary election{{Cite web|url=https://sos.idaho.gov/elect/primary_elections_in_idaho.html|title=Primary Elections in Idaho|website=sos.idaho.gov}}{{efn|In Idaho, unaffiliated registered voters may re-register up to and on the partisan primary day}}

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://dnews.com/friday-is-deadline-to-change-party-affiliation-in-idaho/article_a151fbe4-2167-11e8-9eb7-f38b9a804a84.html|title=Friday is deadline to change party affiliation in Idaho|website=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|date=March 6, 2018 }}

{{flag|Kansas}}

| 14th day prior to the partisan primary election{{Cite web|url=https://www.nyccfb.info/PDF/news_media/PartyAffiliationDeadlines.pdf|title=Deadlines to change party affiliation in closed primary states}}{{efn|In Kansas, unaffiliated registered voters may re-register up to and on the partisan primary day}}

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2018/05/30/deadline-nears-to-change-party-affiliation/12105097007/|title=Deadline nears to change party affiliation|author=|website=The Hutchinson News}}

{{flag|Kentucky}}

| December 31 of the year prior to the partisan primary election{{Cite web|url=https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=SOS&prId=146|title=Deadline to Change Party Affiliation Ahead of 2018 May Primary is Dec. 31}}

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{flag|Maine}}

| 15th day prior to the partisan primary election{{efn|In Maine, unenrolled registered voters may re-register up to and on the partisan primary day}}

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://freepressonline.com/Content/Home/Homepage-Rotator/Article/Deadline-to-Change-Party-Enrollment-in-Time-to-Vote-in-June-12-Primary/78/720/58605|title=Deadline to Change Party Enrollment in Time to Vote in June 12 Primary}}

{{flag|New Hampshire}}

| 1st Tuesday of June of the year of the partisan primary election{{Cite web|url=https://www.webster-nh.gov/sites/websternh/files/uploads/party100112.pdf|title=Party Affiliation in New Hampshire}}{{efn|In New Hampshire, unafflicted registered voters may re-register up to and on the partisan primary day}}

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}[https://www.doj.nh.gov/media-center/press-releases/2018/20180516-change-party-affiliation.htm June 5, 2018 Deadline to Change Party Affiliation for Voting in the September 11, 2018 State Primary Election]

{{flag|New Jersey}}

| 55th day prior to the partisan primary election{{efn|In New Jersey, unaffiliated registered voters may re-register up to and on the partisan primary day}}

| 2020-04-08{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/division-elections-reminds-registered-voters-upcoming-april-11-deadline-change-party-affiliation-declaration-forms-primary-election-filed-county-commissioners-registrati/|title=Division of Elections Reminds Registered Voters of Upcoming April 11 Deadline for Change of Party Affiliation Declaration Forms for Primary Election to be Filed with County Commissioners of Registration|date=April 1, 2018|website=Insider NJ}}

{{flag|New York}}

| The Friday 10 weeks before the Presidential Primary Election in 2020 {{Cite web|url=https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/election-law/eln-sect-5-304.html|title=New York Consolidated Laws, Election Law – ELN § 5-304|website=Findlaw}}

| 2020-02-14{{Cite web |title=You Have Until February 14th To Change Your Party Registration For The 2020 Presidential Primary |url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingDeadlines.html |access-date=September 27, 2020 |df=mdy-all}}

{{Flag|Oregon}}

|21st day prior to the partisan primary election{{Cite web |title=Voting and Voter Registration |url=https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/state/elections/voting.aspx |access-date=September 1, 2022 |website=Oregon Secretary of State}}

|2020-04-28

{{flag|Rhode Island}}

| 30th day prior to the partisan primary election[https://elections.ri.gov/faq/ Frequently Asked Questions] State of Rhode Island Board of Elections.

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/06/12/ri-voters-have-until-june-14-to-switch-party-affiliations-before-sept-12-primary/11990068007/|title=R.I. voters have until June 14 to switch party affiliations before Sept. 12 primary|website=The Providence Journal}}

{{flag|Wyoming}}

| 14th day prior to the partisan primary election{{Cite web|url=https://sos.wyo.gov/faqs.aspx?root=ELEC|title=Wyoming Secretary of State|website=sos.wyo.gov}}

| {{Data missing|date=February 2020}}

{{notelist}}

Youth voting

In some cities, people younger than 18 can vote in local elections, such as for city councils and school boards. Takoma Park, Maryland, was the first city to allow youth voting, starting in 2013. Other nearby cities, including Hyattsville, Greenbelt and Riverdale Park adopted similar measures.{{Cite news|title=More cities consider letting 16-year-olds vote in local elections|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/two-california-cities-consider-letting-16-year-olds-vote-in-local-elections/2020/10/30/608dadd4-0e58-11eb-8a35-237ef1eb2ef7_story.html|access-date=2022-01-21|issn=0190-8286}}

See also

Further reading

  • [https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/alexander-keyssar/the-right-to-vote/9780465005024/ Alexander Keyssar. 2009. The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States. Basic Books.]
  • [https://time.com/5881305/president-carter-election-reform/?linkId=99065165 Jimmy Carter Tried to Make It Easier to Vote in 1977. The Right Stopped Him With the Same Arguments It’s Using Today (Excerpt from Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976–1980 by Rick Perlstein)]

References

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Voting rights in the United States}}

United States

Category:United States election law

Category:History of voting rights in the United States

Category:Voting in the United States