(NewsNation) — Americans hoping to cast ballots in next week’s general election but have not yet registered to vote can do so on Election Day depending on where they live, although others may be locked out because they missed their state’s registration deadline.
Twenty-three U.S. states and the District of Columbia provide for same-day voter registration, according to state election guidelines. Yet, in places where residents can wait until November 5 to cast their ballot for former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris, state and federal offices, and a host of ballot initiatives after registering to vote when they arrived, the rules vary.
Meanwhile, 26 states, including several swing states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania still prevent unregistered voters from casting last-minute ballots despite calls to give unregistered voters more time.
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The only U.S. state where these rules do not apply is North Dakota, where residents are not required to register to vote. However, to be eligible to vote, residents must have called the state home for at least 30 days, state officials say.
With Trump and Harris in a neck-and-neck race for the White House, here’s what voters in states across the country hoping to cast ballots on Election Day need to know and what they need to do to get registered and have their vote matter.
States that allow same-day voter registration
California: The California Secretary of State allows for same-day voter registration (conditional voter registration) for those who miss the deadline. Residents are required to register and vote at their respective county election office or their designated polling place. Voters must be 18 years of age, a California resident, cannot be serving a sentence in state or federal prison, and cannot be found incompetent to vote by a court.
Colorado: The Colorado Secretary of State allows residents to register to vote and cast a ballot on Election Day at a designated voter service and polling center in their county of residence. Residents must have a Colorado driver’s license or state ID from the Colorado Department of Revenue or provide the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Connecticut: The Connecticut Secretary of State allows for same-day voter registration between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. at a designated location in a resident’s home city. Residents are required to provide proof of identity and residency.
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Hawaii: The Hawaii Office of Elections allows for same-day voter registration, which takes place at voter service centers. Voters must be at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Hawaii to register to vote.
Illinois: The Illinois Secretary of State allows residents to register and vote on the same day. Residents are required to provide two forms of identification, one of which must include a resident’s current address. These forms of ID can include a utility bill, bank statement, government check, rental lease, and a postmarked piece of mail delivered to the current address.
Iowa: The Iowa Secretary of State allows residents to register and vote at their designated polling place. They must provide a valid driver’s license or other piece of identification with a resident’s current mailing address displayed.
Maine: The Maine Secretary of State allows residents to register to vote before they cast their ballot at their designated polling place. Voters must be at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and a Maine resident. Residents will be required to provide a driver’s license, state ID, or the last four digits of their social security number.
Maryland: The Maryland Board of Elections allows residents to register and vote on the same day at their designated polling place. Residents must provide a valid form of identification that includes their current mailing address.
Michigan: The Michigan Secretary of State allows residents to register to vote on the day of the election by visiting their local clerk’s office. Residents will be required to provide proof of their identity with proof of residence.
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Minnesota: The Minnesota Secretary of State allows residents to register and vote at their polling place on the same day. Residents must provide a valid piece of identification that includes a current mailing address.
Montana: The Montana Board of Elections permits residents to register to vote and vote on the same day through 8 p.m. on November 5. Residents must visit their county elections office and must be at least 18 years of age, lived in Montana for 30 days before the election, and not currently incarcerated for a felony. Residents will be required to provide a valid driver’s license, photo ID, or the last four digits of their social security number.
Nevada: The Nevada Secretary of State allows residents to register and vote on the same day at their designated polling place. Residents must provide a valid driver’s license, state ID, and Tribal ID cards. Military ID cards will not be permitted for proof of identity.
New Hampshire: The New Hampshire Secretary of State allows residents to register to vote and vote on the same day at their designated polling place. Residents will be required to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, age (driver’s license or government-issued ID), and one piece of identification with the voter’s current mailing address.
New Mexico: The New Mexico Secretary of State allows residents to register to vote and vote on the same day at their respective county clerk’s office. Residents will be required to provide a photo ID that includes the voter’s current mailing address.
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Utah: Utah election officials allow residents to register to vote and vote on the same day at their designated polling place. Voters will be required to provide two forms of identification to register to vote.
Vermont: The Vermont Secretary of State allows residents to register to vote and vote on Election Day. First-time registrants will be required to take the Voter’s Oath and must provide proof of ID including a valid photo ID, current utility bill, bank statement, or another government document.
Virginia: The Virginia Board of Elections permits residents to vote through a provisional ballot after they register to vote on the day of the election at their designated polling place. Voters will be required to show a valid piece of identification to register.
Washington: The Washington Secretary of State allows residents to register and vote as long as they do so by 8 p.m. on the day of the election at a local voting center. Voters will be required to provide a valid ID to register to vote.
Washington, D.C. The District of Columbia Attorney General allows residents to register to vote and vote on Election Day. Voters must do so at their designated polling place and must show proof of residency within the District of Columbia.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin election officials allow residents to register to vote and vote on the same day at their respective polling places. Residents will not be required to provide identification when they register to vote, but because of the state’s photo ID law, residents must provide a photo ID before casting their ballot.
Wyoming: The Wyoming Secretary of State allows residents to register to vote and vote on Election Day at their designated polling place. Voters will be required to provide a valid driver’s license, state ID, passport, Tribal ID, university student ID, military card, or other government-issued ID that provides proof of identity and Wyoming residency.
States that do not permit same-day voter registration
Alabama: The Alabama Secretary of State requires residents to register to vote 14 days before any election.
Arizona: The Arizona Secretary of State requires residents to register to vote 29 days before any election.
Arkansas: The Arkansas Secretary of State requires voter registration applications to be postmarked 30 days before any election. Those who have applied for registration should confirm they are registered before Election Day.
Delaware: Delaware election officials require residents to register to vote on the fourth Saturday before any primary or general election. In 2022, the Delaware Supreme Court ruled that same-day voter registration in the state is unconstitutional. The ruling came after state lawmakers passed a bill that would have amended the state constitution to allow for universal voting by mail and same-day voter registration, the Associated Press reported.
Florida: The Florida Secretary of State requires residents to register to vote 29 days before any election. In 2022, a proposed initiative that would have same-day voter registration on the ballot failed to end up going before voters.
Georgia: The Georgia Secretary of State requires residents to register to vote 30 days before any election.
Indiana: The Indiana Secretary of State requires residents to register to vote within 30 days of the general election.
Kansas: The Kansas Secretary of State requires residents to register to vote within 45 days of the election. Voters can receive a president-only ballot and vote on election day, but they must complete a voter registration form by noon the day before the election.
People leave after voting in the Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs, Ga., on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, the first day of early in-person voting in Georgia. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)
Kentucky: The Kentucky Board of Elections requires residents to register 29 days before the general election.
Louisiana: The Louisiana Secretary of State requires residents to have their voter registration postmarked within 20 days of the election if registering to vote online and 30 days before any election if registering by mail or in person.
Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth requires all voters to be registered within 10 days before any election.
Mississippi: The Mississippi Secretary of State requires all residents to be registered to vote within 30 days of any election.
Missouri: The Missouri Secretary of State requires residents to be registered to vote by the fourth Wednesday before any election.
Nebraska: The Nebraska Secretary of State requires residents to be registered to vote by the third Friday before any election.
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New Jersey: The New Jersey Secretary of State requires all residents voting in the 2024 general election to be registered by October 15.
New York: The New York State Board of Elections requires all voter mail-in and in-person voter registrations to be received by October 26 for residents to participate in the general election.
North Carolina: While the North Carolina Board of Elections allows for same-day voter registration for early voting — which runs through November 2 — the state does not allow residents to register to vote if they are casting ballots on the day of the general election. To register to vote the same day during early voting, residents must have a state identification number from their state-issued driver’s license or must have proof of the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Ohio: The Ohio Secretary of State requires residents to be registered to vote within 30 days of any election.
A election volunteer offers voters an “I Voted” sticker after casting their ballot on Super Tuesday, at the Ranchito Elementary School polling station in the Panorama City section of Los Angeles, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Super Tuesday elections are being held in 16 states and one territory. Hundreds of delegates are at stake, the biggest haul for either party on a single day. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Oklahoma: The Oklahoma State Election Board requires all residents to be registered within 25 days of any election.
Oregon: The Oregon Secretary of State requires all residents to be registered to vote by 11:59 p.m. on the 21st day of the month before any election.
Pennsylvania: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires all residents to be registered to vote within 15 days of any election.
Rhode Island: The Rhode Island Department of State requires all residents to be registered to vote within 30 days before any election. Despite efforts to push for statewide legislation that would allow for same-day voter registration, the 30-day requirement remains in place.
South Carolina: The South Carolina Election Commission requires residents to be registered to vote by the 30th of the month prior to any election.
South Dakota: The South Dakota Secretary of State requires all residents to be registered to vote 15 days before any election.
Tennessee: The Tennessee Secretary of State requires all residents to be registered to vote 29 days before any election.
Texas: The Texas Secretary of State requires all residents to be registered to vote within 30 days of any election.
West Virginia: The West Virginia Secretary of State required all residents wishing to vote in the 2024 general election to be registered by October 15.
