This article was written by Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.
This article has been viewed 9,864 times.
Elections in the US are run by the states, and each state has its own rules regarding voter registration and voter registration cards. In all states except North Dakota, you're required to register if you want to vote in federal, state, or local elections. When you register, you'll typically receive a voter registration card as proof that you've registered to vote. You may be required to present this card at the polls when you go to vote. There is never a fee to register to vote, get your initial voter registration card, update information on your voter registration, or replace a lost voter registration card.[1]
Steps
Receiving Your Initial Card
-
1Register online if possible. In 38 states and the District of Columbia, you can quickly and easily register to vote online. Visit http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/electronic-or-online-voter-registration.aspx#Table%20of%20states%20w/ovr and scroll through the table to find a link to your state's voter registration website.[2]
- To register online, you'll need to provide basic personal information, including your full legal name, address, and date of birth.
Tip: If you register to vote online, you'll typically have to bring a valid, government-issued photo ID with you the first time you go to vote so your identity can be verified.
-
2Fill out a voter registration form and mail it to your state's election office. If your state doesn't provide online voter registration or you aren't comfortable registering online, you can also register by filling out a paper form and submitting it to your state's election office.[3]
- The official national form is available at https://www.eac.gov/voters/national-mail-voter-registration-form/. You can download the form in any of 15 different languages. This form is accepted in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each state may have its own rules, however, for the information you have to include. State-specific rules are included on the form.
- You can fill in the form on your computer or print it off and fill it out by hand. When you've completed your form, mail it to the address provided on the form for your state.
Advertisement -
3Go to your state or local election office to register in person. You also have the option of registering to vote in person. If you're worried you might miss the deadline to register or if you have questions about voting, it may be best for you to register in person.[4]
- To locate the nearest election office, you can do an online search for "election office" with the name of your city and state or county and state. Often, this office will be in your city hall or county clerk's office.
- Typically, when you register in person you can show the election official who processes your application a valid, government-issued photo ID to verify your identity. Unless your state requires a photo ID to vote, you won't have to worry about showing your ID again at the polling place.
Tip: You may also be able to register to vote in person at other government services offices, including the local driver's license or government benefits office.
-
4Wait for your registration card to arrive in the mail. No matter how you register to vote, your state's election office will mail a registration card to you. Expect to receive it within 30 days of the date you registered to vote.[5]
- While your registration card provides proof that you are registered to vote and may include additional information about voting, it typically isn't required for you to vote in elections. If you still haven't gotten your card by the time the next election rolls around, you should still be able to vote with no problem.
Replacing a Lost Card
-
1Find out if you can download a card online. Some states allow you to immediately download and print a voter registration card if you lost your original card or if you want another copy. Your state's voter registration website will have information on whether you can download a copy of your voter registration card.
- To find your state's voter registration website, go to http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/electronic-or-online-voter-registration.aspx#Table%20of%20states%20w/ovr. Scroll through the table until you find your state.
-
2Contact your local election office to replace your card. If your state doesn't allow you to download a copy of your voter registration card online, your local election office will have information on how to replace it. You may be able to simply order a new registration card over the phone.[6]
- To find contact information for your local election office, run an internet search for "election office" followed by the name of your city and state or county and state.
-
3Submit a written request to your local election office. Some states require you to request a replacement card in writing if your voter registration card is lost or stolen. Simply state that you no longer have your voter registration card and would like a new one. Provide your legal name, address, and date of birth.[7]
- There may be a specific form for you to fill out, similar to the one you filled out when you initially registered to vote. A local election official will let you know if such a form is required. If your state has a voter registration website, the form may be available there as well.
Tip: If your state doesn't require you to show your voter registration card when you vote, you may have no reason to replace it. Some states automatically send a replacement voter registration card every 2 years regardless.
Updating Your Registration Information
-
1Review the information on your voter registration card. When you get your initial voter registration card, look over all the information on it and make sure it's accurate. If anything is incorrect, strike through the incorrect information on the card and make your correction. Then send it back to the same address where the card came from.[8]
- This is especially important if your state has a voter ID law. The information on your voter registration should match the information on your government-issued photo ID exactly.
-
2Submit a new voter registration form with your updated information. If you move to a new address or change your name, you'll need to update your voter registration to reflect the change. Typically, you can do this by filling out and turning in the same registration form you used when you initially registered to vote.[9]
- States typically allow you to update your registration information using the same methods that were available for you to register initially.
-
3Call your local elections office to change your address. If you're moving to a different address in the same county, you may be able to make the change over the phone. Your local elections office will have more information.[10]
- If your state elections office has a voter registration website, you may also be able to quickly change your address online.
-
4Wait to receive your updated card in the mail. After you change any of your registration information, your state elections office will send you a new registration card with the correct information. Expect to receive your card within 30 days of the date you submit the updated information.[11]
- Since you were already registered to vote, updating your registration information shouldn't affect your ability to vote in the next election, even if you don't have your new registration card in time.
Tip: Some states also allow you to change your address or other registration information when you go to a polling place to vote. If you've moved to a new address, make sure you go to the correct polling place for that address, not the polling place where you used to vote.
Warnings
- This article discusses how to get a voter registration card in the US. If you live in another country, the process may be different. Contact your local elections authority to find out what you need to do to get a voter registration card.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
- ↑ https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/550-2.html
- ↑ https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voter-registration/register-to-vote-or-update-your-information/
- ↑ https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/550-2.html
- ↑ https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/550-2.html
- ↑ https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/for-voters/voter-registration/register-to-vote-or-update-your-information/