Election Day is fast approaching and early voting numbers are already breaking records.
Voters will determine a number of federal, state, and local races on Tuesday, Nov. 5, including the next president of the United States. Many voter registration deadlines have already passed, but depending where you are, there may still be time to sign up to cast a ballot. Considered by many Americans’ most important civic duty, ensuring your voice is heard in this year’s general election requires some preparation.
Here are all your important questions about how to vote, answered.
Am I eligible to vote?
U.S. citizens registered to vote are eligible to cast a ballot in this year’s federal, state, and local elections. Voters must meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen. American citizens can vote while living abroad. Some areas also allow non-citizens to vote in local elections only.
- Meet state residency requirements. Each state’s requirements may vary. Unhoused people can also meet these requirements.
- Be at least 18 years old by Election Day.
Do I need to register to vote?
Americans must be registered before their state or area’s voter registration deadline in order to vote in the general election, with one exception. Voters in North Dakota do not need to register to vote.
How do I do register?
You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person at your local elections office. Voter registration processes can vary by area. Visit vote.gov to ensure your registration status is up to date or register for the first time.
Another option is to download, print, and fill out the national mail voter registration form before mailing it into the address listed for your location. Some government buildings including local Department of Motor Vehicle locations, armed forces recruitment centers, and public assistance offices can also help residents register to vote.
Americans living abroad or members of the military living outside the U.S. can use the Federal Voting Assistance Program to register and request an absentee ballot.
What’s the deadline to register?
Voter registration deadlines vary by area. With Election Day just weeks away, the deadline to register to vote has already passed in more than a dozen U.S. states. Some states, like Colorado, will allow voters to register in person up until Election Day, but others like Iowa will require you to register at least 15 days prior to the election. In some states, like Ohio, the deadline is 30 days before Election Day.
Your deadline will depend on where you live. Select your state or territory on vote.gov to check your area’s rules.
I have moved, do I need to re-register?
If you have moved out of state, you need to register to vote in the new state.
If you moved to a new area or address in the same state, you need to update your voter registration. If you changed your name, you also need to update your voter registration. Depending on the state or territory, you may need to re-register entirely for your registration to reflect the updated or information or you may need to fill out a specific form.
You can also change the political party listed on your registration by contacting your state or local election office.
Can I vote online?
No. You cannot vote online in federal U.S. elections. Most state and local elections also require voters cast their ballot in person or by mail.
Can I vote by mail?
Whether you can vote by mail depends on your location. Some states, like Texas, require residents have an excuse to vote by mail, while others, like California, allow it for everyone.
Select your state or territory on vote.gov to check your area’s rules.
How do I get my mail-in ballot?
If you are not in one of the five states that require an excuse to vote by mail — Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, or Texas — getting ahold of a mail-in ballot is a relatively simple process.
Voters in all other parts of the country have the option to vote by mail in 2024. Voters in states like Nevada are automatically sent a mail-in ballot if registered. Registered voters in other states like Wisconsin are automatically sent an application to request a mail-in ballot. Other states require registered voters to seek out an application to request a mail-in ballot on their own.
Select your state or territory on vote.gov to check your area’s rules.
What’s the latest date I can vote by mail?
Following the COVID pandemic, most states began allowing voters to submit ballots by mail, but the deadline for when those ballots must be received varies widely. Some states, like Missouri, mandate that all mail-in ballots be received before polls close on Election Day. Others, like Maryland, allow ballots to be received up until and even after Election Day, so long as they are post-marked by Nov. 5.
Select your state or territory on vote.gov to check your area’s rules.
Can I track my mail-in ballot?
Ballot tracking is available in most states with some exceptions. Illinois and Wyoming do not have a state-wide ballot tracker, but ballot tracking may be offered at the county level. Missouri does not offer ballot tracking. New York and Texas both have separate trackers for domestic ballots and overseas or military ballots.
Can I vote in person?
Yes. Voters in all states can cast their ballot in person on Election Day. In most states, they can also participate in early voting in person. Early voting can begin as early as more than a month in advance of and as late as the week before Election Day.
If you are unsure when your area’s early voting period begins, you can contact your local election office.
How do I find out where my polling site is?
You can find out where to vote by checking your voter registration. You can also contact your local election office for clarification or request accommodations for a disability.
You cannot change your polling location without updating your voter registration. Your state or local election office assigns your polling location based on your address. If you try to vote somewhere other than your assigned polling site, you may have to cast a provisional ballot and your vote might not count, according to vote.gov.
What to do when I arrive at the polling location?
When you arrive at your polling location, especially if you are voting on Election Day, be prepared to wait in line. Most states require voters to bring a form of identification to vote in person.
Voter ID laws vary by state. Some may ask to see a photo ID like a driver’s license, state ID, or passport. Others may require you provide your birth certificate or Social Security card. The National Conference of State Legislatures breaks down voter ID requirements by state.
Poll workers will be available to answer your questions and will point you in the direction of a private space to cast your ballot. You should have the opportunity to grab an “I voted” sticker on your way out.
Where do I find election results?
USA TODAY will bring you live coverage of national and state results on election night and over the following days. Don’t expect final results on election night. Local and state certification deadlines range from two days to more than a month after Nov. 5.
An increase in absentee and mail-in ballots following the COVID pandemic caused a delay in reporting results in 2020. It took four days for all votes to be counted and for news outlets to call the race for President Joe Biden. But that isn’t always the case. In 2016, the race was called for Donald Trump in the early hours of the next morning.
It is unclear how long vote counting will take this year, but legal challenges may also drag out the process of confirming a winner, as they did in the 2000 election.
Vote.gov contributed to the reporting of this story. Reach Rachel Barber at [email protected] and follow her on X @rachelbarber_
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