Kitchen and everyday life · Easy · about 15 minutes to register, plus time to learn your ballot
Register to Vote and Get Ready to Vote
Voting is how citizens choose the people who make laws and run government. Before you can vote, most states require you to register, and each state sets its own deadlines and rules. This guide walks through the steps. It doesn't tell you who or what to vote for.
👪When to teach it: Talk about elections from about 8, read a sample ballot together from about 12, and register yourself when your state allows, which in most states can be before you turn 18.
Your state or local election office's website (vote.gov links to every state)
Your home address
An ID, if your state requires one to vote
A calendar for deadlines
Step by step
Tick each step as you go if you like; ticks stay on this device.
Civics
How it works: How your vote turns into representation
The United States is a representative democracy. Instead of voting on every law, citizens elect people to make laws for them. You vote for leaders at every level: local, state and federal.
In Congress, the House of Representatives has 435 members, and each serves a two-year term. The Senate has 100 senators, two from each state, and each serves a six-year term.
All 435 House seats are on the ballot every two years. Senate terms are staggered, so only about one-third of senators are elected in any two-year cycle. Midterm elections fall halfway between presidential elections.
senators = 2 per state × 50 states = 100
Try it: Look up who represents you in Congress and when your state's next election is. Make a family calendar with the registration deadline circled in red.
Free how-to guides for families, with nothing to earn, pass or send in. They follow U.S. rules and sources; your owner's manual, product labels and state and local rules come first.
🗳️ Register to Vote and Get Ready to Vote
Name ____________________ Date __________
You'll need
Your state or local election office's website (vote.gov links to every state)
Your home address
An ID, if your state requires one to vote
A calendar for deadlines
Steps
Check that you're eligible. To vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, meet your state's residency rules, be 18 by Election Day, and be registered by your state's deadline. North Dakota doesn't require voter registration.
Find your state's deadline. There's no national registration deadline. Some states close registration 30 days before Election Day, and others let you register on Election Day itself.
Register. Most states let you register online. You can also mail in the National Mail Voter Registration Form (New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming don't accept it), or register in person at your election office or state motor vehicles office.
Pre-register if you're under 18. In most states you can sign up before you turn 18. Several states let 17-year-olds vote in primary elections if they'll be 18 by the general election.
Check your registration. Look yourself up on your state's election website. Make sure your name, address and polling place are right. Check before the registration deadline so there's time to fix problems, and update it if you've moved.
Learn what's on your ballot. Many election offices post sample ballots online. Read about each race and any ballot questions. If you use a voter guide, check who wrote it.
Choose how you'll vote. Most people who vote on Election Day vote in person at an assigned location. Some states hold elections entirely by mail, and others let you request an absentee ballot. Ask your election office which options you have.
Confirm where and when. Voting hours and locations are set locally. Confirm your voting location and its hours with your election office before each election.
Bring the right ID. Check your state's ID rules. In most states you need ID to vote in person. You don't need a voter registration card.