The election rules vary by state. In all states you have to register before you can vote. In Minnesota, you can register to vote on Election Day, but in most states you have to register to vote before Election Day. In some states you must register 30 days before election day. All states allow absentee voting or voting by mail under certain circumstances for registered voters. Generally this is done before Election Day. Some states allow in person early voting. Check the rules for your state below.

ALABAMA

Registration Deadline: 10 days before an election
Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Montgomery, AL
1-800-274-8683
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ALASKA

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Division of Elections
Juneau, AK
1-800-383-8683
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ARIZONA

Registration Deadline: 29 days before an election
Office of the Secretary of State
Phoenix, AZ
1-877-THE-VOTE (1-877-843-8683)
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ARKANSAS

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Elections Department
Office of the Secretary of State
Little Rock, AR
501-682-1010
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CALIFORNIA

Registration Deadline: 15 days before each local and statewide election
Office of the Secretary of State
Sacramento, CA
1-800-345-VOTE (8683) or 916-657-2166
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COLORADO

Registration Deadline: 29 days before an election
Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Denver, CO 303-894-2200
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CONNECTICUT

Registration Deadline: up to noon the day before a primary (in person)
or the 5th day before the primary (by mail), and up to
14 days before a general election.
(NOTE: In 2006, it will be 14 days by mail and 7 days in
person before a general election).
Election Administration
Office of the Secretary of State
Hartford, CT
860-509-6100 or 1-800-540-3764
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DELAWARE

Registration Deadline: 21 days before an election
Commissioner of Elections
Dover, DE
302-739-4277
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Board of Elections and Ethics
Washington DC
202-727-2525
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FLORIDA

Registration Deadline: 29 days before an election
Division of Elections
Florida Department of State
Tallahassee, FL
1-866-308-6739
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GEORGIA

Registration Deadline: No later than the 5th Monday prior to the
next election. Mail-in forms must be postmarked on
or before this deadline
Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Atlanta, GA
404-656-2871
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HAWAII

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Office of Elections
Pearl City, HI
808-453-VOTE (8683) or 1-800-422-VOTE (8683)
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IDAHO

Registration Deadline: Form must be postmarked 25 days before an
election, or in person on day of election with proof of
residence
Office of the Secretary of State
Boise, ID
208-334-2852
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ILLINOIS

Registration Deadline: 31 days before an election
Office of the Secretary of State
Springfield, IL
1-800-252-8980
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INDIANA

Registration Deadline: 29 days before an election
Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Indianapolis, IN
317-232-6531
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IOWA

Registration Deadline: 10 days before statewide primary and general
elections; 11 days before other elections
Office of the Secretary of State
Des Moines, IA
1-888-SOS-VOTE (767-8683)
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KANSAS

Registration Deadline: 15 days before an election
Office of the Secretary of State
Topeka, KS
1-800-262-VOTE (8683)
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KENTUCKY

Registration Deadline: 29 days before an election
State Board of Elections
Frankfort, KY
502-573-7100
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LOUISIANA

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Baton Rouge, LA
1-800-883-2805
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MAINE

Registration Deadline: Day of election
Division of Elections and Commissions
Office of the Secretary of State
Augusta, ME
207-626-8400
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MARYLAND

Registration Deadline: 21 days before an election
State Board of Elections
Annapolis, MD
1-800-222-VOTE (8683)
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MASSACHUSETTS

Registration Deadline: 20 days before all primaries and elections,
and/or 10 days before a special town meeting.
Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Boston, MA
1-800-462-VOTE
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MICHIGAN

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Department of State
Lansing, MI
1-888-SOS-MICH
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MINNESOTA

Registration Deadline: Election Day
Office of the Secretary of State
St. Paul, MN
1-877-600-8683
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MISSISSIPPI

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Office of the Secretary of State
Jackson, MS
1-800-829-6786
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MISSOURI

Registration Deadline: The close of business on the 4th Wednesday
prior to an election
Office of the Secretary of State
Jefferson City, MO
1-800-669-8683
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MONTANA

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Office of the Secretary of State
Helena, MT
1-888-884-VOTE (8683)
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NEBRASKA

Registration Deadline: In-person applications must be received by 6pm
on the second Friday before the election or mail-in
applications must be postmarked by the third Friday
before the election.
Election Administration
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE
402-471-2555
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NEVADA

Registration Deadline: 3rd Tuesday preceding an election (during the
last 10 days, registration must be done in person)
Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Carson City, NV
775-684-5705
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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Registration Deadline: You may register with the town or city clerk
where you live up to 10 days before any election.
You may also register on election day at the polling
place.
Election Division
State House
Concord, NH
603 271-3242
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NEW JERSEY

Registration Deadline: 29 days before an election
Division of Elections
Trenton, NJ
1-800-292-0039
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NEW MEXICO

Registration Deadline: 28 days before an election
Bureau of State Elections
Office of the Secretary of State
Santa Fe, NM
1-800-477-3632
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NEW YORK

Registration Deadline: 25 days before an election
State Board of Elections
Albany, NY
1-800-458-3453
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NORTH CAROLINA

Registration Deadline: 25 days before an election
State Board of Elections
Raleigh, NC
919-733-7173
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NORTH DAKOTA

No registration required
Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Bismarck ND
1-800-352-0867
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OHIO

Registration Deadline: 28 days before an election
Ohio Secretary of State
Chief Election Officer
180 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
1-877-767-6446
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OKLAHOMA

Registration Deadline: 25 days before an election
State Election Board
Oklahoma City, OK
405-521-2391
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OREGON

Registration Deadline: 21 days before an election
Election Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Salem, OR
503-986-1518
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PENNSYLVANIA

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Bureau of Commission, Elections and Legislation
Harrisburg, PA
717-787-5280
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RHODE ISLAND

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election or day of
(if voting only for President and Vice President)
Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Providence, RI
401-222-2357
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SOUTH CAROLINA

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Election Commission
Columbia, SC
803 734-9060
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SOUTH DAKOTA

Registration Deadline: 15 days before an election
Office of the Secretary of State
Pierre, SD
605 773-3537
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TENNESSEE

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Division of Elections
Nashville, TN
615-741-7956
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TEXAS

Registration Deadline: 30 days before an election
Office of the Secretary of State
Austin, TX
1-800-252-VOTE (8683)
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UTAH

Registration Deadline: Forms must be postmarked at least 20 days
before an election; or you may register in person at
the County Clerk's Office until the 8th day before
the election.
Office of Director of Elections
Salt Lake City, UT
1-800-995-VOTE (8683)
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VERMONT

Registration Deadline: Noon on the second Monday before the day of
the election.
Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Montpelier, VT
1-800-439-VOTE (8683)
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VIRGINIA

Registration Deadline: 29 days before a general or primary election;
13 days before a special election; 7 days before a
special election called by the governor
State Board of Elections
Richmond, VA
1-800-552-9745
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WASHINGTON

Registration Deadline: 30 days by mail, or 15 days before an election
in person
Office of the Secretary of State
Olympia, WA
360-902-4180
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WEST VIRGINIA

Registration Deadline: 20 days before an election
Office of the Secretary of State
Charleston, WV
1-866-767-8683
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WISCONSIN

Registration Deadline: Day of election
State Board of Elections
Madison, WI
608-266-8005
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WYOMING

Registration Deadline: 30 days before the election or at any election
Elections Administration
Office of the Secretary of State
Cheyenne, WY
307-777-7186
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