This document provides a guide to the voting process in the United States. It outlines the key steps which include: checking your eligibility by verifying citizenship and age requirements; meeting your state's voter registration deadline; registering to vote online, by mail, or in-person; checking and updating your registration information; becoming informed on the candidates and issues; and voting on election day or requesting an absentee ballot. The guide stresses the importance of being properly registered and provides resources for voters to check deadlines, registration status, sample ballots, and more to ensure they are prepared to participate in the election process.

1. An Informative
Guide to Voting
Learn how to participate in America’s
election process
Image from: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2015-2-march-
april/bulletin/vote-sierra-club-electionGeoffrey Diver

2. Step 1: Checking Your Eligibility
Requirements
 Must be a U.S. citizen
 You must be 18 years of age on or before Election Day
 If you will be 18 on election day you may register to vote (varies on the state)
 Homelessness does not prevent you from voting
 In which case you should list a local shelter as your address
You cannot vote if
 You are not a U.S. citizen
 You are a convicted felon or mentally incapacitated (varies on the state)
 Check with your local election office through https://www.usa.gov/election-office

3. Step 2: Checking
Your States Deadline
Getting all your paperwork into the right hands
when it’s due is very important. The deadlines may
vary based on your state.
Follow the link to find your
state’s registration deadline
https://www.usvotefoundation
.org/vote/state-
elections/state-election-dates-
deadlines.htm
Image from: https://www.npr.org/2018/09/10/645223716/on-the-
sidelines-of-democracy-exploring-why-so-many-americans-dont-
vote

4. Step 3: Registration
• The most convenient way to
vote is online by visiting
https://vote.gov/
• Alternatively you can register
via mail by mailing the
registration form to your
election office (link to form
below)
https://www.eac.gov/voters/n
ational-mail-voter-registration-
form/
• You may also register in person
at your local election office
and in some cases the DMV,
Armed Services Recruitment
Center and your state/county
public assistant’s offices
• Registering the same day of an
election varies on the state
Video from: https://youtu.be/JAI9vuvCads

5. Does Your State Has Same Day Voter Registration?
1. California
2. Colorado
3. Connecticut
4. District of Columbia
5. Hawaii
6. Idaho
7. Illinois
8. Iowa
9. Maine
10. Maryland
11. Minnesota
12. Montana
13. New Hampshire
14. North Carolina
15. Utah
16. Vermont
17. Washington
18. Wisconsin
19. Wyoming
Image From:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Same-
day_voter_registration_in_the_United_States_by_states.svg

6. Step 4: Checking and Changing Registration
Information
 To avoid problems at the polls you should
be sure to check your voter's eligibility
 Updating your information if you’ve had a
change in address or name is also
important
 In some cases (such as not being an
active voter) you may need to re-register
 All can be done in person at your local
election office or online at
https://www.nass.org/can-i-vote
Video from: https://youtu.be/voTLxlfXpWk

7. Step 5: Getting
Informed
Image from: https://www.seattlelutheran.org/a-guide-to-
five-american-political-parties-by-alexandria-naftchi/
• Before you make the final
step and vote be sure
you are aware of how
the candidates will be
making their decisions
• Check their political
views and research your
candidates
• A helpful site to use is
https://www.isidewith.co
m/political-quiz

8. Step 6: Voting
 On election years election day is always the first
Tuesday of November
 If you are not registered to vote and your state
allows same day voters registration you should
bring a picture I.D. and a form of mail listing your
current address (requirements vary of the state)
 Find your local polling place through
https://www.vote.org/polling-place-locator/
Image from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htIfnDiZa80

9. What to do if There is a Problem With Your
Eligibility at Your Polling Place
 Request a provisional ballot
 Provisional ballots can be requested
when a problem with your eligibility
occurs at the polling place
 This may occur when a voter's name is not
on the official voters list
 An election official will determine the
eligibility of the voter under state law
Video from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEhx3jOrjhs

10. Voting with an
Absentee
Ballot
• Will you be away on a trip, at college or stationed
away from home on election day? Apply for an
absentee ballot as soon as possible to make your
voice heard
• You can apply in person at your local election
official's office
• You may also apply online at
https://www.vote.org/absentee-ballot/
1. Alaska
2. Arizona
3. Arkansas
4. California
5. District of Columbia
6. Florida
7. Georgia
8. Hawaii
9. Idaho
10. Illinois
11. Indiana
12. Iowa
13. Kansas
14. Louisiana
15. Maine
16. Maryland
17. Massachusetts
18. Minnesota
19. Montana
20. Nebraska
21. Nevada
22. New Jersey
23. New Mexico
24. North Carolina
25. North Dakota
26. Ohio
27. Oklahoma
28. South Dakota
29. Tennessee
30. Texas
31. Utah
32. Vermont
33. West Virginia
34. Wisconsin
35. Wyoming
States that allow Early Voting
and Absentee Ballots

11. Citations
https://www.eac.gov/assets/1/1/A%20Voter's%20Guide%20to%20Federal%20Elections.pdf
http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/same-day-registration.aspx
http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/absentee-and-early-voting.aspx
https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote#item-212825