How to vote in the US
Quick answer
To vote in the US, you must be a US citizen, 18 by Election Day and meet your state’s residency rules. Register through vote.gov, which links to your state’s official registration, check your registration before each election, and then vote in person on Election Day, early, or by mail, depending on your state.
Elections in the US are run by states and local election offices, so the exact rules, such as deadlines, ID requirements and mail voting options, depend on where you live. The steps below apply everywhere; your state’s official election website has the details.
Step 1: Check that you’re eligible
In general, you can vote in federal elections if you:
- Are a US citizen
- Will be 18 or older by Election Day (some states let 16- and 17-year-olds pre-register)
- Meet your state’s residency requirements
- Are registered by your state’s deadline
Step 2: Register
Start at vote.gov and choose your state. Depending on the state, you can register:
- Online, through the state’s official site
- By mail, using the National Mail Voter Registration Form or a state form
- In person, at your local election office and at some other government offices, such as motor vehicle offices
You’ll usually need a driver’s license or state ID number. If you don’t have one, your state may accept other documents.
Step 3: Confirm your registration
Check your status before every election, especially if you’ve moved or changed your name. Your state or local election office website has an official lookup tool.
Step 4: Choose how to vote
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| In person on Election Day | Vote at your assigned polling place |
| Early in-person voting | Many states let you vote at set locations before Election Day |
| By mail / absentee | Request a ballot (or receive one automatically in some states) and return it by the deadline |
Your polling place, hours and ballot details come from your state or local election office. Always use official government sites for these, not social media posts.
Voting from abroad
US citizens living overseas, service members and their eligible family members can register and request absentee ballots through the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP).
Federal general elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. For a different kind of countdown, see how many weeks are in a year.
Sources
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