How to Register to Vote

• Also try: How to Vote | How to Choose a Candidate | How to Choose a Political Party

Guide Note: Before you head off to your local polling place on election day, you're going to need to know How to Register to Vote. This page will explain how to make your vote count!

Introduction

• Registering to vote is a painless process. You can register in a number of ways, including online or by mail. This page will tell you how you can get it out of the way so you'll be fully prepared on election day.

Why Register?

(Creative Commons photo by Sam Felder)

• Registering is important because:

1. They will have a record of who you are when you go to the polling place, and
2. You will be mailed (or be able to find online) all of the pertinent details and information regarding any upcoming elections.

• The main reason to register? You can't vote at all if you don't do it! Once registered, you will be kept up to date any time an election is approaching with the following information:

1. The date and time of the election.
2. The address of the voting location nearest to you.
3. The candidates' names, parties, and, in some cases, general stances on certain issues.
4. A description of any voter initiatives.
5. A sample ballot, complete with instructions on how the voting process will work.
   • You can use the sample ballot to practice casting your vote so that you know exactly what to expect come election day.
   • In some cases, the sample ballot can be brought into the voting booth to save time.

The Registration Process

First Things First

• Before you register, you should establish two things:

1. You are eligible to vote.
   • You must be a United States citizen.
   • You must be at least 18 years old on election day.
   • Each state has laws on convicted felons' eligibility requirements.
2. Your political party.
   • The Republican and Democratic parties are the most popular in America.
   • Other parties include the Libertarian Party, Green Party, Constitution Party
   • There are many alternative party options.
   • Take the political compass test if you're unsure of where you stand in the political spectrum.
   • You may register as an independent or with no party affiliation.

How to Register

1. By far the easiest way to register is to do it online. Just go to Rock the Vote to do so. (You will need to print and mail a form.)
2. JustVote.org allows you to download a PDF file of the voter registration paperwork for free. Simply click on your state, print the document, fill it out, and mail it in.
3. Vote411.org is an excellent resource for finding voting information for your state, including how to register.
4. If you move to a new state and apply for a new driver's license, you can usually register to vote right in the DMV during the process, killing two birds with one stone.
5. You can always visit your local municipal building (such as City Hall) to find out all the information you need, but this seems like the less desirable option when technology allows you to do it all from home.
6. If you will be away from home on election day (if you are in the military or are a U.S. citizen living overseas, for example), you can register for an absentee ballot.

Resources for How to Register to Vote

• Register Online: Rock the Vote
• Register By Mail: JustVote.org
• Election Information: Vote411.org
• Absentee Ballots: Overseas Vote Foundation
• Wikipedia: Political Parties in the United States
• Politics1: Directory of U.S. Political Parties
• Republican National Committee: GOP.com
• The Democratic Party: Democrats.org
• Libertarian: LP.org
• Green Party: GP.org
• Constitution Party: ConstitutionParty.com
• The Political Compass: Political Compass Test
• DMV.org: The Unofficial Guide to the DMV
• The Sentencing Project: Felony Disenfranchisement Laws

Related Searches