Elections & Voting

Being eligible isn't enough. You have to be registered, know how your state runs its elections, and know where to turn if something goes wrong. Then you can help other people do the same.

Every state sets its own rules, so this page points you to your own state's official election office for exact dates.

Get ready to vote

1Check

Find out whether you are registered at your current address. Moving, changing your name, or years without voting can drop you from the rolls.

2Register or update

See how your state does it: online, by mail or in person, what ID or proof you may need, and where your exact deadline is posted.

3Know how you'll vote

Early voting, mail ballots, and ID at the polls are all set by your state. Know your options before Election Day.

Select your state

Your state page on our Go Vote site shows the registration rules, ID rules, and early and mail voting for your state, with links to your state's own election office. (It opens on govote.joethevoter.org.)

Or Select a State

Missing a birth certificate, marriage record, or other document you need to prove who you are? Go Vote's Gather Documents section shows how to get it in every state. Moved, changed your name, or a student? See the situation guides.

If something goes wrong

Turned away, told you're not on the list, pressured or harassed at the polls? These are the places to call.

Election Protection (866-OUR-VOTE)

Nonpartisan national voter-protection coalition of more than 300 partners, led by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Trained volunteers answer questions and help with problems registering, voting early, voting by mail, and at the polls, including intimidation or being turned away.

Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Other ways to reach them are listed at 866ourvote.org.

Source: Election Protection's own site (866ourvote.org, About page) and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (lawyerscommittee.org).

Election Protection language lines

Election Protection hotlines for callers who prefer Spanish, Asian languages, or Arabic. Each line also answers in English.

Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)
Asian languages: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)
Arabic: 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)

Source: Election Protection's own site (866ourvote.org), hotline listings.

Your state election office

Your state's official election office runs registration, polling places, and voting rules, and takes complaints about how an election was run. It holds your exact dates and is the authority on your state's rules.

Pick your state on Go Vote (Get Registered) for a direct link to your own state's election office.

Source: Each state's election office is linked from that state's page on govote.joethevoter.org.

Your rights at the polls

General information, not legal advice. Rules differ by state, so confirm with your state election office or a help line above.

If you're in line when the polls close, stay in line and ask a poll worker to confirm you'll be allowed to vote.
If your name isn't on the list, or you don't have the ID your state asks for, ask for a provisional ballot. What happens to it afterward depends on your state.
If you need help reading or marking your ballot because of a disability or a language barrier, ask poll workers what help your state allows, or call one of the language lines above.
No one should pressure, threaten, or harass you at the polls. Tell a poll worker, and call 866-OUR-VOTE if it continues.

ID rules and early and mail voting rules for your state are on your state page on Go Vote. For protests and public demonstrations, see Know Your Rights.

Help other people vote

Registration drives, voter guides, candidate forums, and election protection work all run on volunteers. The directory lists 14 groups that do this work, from national organizations to local chapters.

Find Voting & Election Groups