How to Register to Vote in the 2020 Election

U.S. Voting

With voter registration now open to Americans, Newsweek looks at the different ways U.S. citizens can register in each state and how to do checks on whether you've already registered and whether your details—such as your address—are up-to-date.

How Can I Check Whether I'm Registered To Vote?

Residents can visit the "Can I Vote" website and select "voter registration status." Then, they can choose their state, before being taken to a page on that state's website where they can check to see if they are registered.

Check your registration information before your state's deadline to register to vote. That could be up to 30 days before the election.

To change your registration information, Americans can do this online, by mail, or by phone. Applicants will need their driver license number or state ID number and Social Security number.

The legal voting age in the U.S. is 18, but voter registration and pre-registration rules and ages vary by state. Check the state's official voter registration page for more information.

When Is The Deadline For Vote Registration?

As deadlines vary by state, Newsweek has provided a breakdown of deadlines for each one as well as the U.S. territories. Some states have a limited number of ways for people to register, which we have also included below.

Alabama

Online registration can be done on the Alabama election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 19, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 19, 2020

Alaska

Residents can register to vote online on Alaska's election website, where they can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 4, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Sunday, October 4, 2020

American Samoa

Register in person at the local election office. Readers can learn more about how to register on American Samoa's election website.

Deadline to register:

In-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020

Arizona

Online registration can be done on Arizona's election website, where people can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 5, 2020

Arkansas

Voting can only be done in-person or by mail-in for this state.

Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 5, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020

California

Start your online registration on California's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online registration deadline: October 19, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 19, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Getty Images Voting Booth MN — Signage about COVID-19 procedures sits in a ballot booth at the Beltrami County Administration building in Bemidji, Minnesota, on September 18, 2020. Early voting started on September 18 in Minnesota as President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden were both campaigning in the state. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Colorado

Online registration can be done on Colorado's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online registration deadline: October 26, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 26, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Connecticut

Start your online registration on Connecticut's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online registration deadline: October 27, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 27, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Delaware

Residents can register to vote online using Delaware's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 10, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Saturday, October 10, 2020

District of Columbia (D.C.)

Residents are unable to register online to vote. Find out ways to register to vote at District of Columbia's state election website.

Deadlines to register:

Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Tuesday, October 13, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Florida

Start your online registration on Florida's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Monday, October 5, 2020

Georgia

People can register to vote online on Georgia's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Monday, October 5, 2020

Guam

Start your online registration on Guam's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 13, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Friday, October 23, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 23, 2020

Hawaii

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 5, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Monday, October 5, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Idaho

Start your online registration on Idaho's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 9, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Friday, October 9, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Illinois

Residents can do online registration on Illinois's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 18, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Tuesday, October 6, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Indiana

To register to vote online, use the Indiana election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 5, 2020

Getty Images Voting — A sign is posted at a voter registration booth outside a naturalization ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, on July 23, 2019. Deadlines for vote registration vary by state in the U.S. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Iowa

Start your online registration on Iowa's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 24, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Saturday, October 24, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Kansas

Start your online registration on Kansas's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 13, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Kentucky

Online registration can be done on Kentucky's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Monday, October 5, 2020

Louisiana

Start your online registration on Louisiana's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 13, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 5, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020

Maine

Online registration is currently not available. Find out ways to register to vote at Maine's state election website.

Deadline to register:

Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Tuesday, October 13, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Maryland

Start your online registration on Maryland's election website., where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online registration deadline: October 13, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 13, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Massachusetts

Online registration can be done on Massachusetts's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 24, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Saturday, October 24, 2020

Michigan

Start your online registration on Michigan's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 19, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 19, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Minnesota

Do you online registration on Minnesota's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 13, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Tuesday, October 13, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Mississippi

Online registration is currently not available. Find out ways to register to vote at Mississippi's state election website.

Deadline to register:

Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 5, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020

Missouri

Start your online registration on Missouri's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in -person.

Deadline to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 7, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Montana

Online registration is currently not available. Find out ways to register to vote at Montana's state election website.

Deadline to register:

Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 26, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Nebraska

Start your online registration on Nebraska's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 16, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Friday, October 16, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 23, 2020

Nevada

Online registration can be done on Nevada's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 29, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 6, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 6, 2020

New Hampshire

In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

New Jersey

Online registration is currently not available. Find out ways to register to vote at New Jersey's state election website.

Deadlines to register:

Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Tuesday, October 13, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 13, 2020

Getty Images Voting coronavirus — An election observer cleans voting booths during a Democratic presidential primary election at the Kenosha Bible Church gym in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on April 7, 2020. Some states do not allow online registration to vote. Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty Images

New Mexico

Start your online registration on New Mexico's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online registration deadline: October 6, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 6, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 31, 2020

New York

Online registration can be done on New York's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 9, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Friday, October 9, 2020

North Carolina

Start your online registration on North Carolina's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 9, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Friday, October 9, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 31, 2020

North Dakota

Voter registration is not required in North Dakota. Learn more about voting on North Dakotas election website.

Northern Mariana Islands

In-person registration deadline: Friday, September 4, 2020

Ohio

Start your online registration on Ohio's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 5, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 5, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020

Oklahoma

Online registration is currently not available. Find out ways to register to vote at Oklahoma's state election website.

Deadline to register:

Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Friday, October 9, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 9, 2020

Oregon

Start your online registration on Oregon's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 13, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 13, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 13, 2020

Pennsylvania

Residents can register online on Pennsylvania's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 19, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Monday, October 19, 2020

Puerto Rico

Learn more about how to register on Puerto Rico's election website.

In-person registration deadline: Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Rhode Island

Start your online registration on Rhode Island's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 4, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Sunday, October 4, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 4, 2020

South Carolina

Start your online registration on South Carolina's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 4, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 5, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 2, 2020

South Dakota

Online registration is currently not available. Find out ways to register to vote at South Dakota's state election website.

Deadline to register:

Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Monday, October 19, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 19, 2020

Tennessee

Online registration can be done on Tennessee's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online and in-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 5, 2020

Texas

Online registration is currently not available. Find out ways to register to vote at Texas's state election website.

Deadline to register:

Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Monday, October 5, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 5, 2020

U.S. Virgin Islands

Register in person at your local election office. Learn more about how to register on U.S. Virgin Islands's election website.

In person registration deadline: October 4, 2020

Utah

Start your online registration on Utah's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 23, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Friday, October 23, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Vermont

Residents can do their online registration on Vermont's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online registration deadline: October 30, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Friday, October 30, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Virginia

Start your online registration on Virginia's election website, where residents can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 13, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 13, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 13, 2020

Washington

Online registration can be done on Washington's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 26, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Monday, October 26, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

West Virginia

Start your online registration on West Virginia's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadline to register:

Online registration deadline: October 13, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 13, 2020
In-person registration deadline: October 13, 2020

Wisconsin

Residents can do online registration on Wisconsin's election website, where you can also register to vote by mail or in person.

Deadlines to register:

Online registration deadline: October 14, 2020
Mail-in registration deadline: Must be postmarked by Wednesday, October 14, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

Wyoming

Online registration is currently not available. Find out ways to register to vote at Wyoming's state election website.

Deadline to register:

Mail-in registration deadline: Must be received by Monday, October 19, 2020
In-person registration deadline: November 3, 2020

How Can I Check Whether I'm Registered To Vote?

When Is The Deadline For Vote Registration?

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