Can you register to vote on Election Day? Depends where you are

WASHINGTON — Every state, except North Dakota, requires you to register to vote before casting a ballot. But the deadlines can vary.

More than 20 states and Washington, D.C., allow people to register on Election Day and then immediately cast a ballot. The rest of the states require advance registration, with the deadlines ranging from three to 30 days before an election. 

These are the states that allow same-day registration for Election Day 2024. If you’re hoping to register on Election Day, double check with your local government websites to ensure you have the documents you’ll need. 

Alaska allows for same-day voter registration only for voting for president and vice president. 

The deadline to register to vote in California is 15 days before Election Day. If you miss the deadline in California,  you may conditionally register to vote and cast a provisional ballot in-person in the days leading up to, and including, Election Day. 

Colorado voters can register to vote through Election Day.

Connecticut voters can register to vote in-person during early voting and on Election Day. 

The District of Columbia allows voters to register in-person during early voting and on Election Day with same-day registration. 

Hawaii is a vote by mail state, but allows in-person voting and same-day registration at voter service centers beginning 10 days prior and through Election Day. 

The deadline for online voter registration is 24 days before an election, but voters can also register same day when they vote in-person during early voting or on Election Day. 

While voters have until 28 days prior to the election to register in Illinois, voters can also register and vote at select polling places on Election Day itself. 

The deadline for online or mail-in voter registration in Iowa is Oct. 21, but the state does allow residents to register same-day and vote on Election Day. 

Maine residents may register to vote until Election Day and cast their ballots the same day in-person, but online voter registration and by-mail registration are only available through Oct. 15. Automatic voter registration through Bureau of Motor Vehicle transactions is available through Oct. 29. 

Maryland allows voters to register in-person during early voting and on Election Day with same day registration. 

Michigan residents have until Monday, Oct. 21 to register to vote online or by mail. From Tuesday, Oct. 22 until Tuesday, Nov. 5, residents can only register to vote in person at an early voting location, an Election Day polling location or your local clerk’s office.

The voter registration deadline for Montana is 30 days before the election, but voters can still register in-person through Election Day. 

While the online registration deadline has passed, voters in Nevada can do same-day registration and vote in-person on Election Day. 

New Hampshire is one of the states that allows same-day registration for voting on Election Day. 

While New Mexico’s online and mail voter registration deadlines have passed, the state does allow same-day voter registration in-person during early voting and on Election Day. 

North Dakota is the only state that does not require people to register to vote before casting a ballot. The state does require a valid form of identification that can be used for voting. So, you can show up on Election Day and vote immediately. 

Rhode Island allows those who miss the voter registration deadline to register to vote on Election Day for presidential elections only. However, those who do that can only vote for president and vice president. 

The Utah voter registration deadline is Oct. 25, but the state does allow same-day registration at early voting or Election Day locations with two forms of identification. 

Vermont allows eligible persons to register to vote on any day up to and including Election Day. 

Virginia allows voters to register in-person during early voting and on Election Day with same day registration. 

While the online and mail-in voter registration deadline for Washington is Oct. 28, the state allows in-person registration through Election Day. 

While Wisconsin’s voter registration deadline for online and by mail is Oct. 16, the state allows in-person registration at your clerk’s office until the Friday before the election. Wisconsin also offers same-day voter registration at the polls on Election Day. 

The deadline for voter registration is 14 days before an election; however, you can register and vote at the same time during absentee voting period or on Election Day.