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Frequently Asked Questions About

Voter Registration and Voting

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Q.   When can I vote?

A.   The following chart lists shows opening and closing times for polling locations in each State.

State Polls Open Polls Close
Alabama No later than 8am. 6/8pm
Alaska 7am. 8pm.
Arizona 6am. 7pm.
California 7am. 8pm.
Colorado 7am. 7pm.
Connecticut 6am. 8pm.
Delaware 7am. 8pm.
District of Columbia 7am. 8pm.
Florida 7am. 7pm.
Georgia 7am. 7pm.
Hawaii 7am. 6pm.
Idaho 8am. 8pm.
Illinois 6am. 7pm.
Indiana 6am. 6pm.
Iowa 7am. 9pm.
Kansas 6/7am. 7/8pm.
Kentucky 6am. 6pm.
Louisiana 6am. 8pm.
Maine 6/10am. * 8pm.
Maryland 7am. 8pm.
Massachusetts No Later than 7am. 8pm.
Michigan 7am. 8pm.
Minnesota 7am. 8pm. *
Mississippi 7am. 7pm.
Missouri 6am. 7pm.
Montana 7am./12Noon * 8pm *
Nebraska 7/8am. 7/8pm.
Nevada 7am. 7pm.
New Hampshire 11am. 7pm. at the earliest
New Jersey 7am. 8pm.
New Mexico 7am. 8pm.
New York 6am. 9pm.
North Carolina 6:30am. 7:30pm.
North Dakota 7/9am. 7/9pm. *
Ohio 6:30am. 7:30pm.
Oklahoma 7am. 7pm.
Oregon 7am. 8pm.
Pennsylvania 7am. 8pm.
Rhode Island 7am./12Noon 9pm.
South Carolina 7am. 7pm.
South Dakota 7/8am. 7/8pm.
Tennessee 6/8am. 7/8pm. **
Texas 7am. 7pm.
Utah 7am. 8pm.
Vermont 6/10am. 7pm.
Virginia 6am. 7pm.
Washington 7am. 8pm.
West Virginia 6:30am. 7:30pm.
Wisconsin 7/9am. 8pm.
Wyoming 7am. 7pm.
     
* Depends on the size of the jurisdiction.    
** 7pm. CST - 8pm. EST.    
     

 

Q.    Where is my polling place?

A.    Polling place location in each community is determined by local election officials. For the address or location of your specific polling place, please contact your county election official who may be either the County/Municipal Clerk, Supervisor of Elections, or Board/Commission of Elections.

 

Q.   Where can I register to vote?

A.   While a registration application may of course be obtained from the local election officials in your county, or through registration outreach programs sponsored by groups such as the League of Women Voters, you can also register to vote when applying for services at State DMV or drivers' licensing offices, State offices providing public assistance, State offices providing State-funded programs for the disabled, and at armed forces recruitment offices. In addition to these locations, many States offer registration opportunities at public libraries, post offices, unemployment offices, public high schools and universities.

 

Q.    When is the last day that I may register in order to be eligible to vote in the next election?

A.     Scroll down to view the last day on which you may register to vote in your State.

 

State Voter Registration Deadlines

STATE REGISTRATION DEADLINES FOR ALL ELECTIONS
Alabama 10 days before an election.
Alaska 30 days before an election.
Arizona 29 days before an election.
Arkansas 30 days before an election.
California 29 days before an election.
Colorado 29 days before an election. If the application is received in the mail without a postmark, it must be received within 5 days of the close of registration.
Connecticut 14 days before an election.
Delaware 20 days prior to the general election and 21 days prior to any primary election.
D.C. 30 days before an election.
Florida 29 days before an election.
Georgia The fifth Monday before a general primary, general election, or presidential preference primary. The fifth day after the date of the call for all other special primaries and special elections.
Hawaii 30 days before an election
Idaho 25 days before an election - mail; 24 days for in person; or election day at the polls.
Illinois 29 days before primary; 28 days before a general election
Indiana 29 days before an election
Iowa Delivered by 5 pm 10 days before a state primary or general election; 11 days before all others. A postmark 15 or more days before an election is considered on time.
Kansas Delivered 15 days before an election.
Kentucky 28 days before an election.
Louisiana 24 days before an election.
Maine 10 business days before an election or delivered in person up to and including election day.
Maryland 9 pm on the fifth Monday before an election.
Massachusetts 20 days before an election.
Michigan 30 days before an election.
Minnesota Delivered by 5pm 21 days before an election; also election day registration at polling places.
Mississippi 30 days before an election.
Missouri 28 days before an election.
Montana 30 days before an election.
Nebraska The fourth Tuesday before an election or delivered by 6pm on the second Friday before an election.
Nevada 9pm on the fifth Sat. before any primary or general election. 9pm on the third Sat. before any recall or special election unless held on the same day as a primary or general election. Then it remains the fifth Saturday.
New Hampshire Must be received by city or town clerk 10 days before an election; or regis at the polls on election day.
New Jersey 29 days before an election.
New Mexico 28 days before an election.
New York 25 days before an election.
North Carolina Postmarked 25 days before an election or received in the elections office or designated voter regis. agency by 5pm.
North Dakota North Dakota does not have voter registration.
Ohio 30 days before an election.
Oklahoma 25 days before an election.
Oregon 21 days before an election. (There is no deadline for applications for change of name, change of address or to register with a party.)
Pennsylvania 30 days before an election.
Rhode Island 30 days before an election. *Check Saturday Hours
South Carolina 30 days before an election.
South Dakota Delivered 15 days before an election.
Tennessee 30 days before an election.
Texas 30 days before an election.
Utah 20 days before an election.
Vermont Delivered to the town clerk before noon, postmarked or submitted to DMV on the second Sat. before an election.
Virginia Delivered 29 days before an election.
Washington 30 days before an election; or delivered in-person up to 15 days before an election at a location designated by the county elections officer (usually the county courthouse).
West Virginia 30 days before an election.
Wisconsin 13 days before an election; or completed in the local voter registration office 1 day before an election; or completed at the polling place on election day.
Wyoming 30 days before an election or register at the polling place on election day.
   

 

Q:   Why are federal elections held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November?

A:   The Tuesday after the first Monday in November was initially established in 1845 (3 U.S.C. 1) for the appointment of Presidential electors in every fourth year. 2 U.S.C. 7, established this date for electing Representatives in every even numbered year in 1875. Finally, 2 U.S.C. 1 established this date as the time for electing U.S. Senators in 1914.

Why early November? For much of our history, America was a predominantly agrarian society. Law makers therefore took into account that November was perhaps the most convenient month for farmers and rural workers to be able to travel to the polls. The fall harvest was over, (remember that spring was planting time and summer was taken up with working the fields and tending the crops) but in the majority of the nation the weather was still mild enough to permit travel over unimproved roads.

Why Tuesday? Since most residents of rural America had to travel a significant distance to the county seat in order to vote, Monday was not considered reasonable since many people would need to begin travel on Sunday. This would, of course, have conflicted with Church services and Sunday worship.

Why the first Tuesday after the first Monday? Lawmakers wanted to prevent election day from falling on the first of November for two reasons. First, November 1st is All Saints Day, a Holy Day of Obligation for Roman Catholics. Second, most merchants were in the habit of doing their books from the preceding month on the 1st. Apparently, Congress was worried that  the economic success or failure of the previous month might prove an undue influence on the vote!

 

Q:    Does my vote really make a difference?

A:     "Just" one vote can and often does make a difference in the outcome of an election.

EXAMPLES IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS

  • In the 1829 election for the U.S. House of Representatives in Kentucky's 2nd District, Jackson Democrat Nicholas Coleman defeated National Republican Adam Beatty 2,520 to 2,519.

  • In the 1847 election for the U.S. House of Representatives in Indiana's 6th District, Whig candidate George G. Dunn defeated Democratic candidate David M. Dobson 7,455 to 7,454. Also in 1847, Whig Thomas S.Flournoy defeated a Democratic candidate named Treadway 650 to 649 in the race for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 3rd District of Virginia.

  • In the 1854 election for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 7th District of Illinois, Democratic candidate James C. Allen bested Republican William B. Archer 8,452 to 8,451.

  • In the 1882 election for U.S. House of Representatives in the 1st District of Virginia, Readjuster Robert M. Mayo defeated Democrat George T. Garrison 10,505 to 10,504.

RECENT EXAMPLES IN NONFEDERAL ELECTIONS

  • In 1977, Vermont State Representative Sydney Nixon was seated as an apparent one vote winner, 570 to 569. Mr. Nixon resigned when the State House determined , after a recount, that he had lost to Robert Emond, 572 to 571.

  • In 1989, a Lansing, Michigan School District millage proposition failed when the final recount produced a tie vote, 5,147 for, and 5,147 against. On the original vote count, votes against the proposition were ten more than those in favor. The result meant that the school district had to reduce its budget by $2.5 million.

  • In 1994, Republican Randall Luthi and Independent Larry Call tied for the seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives from the Jackson Hole area, with 1,941 votes each. A recount produced the same result. Mr. Luthi was finally declared the winner when, in a drawing before the State Canvassing Board, a PingPong ball bearing his name was pulled from the cowboy hat of Democratic Governor Mike Sullivan.

  • In 1997, South Dakota Democrat John McIntyre led Republican Hal Wick 4,195 - 4,191 for the second seat in Legislative District 12 on election night. A subsequent recount showed Wick the winner at 4192 - 4,191. The State Supreme Court, however, ruled that one ballot counted for Wick was invalid due to an overvote. This left the race a tie. After hearing arguments from both sides, the State Legislature voted to seat Wick 46-20.

 

Q:    What is the order of succession should the President die, become incapacitated, or is         otherwise unable to finish his term of office?

A:    The order of succession is as follows:     Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the      Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, and Secretaries     of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health, Housing, Transportation, Energy, Education, and Veterans     Affairs.   (Presidential Succession Act of 1947)

 

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