How to Vote
The different ways to cast a vote
Absentee/Mail-in ballot
In person on election day
How to register to vote
Age requirements
In the United States, the legal voting age is 18 nationwide. However, voter registration and pre-registration rules and ages differ by state. Click here to see the regulations by state.
Citizenship requirements
To be eligible to vote in the United States, one must be a U.S. citizen, meet one’s state’s residency requirements, be 18 years old on or before Election Day, and be registered to vote by one’s state’s voter registration deadline. The only state that does not require voter registration is North Dakota.
Individuals who are not eligible to vote include non-citizens (includes permanent legal residents), individuals with felony convictions or mental incapacitation (both characteristics vary by state). U.S. citizens living in U.S. territories are not eligible to vote for President in general elections.