States Eligibility Requirements to Vote

States Eligibility Requirements to Vote:

Alabama

To register in Alabama you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Alabama and your county at the time of registration; be 18 years old before any election; not have been convicted of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary (or have had your civil and political rights restored); not currently be declared mentally incompetent through a competency hearing; swear or affirm to "support and defend the Constitution of the U.S. and the State of Alabama and further disavow any belief or affiliation with any group which advocates the overthrow of the governments of the U. S. or the State of Alabama by unlawful means and that the information contained herein is true, so help me God."

Alaska

To register in Alaska you must: be a citizen of the United States; be at least 18 years old within 90 days of completing this registration; be a resident of Alaska; not be a convicted felon (unless unconditionally discharged); not be registered to vote in another State.

American Samoa

The National Voter Registration form is not accepted in American Samoa.

Contact American Samoa's voter registration office for more information about how to register to vote.

Arizona

To register in Arizona you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Arizona and your county at least 29 days preceding the next election; be 18 years old on or before the next general election; not have been convicted of treason or a felony (or have had your civil rights restored); not currently be declared an incapacitated person by a court of law.

Arkansas

To register in Arkansas you must: be a citizen of the United States; live in Arkansas at the address on the application; be at least 18 years old before the next election; not be a convicted felon (or have completely discharged your sentence or been pardoned); not claim the right to vote in any other jurisdiction; not previously be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction.

California

To register in California you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of California; be at least 18 years of age at the time of the next election; not be imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony; not currently be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law.

Colorado

To register in Colorado you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Colorado 30 days prior to the election; be 18 years old on or before Election Day; not be confined as a prisoner or serving any part of a sentence under mandate.

Connecticut

To register in Connecticut you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Connecticut and of the town in which you wish to vote; be 17 years old. You can vote when you turn 18; have completed confinement and parole if previously convicted of a felony, and have had your voting rights restored by Registrars of Voters; not currently be declared mentally incompetent to vote by a court of law.

Delaware

To register in Delaware you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a permanent resident of Delaware; be at least 18 years old on the date of the next general election; felons are eligible to vote if certain requirements are met: fines and sentence are completed at least five years prior to application date; felony convictions cannot be disqualifying felonies, which are murder, sexual offenses, or crimes against public administration involving bribery or improper influence or abuse of office; not be mentally incompetent.

District of Columbia

To register in the District of Columbia you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a District of Columbia resident at least 30 days preceding the next election; be at least 18 years old on or preceding the next election; not be in jail for a felony conviction; not have been judged "mentally incompetent" by a court of law; not claim the right to vote anywhere outside D.C.

Florida

To register in Florida you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a legal resident of both the State of Florida and of the county in which you seek to be registered; be 18 years old (you may preregister if you are 17); not now be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other State; not have been convicted of a felony without your civil rights having been restored pursuant to law; not claim the right to vote in another county or state; swear or affirm the following: "I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida, that I am qualified to register as an elector under the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, and that I am a citizen of the United States and a legal resident of Florida."

Georgia

To register in Georgia you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you want to vote; be 18 years old within six months after the day of registration, and be 18 years old to vote; not be serving a sentence for having been convicted of a felony; not have been judicially determined to be mentally incompetent, unless the disability has been removed.

Guam

The National Voter Registration form is not accepted in Guam.

Contact Guam's voter registration office for more information about how to register to vote.

Hawaii

To register in Hawaii you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of the State of Hawaii; be at least 16 years old (you must be 18 years old by Election Day in order to vote); not be incarcerated for a felony conviction; not be adjudicated by a court as "non compos mentis."

Idaho

To register in Idaho you must: be a citizen of the United States; have resided in Idaho and in the county for 30 days prior to the day of election; be at least 18 years old; not have been convicted of a felony, and without having been restored to the rights of citizenship, or confined in prison on conviction of a criminal offense.

Illinois

To register in Illinois you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Illinois and of your election precinct at least 30 days before the next election; be at least 18 years old on or before the next election; not be in jail for a felony conviction; not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

Indiana

To register in Indiana you must: be a citizen of the United States; have resided in the precinct at least 30 days before the next election; be at least 18 years of age on the day of the next general election; not currently be in jail for a criminal conviction.

Iowa

To register in Iowa you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Iowa; be at least 17-1/2 years old (you must be 18 to vote); not have been convicted of a felony (or have had your rights restored); not currently be judged by a court to be "mentally incompetent"; not claim the right to vote in more than one place; give up your right to vote in any other place.

Kansas

To register in Kansas you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Kansas; be 18 by the next statewide general election; have completed the terms of your sentence if convicted of a felony; a person serving a sentence for a felony conviction is ineligible to vote; not claim the right to vote in any other location or under any other name; not be excluded from voting for mental incompetence by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Kentucky

To register in Kentucky you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Kentucky; be a resident of the county for at least 28 days prior to the election date; be 18 years of age on or before the next general election; not be a convicted felon or if you have been convicted of a felony, your civil rights must have been restored by executive pardon; not have been judged "mentally incompetent" in a court of law; not claim the right to vote anywhere outside Kentucky.

Louisiana

To register in Louisiana you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Louisiana. Residence address must be address where you claim homestead exemption, if any; be at least 17 years old, and be 18 years old prior to the next election to vote; not currently be under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony; not currently be under a judgment of interdiction for mental incompetence.

Maine

To register in Maine you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Maine and the municipality in which you want to vote; be at least 17 years old (you must be 18 years old to vote).

Maryland

To register in Maryland you must: be a US citizen; be a Maryland resident; be at least 18 years old before the next general election; not be under guardianship for mental disability; not have been convicted of buying or selling votes; not have been convicted more than once of crimes of violence (Criminal Law, Art. 14-101); not have been convicted of an infamous crime [1] unless you have been pardoned, you have completed the court-imposed sentence [2] (first conviction), or at least three years have passed since you completed the court-imposed sentence [2] (second or later conviction). [1] Infamous crime means any felony or any other crime involving an element of deceit, fraud or corruption. [2] The court-imposed sentence includes probation, parole, community service, restitutions and fines.

Massachusetts

To register in Massachusetts you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Massachusetts; be 18 years old on or before the next election; not have been convicted of corrupt practices in respect to elections; not be under guardianship with respect to voting; not be currently incarcerated for a felony conviction.

Michigan

To register in Michigan you must: be a citizen of the United States; be 18 years old by the next election; be a resident of Michigan and at least a 30 day resident of your city or township by Election Day; not be confined in a jail after being convicted and sentenced.

Minnesota

To register in Minnesota you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Minnesota for 20 days before the next election; be 18 years old by election day; not be convicted of treason or a felony without having your civil rights restored; not be under court-ordered guardianship of the person without retaining the right to vote; not be found legally incompetent by a court.

Mississippi

To register in Mississippi you must: be a citizen of the United States; have lived in Mississippi and in your county (and city, if applicable) 30 days before the election in which you want to vote; be 18 years old by the time of the general election in which you want to vote; have not been convicted of murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, or bigamy, or have had your rights restored as required by law; not have been declared mentally incompetent by a court.

Missouri

To register in Missouri you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Missouri; be at least 17-1/2 years of age (you must be 18 to vote); not be on probation or parole after conviction of a felony, until finally discharged from such probation or parole; not be convicted of a felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage; not be adjudged incapacitated by any court of law; not be confined under a sentence of imprisonment.

Montana

To register in Montana you must: be a citizen of the United States; be at least 18 years old on or before the election; be a resident of Montana and of the county in which you want to vote for at least 30 days before the next election; not be in a penal institution for a felony conviction; not currently be determined by a court to be of unsound mind; meet these qualifications by the next election day if you do not currently meet them.

Nebraska

To register in Nebraska you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Nebraska; be at least 18 years of age or will be 18 years of age on or before the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November; not have been convicted of a felony, or if convicted, have had your civil rights restored; not have been officially found to be mentally incompetent.

Nevada

To register in Nevada you must: be a citizen of the United States; have attained the age of 18 years on the date of the next election; have continuously resided in the State of Nevada, in your county, at least 30 days and in your precinct at least 10 days before the next election; not currently be laboring under any felony conviction or other loss of civil rights that would make it unlawful for you to vote; not be determined by a court of law to be mentally incompetent; claim no other place as your legal residence.

New Hampshire

The National Voter Registration form is not accepted in New Hampshire.

Contact New Hampshire's voter registration office for more information about how to register to vote.

New Jersey

To register in New Jersey you must: be a citizen of the United States; be at least 18 years of age by the time of the next election; be a resident of this State and county at your address at least 30 days before the next election; not be serving a sentence or on parole or probation as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States.

New Mexico

To register in New Mexico you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of the State of New Mexico; be 18 years of age at the time of the next election; not have been denied the right to vote by a court of law by reason of mental incapacity, and if I have been convicted of a felony, I have completed all conditions of probation of parole, served the entirety of a sentence or have been granted a pardon by the Governor.

New York

To register in New York you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of the county, or of the City of New York, at least 30 days before an election; be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file this form (Note: You must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary, or other election in which you want to vote); not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction; not currently be judged incompetent by order of a court of competent judicial authority; not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

North Carolina

To register in North Carolina you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of North Carolina and the county in which you live for at least 30 days prior to the election; be 18 years of age by the day of the next general election; have your rights of citizenship restored if you have been convicted of a felony; not be registered or vote in any other county or state.

North Dakota

The National Voter Registration form is not accepted in North Dakota.

Contact North Dakota's voter registration office for more information about how to register to vote.

Ohio

To register in Ohio you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Ohio; be 18 years old on or before Election Day. If you will be 18 on or before the day of the general election, you may vote in the primary election for candidates only; not be convicted of a felony and currently incarcerated; not be found incompetent by a court for purposes of voting.

Oklahoma

To register in Oklahoma you must: be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of Oklahoma; be 18 years old on or before the date of the next election; have not been convicted of a felony, for which a period of time equal to the original sentence has not expired, or for which you have not been pardoned; not now be under judgment as an incapacitated person, or a partially incapacitated person prohibited from registering to vote.

Oregon

To register in Oregon you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Oregon; be at least 18 years old by election.

Pennsylvania

To register in Pennsylvania you must: be a citizen of the United States at least one month before the next election; be a resident of Pennsylvania and your election district at least 30 days before the election; be at least 18 years of age on the day of the next election.

Puerto Rico

The National Voter Registration form is not accepted in Puerto Rico.

Contact Puerto Rico's voter registration office for more information about how to register to vote.

Rhode Island

To register in Rhode Island you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Rhode Island for 30 days preceding the next election; be 18 years old by election day; be neither serving a sentence, including probation or parole, for which you were imprisoned, upon final conviction of a felony imposed on any date; nor serving any sentence, whether incarcerated or suspended, on probation or parole, upon final conviction of a felony committed after November 5, 1986; not have been lawfully judged to be mentally incompetent.

South Carolina

To register in South Carolina you must: be a citizen of the United States; be at least 18 years old on or before the next election; be a resident of South Carolina, your county and precinct; not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime; never have been convicted of a felony or offense against the election laws, or if previously convicted, have served your entire sentence, including probation or parole, or have received a pardon for the conviction; not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent; claim the address on the application as your only legal place of residence and claim no other place as your legal residence.

South Dakota

To register in South Dakota you must: be a citizen of the United States; reside in South Dakota; be 18 years old by the next election; not be currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system; not have been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court.

Tennessee

To register in Tennessee you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Tennessee; be at least 18 years old on or before the next election; not have been convicted of a felony, or if convicted, have had your full rights of citizenship restored (or have received a pardon); not be adjudicated incompetent by court of competent jurisdiction (or have been restored to legal capacity).

Texas

To register in Texas you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of the county in which the application for registration is made; be at least 17 years and 10 months old (you must be 18 to vote); not be finally convicted of a felony, or if a convicted felon, you must have fully discharged your punishment, including any incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation or be pardoned; have not been declared mentally incompetent by final judgment of a court of law.

Utah

To register in Utah you must: be a citizen of the United States; have resided in Utah for 30 days immediately before the next election; be at least 18 years old on or before the next election; not be a convicted felon currently incarcerated for commission of a felony; not be convicted of treason or crime against the elective franchise, unless restored to civil rights; not be found to be mentally incompetent by a court of law.

Vermont

To register in Vermont you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Vermont; be 18 years of age on or before election day; have taken the following Oath in the presence of a notary public or other authorized official: You solemnly swear (or affirm) that whenever you give your vote or suffrage, touching any matter that concerns the state of Vermont, you will do it so as in your conscience you shall judge will most conduce to the best good of the same, as established by the Constitution, without fear or favor of any person [Voter's Oath, Vermont Constitution, Chapter II, Section 42]. Note: If you have not taken this Oath in person before submitting this application by mail, do not sign item 9. You may take the Oath at the polls the first time you vote and may then sign the application, which will be held for you at your polling place.

Virgin Islands

The National Voter Registration form is not accepted in Virgin Islands.

Contact Virgin Islands's voter registration office for more information about how to register to vote.

Virginia

To register in Virginia you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a resident of Virginia and of the precinct in which you want to vote; be 18 years old by the next May or November general election; not have been convicted of a felony, or have had your civil rights restored; not currently be declared mentally incompetent by a court of law.

Washington

To register in Washington you must: be a citizen of the United States; be a legal resident of Washington State, your county and precinct for 30 days immediately preceding the election in which you want to vote; be at least 18 years old by election day; not be convicted of infamous crime, unless restored to civil rights.

West Virginia

To register in West Virginia you must: be a citizen of the United States; live in West Virginia at the above address; be 18 years old, or to vote in the primary be 17 years old and turning 18 before the general election; not be under conviction, probation, or parole for a felony, treason or election bribery; not have been judged "mentally incompetent" in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Wisconsin

The National Voter Registration form is not accepted in Wisconsin.

Contact Wisconsin's voter registration office for more information about how to register to vote.

Wyoming
The National Voter Registration form is not accepted in Wyoming.

Contact Wyoming's voter registration office for more information about how to register to vote.