How to vote in every state

Registration deadlines, same-day registration, voter ID, voting by mail and early voting, for all 50 states and D.C. Every rule links to the state's own election office, which is the final word: rules change, so check there before a deadline.

At a glance

State	Register online	Same-day registration	Voting by mail	Voter ID
Alabama	Yes	No	Absentee ballot with an excuse (for example, being away from your county or ill on Election Day).	Photo ID required at the polls (accepted IDs listed by the Secretary of State; a free Alabama Photo Voter ID card is available).
Alaska	Yes	No (in presidential election years only, you can register on Election Day to vote for President and Vice President only).	No-excuse absentee voting by mail, fax or online delivery; apply each year starting January 1.	One form of ID required at the polls (voter ID card, driver's license, state ID, passport, birth certificate, hunting or fishing license, or a current bill or document with your name and address); without ID you vote a questioned ballot.
Arizona	Yes	No	No-excuse early ballot by mail; join the Active Early Voting List or request a one-time ballot at least 11 days before Election Day.	ID required at the polls and at in-person early voting: one photo ID with name and address, or two non-photo documents with name and address (lists on the Secretary of State site).
Arkansas	No	No	Absentee ballot with an excuse (unavoidably absent on Election Day, or illness or physical disability); mail applications are due 7 days before the election and mailed ballots must be received by the county clerk by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.	Voters must show an ID with their name and photo, or else vote a provisional ballot and bring ID to the county clerk or election commission by noon on the Monday after the election (a free voter verification card is available from the county clerk).
California	Yes	Yes	Every active registered voter is mailed a ballot; it must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 7 days.	In most cases no ID is required; some first-time voters who registered by mail without an ID number may be asked to show ID (photo not required).
Colorado	Yes	Yes	All-mail elections: every registered voter is mailed a ballot, which must be received (not postmarked) by 7 p.m. on Election Day.	ID required to vote in person; many IDs qualify, including non-photo documents such as a recent utility bill or bank statement with your name and Colorado address.
Connecticut	Yes	Yes	No-excuse absentee ballot (new for 2026); ballots must reach your Town Clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.	You are asked for ID (photo ID or a bill or document with your name and address); if you have none you can sign a statement (Form ED-681) and vote, while some first-time voters must show ID.
Delaware	Yes	No	Absentee ballot with an excuse permitted by state law (permanent absentee status is available to eligible voters).	You are asked for ID, but no photo ID is required; if you have none, you sign an affidavit and vote.
District of Columbia	Yes	Yes	All-mail elections: every registered voter is mailed a ballot, which must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 10 days.	Registered voters do not need ID; first-time voters who registered by mail or online without proof of residence must provide ID or proof of residence.
Florida	Yes	No	No-excuse vote-by-mail; the ballot must be received by your county Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day, regardless of postmark.	A current, valid photo ID with signature is required for early voting and on Election Day; without one you can vote a provisional ballot.
Georgia	Yes	No	No-excuse absentee voting by mail; request at least 11 days before the election, and the ballot must be received by your county by 7 p.m. on Election Day.	Government-issued photo ID is required to vote in person, and absentee requests need a Georgia driver's license or state ID number or a copy of an accepted ID.
Hawaii	Yes	Yes	All-mail elections: every registered voter is mailed a ballot about 18 days before Election Day, and it must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.	No photo ID is required to vote; mail ballots are checked by signature, and first-time voters who registered by mail without an ID number must provide ID.
Idaho	Yes	Yes	No-excuse absentee voting by mail; a new request is needed each calendar year, and ballots must be received by the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day.	Photo ID is required to vote in person, or a registered voter may sign a Personal Identification Affidavit instead.
Illinois	Yes	Yes	No-excuse vote by mail with an optional permanent list; ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days after it.	Most registered voters do not need ID, but two forms of ID are required to register in person (including same-day) or if you registered by mail without a driver's license or Social Security number.
Indiana	Yes	No	Absentee voting by mail requires a qualifying reason (such as age 65 or older, disability, or absence from the county); the ballot must be received by 6 p.m. on Election Day.	A current photo ID issued by Indiana or the U.S. government is required at the polls; school-issued IDs are no longer accepted since July 1, 2025.
Iowa	Yes	Yes	No-excuse absentee voting by mail; the request must reach the county auditor by 5 p.m. 15 days before the election, and the ballot must arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day.	ID is required at the polls and for in-person absentee voting (Iowa driver's license or non-operator ID, Iowa voter ID card, U.S. passport, military or veteran ID, or tribal ID).
Kansas	Yes	No	No-excuse advance voting by mail with an application that includes your driver's license number or a copy of your photo ID; when a mailed ballot must arrive is before the courts (see below).	Photo ID is required to vote in person, including in-person advance voting.
Kentucky	Yes	No	Absentee ballot by mail only with an excuse (such as age, disability, illness, or absence on all in-person voting days); request at least 14 days before, and it must be received by 6 p.m. on Election Day.	Photo ID is required at the polls (issued by the U.S., Kentucky, the military, a college, or a Kentucky local government).
Louisiana	Yes	No	Absentee by mail only with a qualifying reason (such as being away from the parish, disability or hospitalization) or for voters 65 and older.	Photo ID required at the polls; voters without one may vote by signing a voter affidavit.
Maine	Yes	Yes	No-excuse absentee voting; any voter can also ask for ongoing absentee status to get a ballot for every election.	No ID is required to vote at the polls (you state your name and address), though new registrants must show proof of identity and residence when they register.
Maryland	Yes	Yes	No-excuse mail-in voting, with an option to join a permanent mail-in ballot list.	Most voters do not need ID, but some first-time voters are asked for a photo ID or a recent document showing their name and address.
Massachusetts	Yes	No	No-excuse vote by mail: apply to your local election office, which must receive the application by 5 p.m. the Tuesday a week before Election Day (October 27 in 2026).	ID is not generally required, but you may be asked for ID showing your name and address in some cases, such as when the ID number on your registration could not be verified.
Michigan	No	Yes	No-excuse absentee voting, with an option to get a ballot for all future elections.	Photo ID requested; voters without one may sign an affidavit and vote.
Minnesota	Yes	Yes	No-excuse absentee voting by mail.	Registered voters do not need to show ID; proof of residence is needed only to register at the polls.
Mississippi	No	No	Absentee by mail only for limited groups, such as voters 65 and older, voters with a disability, and voters temporarily living outside their county.	Photo ID required; voters without one may cast an affidavit ballot and must show ID at the clerk's office within five business days after the election.
Missouri	Yes	No	Absentee by mail only with a listed excuse, such as being away on Election Day, illness or disability, religious belief, or certain jobs.	Photo ID required; voters without one may cast a provisional ballot that counts if they return with ID on Election Day or their signature matches.
Montana	No	Yes	No-excuse absentee voting; voters on the absentee list are mailed a ballot about 25 days before each election.	Show a current photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, tribal ID or passport; otherwise show another photo ID plus a document with your name and current address, or ask about a provisional ballot.
Nebraska	Yes	No	No-excuse early voting by mail: any registered voter may request a ballot, which must arrive by the close of polls on Election Day.	Photo ID showing your name and picture is required (it may be expired); without it you vote a provisional ballot that counts only if you show ID at the county office by the Tuesday after the election, or you may file a reasonable impediment certification.
Nevada	Yes	Yes	Active registered voters are mailed a ballot automatically unless they opt out; ballots postmarked by Election Day count if received by 5 p.m. on the fourth day after.	A voter ID amendment passed on November 3, 2026; until it takes effect, check the Secretary of State for what to bring.
New Hampshire	No	Yes	Absentee ballot with an excuse (such as being out of town, disability, religious observance, work or caregiving, or a winter storm warning); the ballot must reach the clerk by 5 p.m. on Election Day.	Registered voters must show an approved ID (driver's license, non-driver ID, NH voting-only photo ID, U.S. military ID or U.S. passport/passcard); without one, election officials may verify identity by personal knowledge, and a free voting-only ID is available from the DMV.
New Jersey	Yes	No	No-excuse vote by mail: request at least 7 days before the election; mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within six days after polls close.	Most voters do not show ID, but first-time voters who registered by mail without a verified driver's license or Social Security number must show ID (photo ID or a document such as a bank statement or utility bill) or vote a provisional ballot.
New Mexico	Yes	Yes	No-excuse absentee voting; absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk or at a polling place by 7 p.m. on Election Day.	No ID is required for most voters in statewide elections (you state your name, address and birth year); first-time voters who registered by mail without ID must show photo ID or a document such as a utility bill.
New York	Yes	No	No-excuse early mail ballot for any registered voter (absentee ballots still require an excuse); apply by 10 days before the election, and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days.	Most voters do not need to show ID; some first-time voters who registered by mail may be asked for it, under federal law.
North Carolina	Yes	Yes	No-excuse absentee by mail: request at least two weeks before Election Day, return it with two witnesses or a notary and a copy of photo ID, and it must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.	Photo ID is requested from all voters; anyone without one can still vote by completing an ID Exception Form (for example for a reasonable impediment) with a provisional ballot.
North Dakota	No	Not applicable: there is no voter registration; eligible residents (U.S. citizen, 18 or older, living in North Dakota for 30 days) vote by showing valid ID.	Absentee ballot by application (vote-by-mail counties send applications to every voting-age resident); ballots must be received by the close of polls on Election Day and cannot be dropped off at polling places.	A valid ID showing your current North Dakota residential address is required (ND driver's license or non-driver ID, tribal ID or tribal letter, or a long-term care certificate); without it you vote a set-aside ballot and must show ID within 13 days after the election.
Ohio	Yes	No	No-excuse absentee voting by mail: the application must reach the county board by close of business seven days before Election Day, and the ballot must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.	An unexpired photo ID is required in person (Ohio driver's license or state ID, BMV interim ID, U.S. passport or passport card, or a U.S. military, Ohio National Guard or VA ID); without one you vote a provisional ballot and must show ID at the county board within four days.
Oklahoma	Yes	No	No-excuse absentee: any voter can request a ballot by 5 p.m. on the third Monday (15 days) before the election, a standard ballot's affidavit must be notarized, and a mailed ballot must reach the County Election Board by 7 p.m. on Election Day.	Show a photo ID issued by the U.S., Oklahoma or a federally recognized tribal government, or the free voter ID card your County Election Board mailed you; without one you can vote a provisional ballot under a sworn affidavit.
Oregon	Yes	No	All-mail elections: every active registered voter is mailed a ballot, which must be in a drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day or mailed with a valid postmark by then.	No ID is shown to vote, because ballots are mailed; to register you give an Oregon DMV license, permit or ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Pennsylvania	Yes	No	No-excuse mail-in ballots: any registered voter can apply by 5 p.m. one week before the election, and the ballot must be received by the county by 8 p.m. on Election Day.	Only voters voting for the first time at a polling place must show ID, which may be photo or non-photo; mail ballot applicants give a PA driver's license or state ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Rhode Island	Yes	Presidential elections only: you can register on Election Day at a place your local board of canvassers names, but you can vote only for President and Vice President.	No-excuse mail ballots: any voter can apply by 4 p.m. 21 days before the election, and the ballot must reach the Board of Elections or an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.	Show a valid photo ID when voting in person, early or on Election Day; without one you vote a provisional ballot (an emergency mail ballot during early voting), and the state issues free voter photo IDs.
South Carolina	Yes	No	Absentee ballot by mail with a qualifying reason (for example age 65 or older, a disability, work, or being away from your county); apply by 5 p.m. 11 days before, and the ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.	Show a photo ID (SC driver's license or DMV ID, SC voter registration card with photo, U.S. passport, or federal military ID); without one you can sign a reasonable-impediment affidavit and vote a provisional ballot.
South Dakota	No	No	Any registered voter may apply to the county auditor for an absentee ballot; the application must be notarized or include a copy of an acceptable photo ID, and the ballot must reach the county by Election Day.	Show a photo ID (SD driver's license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport or other U.S. government photo ID, tribal photo ID, U.S. armed forces ID, or a current SD high school or college student photo ID), or sign a personal identification affidavit and vote a regular ballot.
Tennessee	Yes	No	Absentee ballot with a qualifying reason (for example age 60 or older, being out of your county during early voting and on Election Day, or illness or disability); the request must be received 10 days before, and the ballot must be mailed back and received by the time polls close.	Show a photo ID issued by the federal government or the State of Tennessee (expired IDs are fine, college student IDs are not); without one you vote a provisional ballot and have two business days to show ID.
Texas	No	No	Mail ballots only for voters who qualify (for example voters 65 or older or with a disability); the application must be received, not postmarked, by the 11th day before the election.	Show one of seven photo IDs (Texas driver license, Election Identification Certificate, personal ID card or handgun license, U.S. military ID, citizenship certificate with photo, or U.S. passport); if you cannot reasonably get one, sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and show a supporting document such as a utility bill or voter registration certificate.
Utah	Yes	Yes	Every active registered voter is mailed a ballot automatically, and it must be received by the county clerk or put in a drop box by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day (postmarks no longer count).	At the polls show one valid photo ID with your name, or two documents that together prove your name and current address.
Vermont	Yes	Yes	Ballots are mailed automatically to all active registered voters for general elections (by October 1 in even-numbered years), and must reach the town clerk before the office closes the day before the election or be brought to the polls by 7 p.m. on Election Day.	Photo ID is not required at the polls; first-time voters who registered by mail or online must show an ID such as a license, passport, utility bill or bank statement before their first vote unless they already sent a copy.
Virginia	Yes	Yes	Any voter may request a mail ballot (or join the permanent absentee list); it must be postmarked by Election Day and received by your registrar by noon on the third day after the election.	Show an acceptable form of ID at the polls, or sign an ID Confirmation Statement and vote a regular ballot (without either you vote provisionally).
Washington	Yes	Yes	All-mail elections: every registered voter is mailed a ballot automatically, which must be postmarked by Election Day or placed in an official drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day.	No ID is shown to vote (your envelope signature is checked), but if you registered without a Washington license/ID number or last four SSN digits, your ballot is not counted until you give the county a qualifying ID.
West Virginia	Yes	No.	Absentee by mail only with a legal reason (such as illness, disability, travel, work hours or school away), requested by the sixth day before the election, postmarked by Election Day and received by the start of canvass.	Show an approved photo ID (such as a WV or other-state driver license, U.S. passport, or military ID) at early voting or on Election Day, with limited exceptions; otherwise you vote a provisional ballot.
Wisconsin	Yes	Yes	Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot (by 5 p.m. on the 5th day before the election), and it must be delivered by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.	Show an acceptable photo ID to vote at the polls or in person at the clerk's office, and include a photocopy with a mail absentee request, with limited exceptions.
Wyoming	No	Yes	Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without giving a reason, and it must be received by the county clerk by 7 p.m. on Election Day.	Show an acceptable ID to vote in person, such as a Wyoming or other-state driver license or ID card, U.S. passport, tribal ID, military card, or Wyoming student ID.

23 states and D.C. let you register and vote on the same day. Rules were checked against each state's official election website on the date shown on its page, most recently Nov 8, 2026.