Elections & terms
voter registration
The process of getting onto the list of eligible voters in your jurisdiction. Required in every state except North Dakota, with deadlines that vary widely.
In full
Registration establishes eligibility and assigns you to a precinct and a set of districts. The National Voter Registration Act requires states to offer registration at motor vehicle and public assistance agencies and limits how voters may be removed from rolls. Many states now offer online registration, automatic registration, and same-day registration at the polls.
Also written as: register to vote
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.