State Instructions — MASSACHUSETTS

Updated: 09-03-2019

Registration Deadline — 20 days before the election.

6. ID Number. Federal law requires that you provide your driver’s license number to register to vote. If you do not have a current and valid Massachusetts’ driver’s license then you must provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number. If you have neither, you must write “NONE” in the box and a unique identifying number will be assigned to you.

7. Choice of Party. If you do not designate a party or political designation in this box, you will be registered as unenrolled, which is commonly referred to as independent. Unenrolled voters and voters registered in political designations may vote in party primaries.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Leave blank.

9. Signature. To register in Massachusetts you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be a resident of Massachusetts
• be at least 16 years old (must be 18 years old to vote on Election Day)
• 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

Mailing Address:

Secretary of the Commonwealth

Elections Division, Room 1705

One Ashburton Place

Boston, MA 02108

State Instructions — MARYLAND

Updated: 10-10-2021

Registration Deadline — In-person registration by 5:00 p.m., online registration by 11:59 p.m., or postmarked 21 days before the election.

6. ID Number. If you do not have a current, valid Maryland driver’s license or MVA ID card, you must enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. The statutory authority allowing officials to request the last 4 digits of your social security number is Election Law Article, § 3-202. The number will only be used for registration and other administrative purposes. It will be kept confidential.

7. Choice of Party. You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Leave blank.

9. Signature. To register in Maryland you must:

• be a U.S. citizen
• be a Maryland resident
• be at least 16 years old*
• not be under guardianship for mental disability or if you are, you have not been found by a court to be unable to communicate a desire to vote
• not have been convicted of buying or selling votes
• not have been convicted of a felony, or if you have, you have completed serving a court ordered sentence of imprisonment.

*You may register to vote if you are at least 16 years old but cannot vote unless you will be at least 18 years old by the next general election.

Mailing address:

State Board of Elections

P.O. Box 6486

Annapolis, MD 21401-0486

State Instructions — MAINE

Updated: 11-24-2023

Registration Deadline — Delivered to your municipality 21 days before the election (or a voter may register in-person up to and including election day).

6. ID Number. You must list your valid Maine driver's license number. If you don't have a valid Maine driver's license, then you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Voters who don't have either of these forms of ID must write "NONE" in this space.

7. Choice of Party. Unenrolled voters may choose to take part in one party’s primary election, caucus, or convention without enrolling in that party.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Leave blank.

9. Signature. 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 16 years old (you must be 18 years old to vote, or 17 years old for a Primary Election in which you will be 18 years old by that General Election)

B. Prior address. Prior address is a required section for Maine voter registration. If you were previously registered to vote, whether in Maine or not, the address of prior registration is required to register to vote. If you have not been previously registered, write N/A.

Mailing Address:

Elections Division

Bureau of Corporations,

Elections and Commissions

101 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333-0101

Municipal addresses: To meet registration deadlines, especially in the two weeks before the closed period (three weeks before an election) you should return the completed voter registration application directly to your municipal clerk. A complete list of municipal clerks is available at https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/.

State Instructions — LOUISIANA

Updated: 02-28-2019

Registration Deadline — 30 days before the election.

6. ID Number. You must provide your Louisiana driver’s license number or Louisiana special identification card number, if issued. If not issued, you must provide at least the last four digits of your social security number, if issued. The full social security number may be provided on a voluntary basis. If the applicant has neither a Louisiana driver’s license, a Louisiana special identification card, or a social security number, the applicant shall attach one of the following items to his application: (a) a copy of a current and valid photo identification; or (b) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of applicant. Neither the registrar nor the Department of State shall disclose the social security number of a registered voter or circulate the social security numbers of registered voters on commercial lists (R.S. 18:104 and 154; 42 U.S.C. § 405).

7. Choice of Party. If you do not list a party affiliation, you may not be able to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary and party committee elections. Political party affiliation is not required for any other election.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Completing this box is optional. See the list of choices under the Application Instructions for Box 8 (on page 2).

9. Signature. 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, except for a resident in a nursing home or veteran’s home who may elect to use the address of the nursing home or veterans’ home or the home where he has a homestead exemption. A college student may elect to use his home address or his address while away at school.)
• be at least 17 years old (16 years old if registering to vote with application for Louisiana driver’s license or in person at registrar of voters office), 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; or if under such an order (1) not have been incarcerated pursuant to the order within the last five years and (2) not be under an order of imprisonment related to a felony conviction for election fraud or any other election offense pursuant to R.S. 18:1461.2
• not be under a judgment of full interdiction for mental incompetence or limited interdiction where your right to vote has been suspended

Mailing Address:

Secretary of State
Attention: Elections Division
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125

State Instructions — KENTUCKY

Updated: 03-01-2006

Registration Deadline — 29 days before the election.

6. ID Number. Your full social security number is required. It is used for administrative purposes only and is not released to the public (KRS 116.155). No person shall be denied the right to register because of failure to include social security number.

7. Choice of Party. You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Leave blank.

9. Signature. 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

Mailing Address:

State Board of Elections

140 Walnut Street

Frankfort, KY 40601-3240

State Instructions — KANSAS

Updated: 10-25-2013

Registration Deadline — Postmarked or delivered 21 days before the election

6. ID Number. Your completed voter registration form must contain your state issued driver's license number or nondriver's identification card number. If you do not have a driver's license or nondriver's identification card, you must include the last four digits of your social security number. If you do not have a driver's license or a nondriver's identification card or social security number, please write "NONE" on the form. A unique identifying number will be assigned by the State. The number you provide will be used for administrative purposes only and will not be disclosed to the public. (KSA 25-2309).

7. Choice of Party. You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Leave blank.

9. Signature. To register in Kansas you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be a resident of Kansas
• be 18 by the next 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 by a court of competent jurisdiction

Mailing Address:

Secretary of State

1st Floor, Memorial Hall

120 SW 10th Ave.

Topeka, KS 66612-1594

State Instructions — IOWA

Updated: 11-24-2023

Registration Deadline — Must be delivered by 5 p.m. 10 days before the election.* Registration forms which are postmarked 15 or more days before an election are considered on time even if received after the deadline.

* If you fail to meet the voter registration deadlines above you can register and vote by following the guidelines for election day registration. You can find these on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterinformation/edr.html.

6. ID Number. Your ID number is your Iowa driver's license number or Iowa non-operator identification number if you have one, if not then the last four digits of your social security number. The ID number you provide will be verified with the Iowa Department of Transportation or the Social Security Administration.

7. Choice of Party. You may, but do not have to, register with a party in advance if you want to take part in that party’s primary election. You may change or declare a party affiliation at the polls on primary election day.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Leave blank.

9. Signature. To register in Iowa you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be a resident of Iowa
• be at least 17 years old; A person may vote if they will be 18 years old on or before election day. In the case of primary elections, a person may vote if they will be 18 years old on or before the corresponding regular election.
• not have been convicted of a felony or have had your rights restored by the Governor, including through Executive Order, after a felony conviction.
• not currently be judged by a court to be "incompetent to vote"
• not claim the right to vote in more than one place
• give up your right to vote in any other place

Mailing address:

Elections Division
Office of the Secretary of State
Lucas Building-1st Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319

State Instructions — INDIANA

Updated: 03-01-2006

Registration Deadline — 29 days before the election.

6. ID Number. Your state voter ID number is your ten digit Indiana issued driver's license number. If you do not possess an Indiana driver's license then provide the last four digits of your social security number. Please indicate which number was provided. (Indiana Code 3-7-13-13)

7. Choice of Party. Leave blank.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Leave blank.

9. Signature. 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

Mailing Address:

Election Division

Office of the Secretary of State

302 West Washington Street,

Room E-204

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2743

State Instructions — ILLINOIS

Updated: 09-03-2019

Registration Deadline — Online Registration is available until 16 days before the election and in-person registration is available through Election Day.

6. ID Number. Illinois requires either the Driver’s License (or Secretary of State ID Card) or the last 4 digits of Social Security Number. For people who do not have either of those items, and have not registered in Illinois before, a mail in registration form should be accompanied by a copy of other identifying information: you must send, with this application, either (i) a copy of a current and valid photo identification, or (ii) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. If you do not provide the information required above, then you will be required to provide election officials with either (i) or (ii) described above the first time you vote at a voting place.

7. Choice of Party. Leave Blank. Exception: for primary elections, unless a voter only wishes to vote on public questions, a party preference should be indicated.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Leave blank.

9. Signature. A signature is required. If signature is missing from registration form, you will be notified your registration is incomplete.

• 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 General Election or Consolidated Election
• cannot be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution as a result of conviction of any crime
• not claim the right to vote anywhere else

Preregistration for 17 Year Olds. Illinois permits registration by a 17 year old person who will be 18 on or before the General Election (or the Consolidated Election, the odd year election for city, township, school board and other local offices) to register and vote in the General Primary (or Consolidated Primary) which will nominate candidates for that next following General Election (or Consolidated Election).

Mailing Address:

State Board of Elections

2329 S. MacArthur Boulevard

Springfield, IL 62704

State Instructions — IDAHO

Updated: 06-27-2022

Registration Deadline — 25 days before the election.

6. ID Number. Enter the number from your Idaho driver's license card or state identification card issued by the Idaho Transportation Department. If you have no such card, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number.

7. Choice of Party. Unless the political party chooses to have an open primary, affiliating with a political party is required if you wish to participate in a party's primary election. 

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Leave blank.

9. Signature. 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

Mailing Address:

Secretary of State

P.O. Box 83720

State Capitol Bldg.

Boise, ID 83720-0080