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

State Instructions — HAWAII

Updated: 10-10-2021

Registration Deadline — 10 days before the election.

6. ID Number. When you register to vote, you must provide your Hawaii driver’s license or State identification number, if you have one. If you do not have a driver’s license or ID number, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN). If you do not have any of this information, the Clerk’s Office will issue you a unique identification number, which will serve to identify you for voter registration purposes.

7. Choice of Party. A “choice of party” is not required for voter registration.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. Race or ethnic group information is not required for voter registration.

9. Signature. 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”

Mailing address:

Office of Elections

State of Hawaii

802 Lehua Avenue

Pearl City, HI 96782

There are no specific instructions required for Guam

State Instructions — GEORGIA

Updated: 08-15-2013

Registration Deadline — The fifth Monday before any general primary, general election, or presidential preference primary, or regularly scheduled special election pursuant to the Georgia Election Code. In the event that a special election is scheduled on a date other that those dates prescribed by the Georgia Election Code, registration would close on the 5th day after the call.

6. ID Number. Federal law requires you to provide your full GA Drivers License number or GA State issued ID number. If you do not have a GA Drivers License or GA ID you must provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. Providing your full Social Security number is optional. Your Social Security number will be kept confidential and may be used for comparison with other state agency databases for voter registration identification purposes. If you do not possess a GA Drivers License or Social Security number, a unique identifier will be provided for you.

7. Choice of Party. You do not have to register with a party to take part in that party’s primary, caucus or convention.

8. Race or Ethnic Group. You are requested to fill in this box. See the list of choices under the Application Instructions for Box 8 (on page 2).

9. Signature. 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

Mailing Address:

Elections Division

Office of the Secretary of State

2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

Suite 802 Floyd West Tower

State Instructions — FLORIDA

Updated: 11-30-2011

Registration Deadline — 29 days before the election.

6. ID Number. If you have one, you must provide your Florida driver's license number or Florida identification card number. If you do not have a Florida driver's license or identification card, you must provide the last four digits of your social security number. If you have not been issued any of these numbers, you must write the word “NONE.”

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. You are requested, but not required, to fill in this box. See the list of choices under the Application Instructions for Box 8 (on page 2).

9. Signature. 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 pre‑register if you are at least 16)
• not be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other State, or if you have, you must first have your voting rights restored.
• not be a convicted felon, or if you are, you must first have your civil rights restored if they were taken away.
• 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 all information in this application is true.”

Mailing Address:

State of Florida

Department of State

Division of Elections

The R.A. Gray Building

500 South Bronough St, Rm 316

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250

State Instructions — DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Updated: 10-10-2021

Registration Deadline — 21 days before the election if registering by mail, online, or via mobile app, but a voter may register in-person during early voting and on Election Day.

6. ID Number. Federal law now requires that all voter registration applications must include either the applicant’s driver’s license number or the last four digits of the applicant’s social security number in order to be processed.

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 vote in the District of Columbia you must:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be a resident of the District of Columbia
• Maintain residency in the District of Columbia for at least 30 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote
• Not claim voting residence or the right to vote in another U.S. state or territory
• Be at least 17 years old (You may register to vote if you are at least 16 years old. You may vote in a primary election if you are at least 17 years old and you will be at least 18 years old by the next general election. You may vote in a general or special election if you are at least 18 years old).
• Not have been found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote

Mailing address:

District of Columbia Board of Elections

1015 Half Street, SE, Suite 750

Washington, DC 20003

State Instructions — DELAWARE

Updated: 04-18-2018

Registration Deadline — The 4th Saturday before a primary or general election, and 10 days before a special election.

6. ID Number. Your completed voter registration form must contain your state issued driver's license number or nonoperating identification number. If you do not have a driver's license or nonoperating identification, you must include the last four digits of your social security number. If you do not have a driver's license or a nonoperating identification or a social security number, please write "NONE" on the form. A unique identifying number will be assigned by the State.

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. You may register to vote in Delaware if you:

• are a citizen of the United States, AND
• are a resident of Delaware; (Delaware is your home), AND
• will be 18 years old on or before the date of the next General Election.
• You may not register to vote in Delaware if you:
• have been adjudged mentally incompetent. Adjudged mentally incompetent refers to a specific finding in a judicial guardianship or equivalent proceeding, based on clear and convincing evidence that the individual has a severe cognitive impairment which precludes exercise of basic voting judgment; OR
• were convicted of a felony and have not completed your sentence, OR
• were convicted of a disqualifying* felony and have not been pardoned.

*List of Disqualifying Felonies:

• murder or manslaughter, (except vehicular homicide);
• any felony constituting an offense against public administration involving bribery or improper influence or abuse of office, or any like offense under the laws of any state or local jurisdiction, or of the United States, or of the District of Columbia; or
• any felony constituting a sexual offense, or any like offense under the laws of any state or local jurisdiction or of the United States or of the District of Columbia.

Mailing Address:

State of Delaware

Office of the State Election Commissioner

905 S. Governors Ave., Suite 170

Dover, DE 19904