Can I Vote On Election Day Without Registering

This story is role of Elections 2020, CNET's coverage of the voting in November and its aftermath.

Online voter registration has ended in many states for the2020 ballot, which is today. And if you've decided to votein person (safely), you won't be able to do so unless y'all're registered. However, several states will let you lot register to vote at your polling place. If you're non sure what your registration status is, information technology doesn't take long to discover out.

If you chose to vote past mail or absentee ballot, note that different states accept unlike cutoffs and some may have already passed. For case, in California, your post-in ballot must be postmarked by Tuesday evening. Hither's how totrack your ballot in every state.

In-person voting is also available, just you may need help finding your polling location during the ongoing pandemic. Wait extra rules for social distancing and mask-wearing at the very least. Here'due south what y'all demand to know about registering to vote and what you need to bring if yous vote in person on Ballot Solar day. Remember, voter intimidation is illegal, and here's what to do if you spot it.

At present playing: Lookout this: What political campaigns know about yous

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How to check if y'all're registered to vote

To run into if you're currently registered to vote, visit vote.org and click Check Your Registration. From here, you lot'll demand to enter your personal information, like your beginning and last proper noun, electric current address, date of birth and an electronic mail address. Make sure all your data is correct and select Check your registration. On the side by side screen, you'll either see confirmation that you're registered or that y'all need to register to vote.

If y'all're not sure you lot're registered to vote

If you're going to the polls and yous're not sure if you're registered, y'all can arrive at your local polling place with your proof of address and ID and speak to polling officials. Yous may be instructed to complete a ballot, which would count if you are registered, and would not count if you aren't. We recommend checking electronically (see above) to make certain.

Can I register to vote on Ballot Day?

These states will still let y'all register to vote on Election Day, but it must be in person. Notation that yous'll virtually likely need to bring proof of accost and a course of ID.

California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Dakota doesn't crave voter registration
Rhode Island
Utah
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin

How do I register to vote?

If you're not registered to vote and it's even so open up for your country, visit vote.org and click Register To Vote. From here, enter your personal details as mentioned above and click Continue. When yous're finished filling out the form, you'll need to sign and date information technology, then manus-deliver the form to the provided accost. Note that the deadline for registering to vote in many states has already passed.

vote-elections-2020-trump-pence-biden-harris-0656 — You may need to reregister to vote.
James Martin/CNET

If the borderline has passed for online voting in your state, but your state allows Election Twenty-four hour period registration, call alee of fourth dimension to make sure you lot have everything y'all need to register. Most states that allow you to register on Ballot Day let yous register at the polls.

Common reasons for needing to reregister to vote

Even if you lot already registered to vote, here are several reasons why y'all may need to reregister.

You recently moved to some other location.
You lot've inverse your name since the last time you voted.
You'd like to modify political parties.
You lot oasis't voted in the past iv years.
You've never registered to vote at all, in which instance y'all'd need to annals for the first fourth dimension.

Need more than data most voting? Here's what's going on with the USPS crisis and how it could affect the election and how to vote safely if y'all're voting in person.