YOUR VOICE, YOUR BALLOT
Where to Register, Find Your Elections, Learn About Your Representatives, and Cast Your Ballot
Knowing that your voice matters is one thing.
Knowing how to use it is another.
Voting can sometimes seem complicated. Registration deadlines are different from state to state. Elections can happen at different times of the year. Your ballot may include federal, state, county, city, school board, judicial, or other local races and questions.
So where do you start?
The good news is that you do not have to figure it all out on your own.
There are official government resources that can help you register, check your registration, find your election office, learn when and where to vote, and understand what will be on your ballot.
This guide is designed to help you find them.
STEP ONE: REGISTER TO VOTE
If you are eligible to vote and are not registered, the first step is getting registered.
The federal government's official voter-registration resource is Vote.gov.
Register to vote through Vote.gov
Select your state or territory and follow the instructions provided.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to register online, by mail, or in person. Registration deadlines also vary by state, so it is important to check the rules where you live rather than assuming every state follows the same schedule.
You can also find registration information through USA.gov's voter-registration guide:
USA.gov — How to Register to Vote
STEP TWO: CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION
Already registered?
It is still a good idea to check.
If you have moved, changed your name, or otherwise need to update your information, you may need to make changes before voting.
You can check your registration through the official voter-information resources for your state.
USA.gov — Check Your Voter Registration
USA.gov explains that voters can use the Can I Vote service to select their state and access their state's election website to check registration information.
Checking ahead of time can also help you confirm your polling place and identify any information that needs to be corrected.
STEP THREE: FIND YOUR STATE OR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICE
This is one of the most useful resources to know about.
Your state or local election office is the place to go for official information about elections in your jurisdiction.
That office can provide information about things such as:
Registration
Registration deadlines
Polling locations
Early voting
Absentee or mail voting
Voter identification requirements
Election dates
Ballot information
Election results
Find Your State or Local Election Office — USA.gov
Election rules vary by state and locality, so your election office should be one of your first stops whenever you have a question about how voting works where you live.
STEP FOUR: FIND OUT WHAT ELECTIONS ARE HAPPENING
Not every election happens in November of a presidential year.
Congressional elections occur every two years, while state and local elections can occur at different times throughout the year.
That means you should not assume that there is nothing to vote on simply because there is no presidential election.
You can use USA.gov to find information about upcoming federal, state, and local elections.
USA.gov — Voting and Elections
USA.gov — Find Out When to Vote
Your state or local election office can also provide information about elections taking place in your community.
STEP FIVE: LEARN WHO REPRESENTS YOU
Your voice does not stop at the voting booth.
Knowing who represents you is another part of participating in government.
There are elected officials at different levels:
Federal
President
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
State
Governor
State legislators
Other elected state officials, depending on the state
Local
Mayors
City council members
County officials
School board members
Judges
Other local officials, depending on your community
USA.gov provides a tool for finding federal, state, and local elected officials and their contact information.
USA.gov — Find and Contact Elected Officials
Knowing who represents your district or community can make it easier to contact the right office when you have a question, concern, or issue you want your representative to know about.
STEP SIX: LEARN WHAT WILL BE ON YOUR BALLOT
Before voting, take some time to learn what you will actually be voting on.
Depending on where you live and which election is taking place, your ballot may contain races for federal, state, county, or local offices.
It may also contain ballot questions or measures.
Sample ballots and voter guides can help you understand what will appear on your ballot before you arrive at the polling place. USA.gov provides information on finding and using these resources.
Your state or local election office is also an important source for official ballot information.
Read the ballot.
Understand the questions.
Learn what each office does.
Then make your own decision.
STEP SEVEN: KNOW WHEN AND WHERE TO VOTE
Once you know you are registered and know what is on your ballot, find out when and where you can vote.
Depending on your state, you may have options that include:
Voting on Election Day
Early in-person voting
Absentee voting
Voting by mail
The rules, deadlines, and procedures vary by state.
USA.gov — How, When, and Where to Vote
You can also find your polling place through your state or local election office.
USA.gov — Find Your Polling Place
Your polling location is generally assigned based on your residential address, and it can change, so checking before Election Day is a good idea.
WHAT ABOUT VOTER ID?
Voting requirements are not identical everywhere.
Each state establishes its own rules concerning voter identification, including what identification may be required when voting in person.
That is why it is important to check the requirements for your state before heading to the polls.
Do not rely on what a friend in another state tells you.
Do not assume the rules are the same everywhere.
Check your state's official election information.
WHAT IF YOU WANT TO VOTE BY MAIL?
Many states provide some form of absentee or vote-by-mail option.
The rules differ depending on where you live, including how ballots are requested, when they must be returned, and what deadlines apply.
USA.gov — Absentee and Vote-by-Mail Information
If you plan to vote by mail, give yourself enough time to understand the requirements and deadlines in your state.
WHAT IF YOU MOVE?
Moving can affect your voter registration.
If you move within your state, you generally need to update your registration information.
If you move to another state, you need to register in your new state.
USA.gov — Update Your Voter Registration
Keeping your registration information current helps ensure that election officials have the correct information for you.
WHAT ABOUT POLITICAL PARTY REGISTRATION?
This is another area where state rules differ.
Some states ask voters to declare a political party when registering. Others do not.
Party affiliation can also matter differently in primary elections depending on the rules of your state.
In general elections, however, registering with a political party does not require you to vote for that party's candidates.
If you have questions about your state's primary rules, check with your state or local election office.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING
You do not need to be an expert in government before you vote.
You can start with the basics.
Who represents me?
What offices are on my ballot?
What does each office do?
What questions or measures are being decided?
What are the candidates' publicly stated positions?
What are the rules for voting where I live?
Take your time.
Read.
Ask questions.
Look at multiple sources.
And use official election resources to confirm the rules and deadlines that apply to you.
START HERE
If you are not sure where to begin, these official resources can get you there:
REGISTER
CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION
USA.gov — Confirm Your Voter Registration
FIND YOUR ELECTION OFFICE
USA.gov — State and Local Election Offices
FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
USA.gov — Find and Contact Elected Officials
FIND OUT WHEN AND WHERE TO VOTE
USA.gov — How, When, and Where to Vote
FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE
USA.gov — Find Your Polling Place
LEARN ABOUT STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS
USA.gov — State and Local Elections
YOUR VOICE. YOUR BALLOT.
Voting is not about everyone agreeing.
It is about giving citizens a lawful way to participate in the government that represents them.
You may vote differently from your neighbor.
You may have different priorities from your friends.
You may disagree with candidates, parties, or policies.
That is part of a free society.
Your ballot belongs to you.
Learn what is on it.
Understand the rules.
Research the choices.
And then make your own decision.
Because the American Experiment depends not only on the government created by the Constitution, but on the people who choose to participate in it.
Your voice matters.
Your vote is one way to use it.
THE GREAT EXPERIMENT CONTINUES.
The People. The Voice. The Future.
Politics 1776