To vote in federal elections, individuals must typically:

•  Be a U.S. citizen

•  Reside in the state

• Be at least 18 years old on or before Election Day

•  Have registered to vote by the state deadline (North Dakota does not require registration)

Certain states permit pre-18 registration as long as the individual will be 18 years old on or before Election Day. Some states also permit 17-year-olds who will be 18 years old on or before Election Day to vote in primary elections.

 Individuals with a felony conviction may be allowed to vote depending on the state. An individual experiencing homelessness can satisfy residency requirements and may be eligible to register and vote.

 Contact your state or local election office to determine your eligibility to vote.

Registration deadlines and requirements vary from state to state. Some states have early registration as early as 30 days prior to the election date, while other states permit registration on the day of the election.

 Registration options may include one or all of the following, according to your state:

•  Online

•  By mail

•  In person

Go to Vote.gov and choose your state or territory. The website will then link you to your state’s election information.

 If you are registered, make sure your name and address are up to date. Update your registration if you have moved or changed your legal name. Additionally, be sure to verify that your registration is current and determine if your state requires party affiliation in order to participate in a primary election.

Requirements for voter ID vary by state.

 Some states mandate the use of a photo ID. Other states allow for various types of non-photo ID, or use a different system for verifying the identity of the voter. The types of ID used for registration also may vary from the types of ID required at the polls.

 Visit your state’s election website prior to voting to determine the current requirements. If your state requires a voter ID, bring one of the approved types of ID.

 If you do not have the required ID, speak with a voting official about your choices. You may be able to complete a form, obtain ID at a later date, or cast a provisional ballot, depending on your state’s specific laws.

Discrimination, threats, intimidation, and coercion against eligible voters are prohibited by federal law.

 A voter may:

•  Remain in the voting booth until the polls close and vote

• Request an alternate ballot if they make an error before voting

•  Request a provisional ballot if their name is not on the list of registered voters

•  Vote privately and independently

•  Use an accessible voting device if they have a disability

•  Request help if such help is allowed

•  Request language assistance in certain situations mandated by law

If your name is not on the list of registered voters, make sure you are at the right voting location and request help from a voting official to verify your registration. If this is not possible, request a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot is held apart until election officials can verify the voter’s eligibility. If the state allows the voter to vote, their vote must be counted. A method must also be available to determine if the vote was counted and, if not, the reason.

Voter Intimidation is a crime. This can include threats, coercion, or interference with the registration, voting, or vote count of any individual.

 Contact a voting official or local or state election office about any issue. Federal voting rights issues can also be reported to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

 For an incident involving violence or a threat of violence or an imminent threat, first contact 911.

 Document the incident, including when, where, and who was involved, as well as what occurred. When it is safe and legal, also capture screenshots, text messages, videos, or other materials related to the incident.

For information on elections such as voting rules, ballot information, polls and registration dates, and results, seek information from credible election sources.

 Good places to begin are:

•  USAGov

•  Your local or county election office

•  Your state election office

•  U.S. Election Assistance Commission

•  Vote.gov 

Be wary of text messages, videos, emails, and social media messages that contain information on how to vote but do not point to a credible election source. Voting rules can differ from place to place and can also evolve.

 Before disseminating election information, verify the date of the information, the source of the information, and then validate the information with your local or state election office.