From registering to vote through casting a ballot on election, informed voters are empowered voters. Here are answers to 14 common questions from citizens about voting in Federal elections.

You can also view the 14 Facts in Chinese (PDF), Japanese (PDF), Korean (PDF), Spanish (PDF), Tagalog(PDF), Vietnamese (PDF) and English (PDF).

Voter’s Checklist—Things To Do Before Election Day

• Confirm you are registered to vote several weeks before election day.
• Update your registration if your address, name, or political affiliation has changed.
• Know how and when to apply for an absentee ballot if you are unable to vote at your polling place on election day.
• Know your options for early voting.
• Know the voter identification requirements in your State.
• Know your polling place and how to get there.
• Familiarize yourself with the voting device used in your jurisdiction. Learn how the device is accessible to voters with disabilities.
• Learn what assistance is available in languages other than English.
• Know what time the polls open and close.
• Become acquainted with the candidates and issues on the ballot.
• Consider becoming a poll worker in your community. Call your local election office to learn more.

1. Am I Eligible To Vote

You are eligible to vote if—

• You are a U.S. citizen.
• You meet your State’s residency requirements.
• You are 18 years old. Some States allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries and/or register to vote if they will be 18 before the general election.

2. How Do I Register To Vote?

You may choose to apply for voter registration by mail, in person, or online.

By Mail

• Download  the  National  Mail Voter Registration Form (NMVRF) from /NVRA. You can also find NMVRF and State voter registration forms at libraries, public schools, and city and county  clerks’ offices.
• Complete the form and submit it by mail according to the instructions. The NMVRF has a “State Instructions” section that lists the requirements for each State.
• North Dakota, Wyoming, and the U.S. territories American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not accept the NMVRF. New Hampshire accepts the form only as a request for a State absentee voter mail-in registration form.

In Person

Apply to register to vote at—

• State or local voter registration or election offices.
• The department of motor vehicles.
• Public assistance agencies.
• Armed services recruitment centers.
• State-funded  programs  that serve people with disabilities.
• Any public facility that a State has designated as a voter registration agency.

Online

• To learn if your State offers on- line voter registration, contact your State or local election office.

REMEMBER

For more information about State- specific requirements and eligibility, contact your State or local election offices or consult The National Mail Voter Registration Form. See the Voter’s Resources section at the end of this guide for contact and other information.

3. When Should I Register To Vote?

Find out your State’s registration deadline—

• Access the “State Instructions” section of the NMVRF, at /NVRA.
• Contact your State or local election office.
• Many States have online tools where you can check your registration status.

REMEMBER

Contact your State or local election office at least 7 weeks before an election to learn if you are registered to vote and what to do if you are not. Asking well before the registration deadline allows sufficient time to register.

4. Are There Special Requirements the First Time I Vote?

If you registered by mail, you might have to show proof of identification the first time you vote. This proof of identification includes—

• A current and valid photo identification.
• A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address.

You may not have to show proof of identification if—

• You provided copies of the proof of identification with your voter  registration form.
• Your State or local election official matched the driver’s license number or Social Security information on your application with a Federal or State identification record bearing the same number, name, and date of birth.
• You are entitled by Federal law to vote by absentee ballot.

REMEMBER

Even if you met the Federal proof-of-identification requirement when you registered, some States may require identification at the polling place. You are eligible to cast a provisional ballot if you do not have sufficient identification at the polling place. Contact your State or local election office for more information.

5. What Is Early Voting?

Some States might allow you to cast a ballot before election day at—

• A jurisdiction’s election office.
• Another designated polling place.
• A ballot drop site.

REMEMBER

Early voting dates and times vary among States. For information, con-tact your State or local election office.

6. What Is Absentee Voting?

If you cannot go to your polling place on election day, you may qualify to cast an absentee ballot.

• Some States allow you to cast an absentee ballot only if you cannot vote at the polling place for a reason outlined in State law, such as illness or physical absence from the jurisdiction for a certain number of hours on election day.
• Other States offer “no-excuse” absentee voting, which allows any eligible citizen to cast an absentee ballot.
• States also have different dead - lines for requesting and submit-ting absentee ballots. Contact your State or local election office.
• You are entitled by Federal law to vote by absentee ballot in Federal elections if you meet qualifications outlined in the Voting Rights Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, and Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act.

REMEMBER

After you have received your absentee ballot, read the instructions carefully. Sign your name where it is required. If you return your absentee ballot by mail, be certain to put sufficient postage to the return envelope.

7.  Where Do I Vote Where Is My Polling Place?

• You are assigned to a polling place based on the home address on your voter registration record.
• Some States have ballot drop sites instead of polling places. 
• To find out the location of your polling place or ballot drop sites, contact your

REMEMBER

Update your voter registration information each time you move.

8. What Is Provisional Voting?

If your eligibility to vote in a Federal election is in question, you must be offered a provisional ballot at the polling place. The possible reasons include—

• Your name does not appear on the official voter list at your polling place.
• Your eligibility is challenged in accordance with State law.
• You did not provide the required identification to register or at the polling place on election day.
• A court order requires provisional ballots.
• A court order extends polling place hours.
• State law mandates provisional ballots.

You have a right to cast a provisional ballot if you declare you are eligible and registered to vote in that jurisdiction. Your provisional ballot will be counted if the State or local election official later determines that you were eligible and registered to vote under State law.

REMEMBER

Federal law requires States to provide a “free access system” by toll- free number and/or the Internet for you to check the status of your provisional ballot. Contact your State or local election office for more in- formation about your State’s system.

9. How Do I Vote if I am a Uniformed or Overseas Citizen?

To register to vote or request a ballot as a member of the military or overseas citizen, use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).

• The FPCA is available at http:// www.fvap.gov.
• The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) Web portal offers a step-by-step guide to  the voter registration process.
• All States and territories accept the FPCA as a simultaneous application for registration and request for an absentee ballot.
• Depending on your State of residence, return the completed FPCA by e-mail, fax, or mail.
• Printed copies of the FPCA are available at U.S. embassies, military bases, and consular offices. Voting Assistance Officers at those sites can provide any in- formation or assistance you may need to complete the form.
• You may also request the electronic transmission of blank voting materials.

REMEMBER

If you need help with absentee voting, visit http://www.fvap.gov, contact FVAP at (703) 588–1584 (toll free at [800] 438–VOTE; also available toll free from 70 countries at http:// www.fvap.gov/contact/tollfreephone.html), or e-mail [email protected].