U . S . E l e c t i o n A ss i s ta n c e c o m m i ss i o n

September 2011

A voter’s Guide

to Federal Elections

A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections 1

A Voter’s Guide

to Federal Elections

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) 

offers this guide to help voters successfully navigate 

the Federal election process from registering to vote 

through casting a ballot on Election Day. In addition 

to providing the basics of casting a ballot, this guide 

includes information on voter eligibility, early voting, 

alternative registration and voting processes for 

uniformed and overseas citizens, and polling place 

accommodations that make voting more accessible to 

all voters. 

AM I ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?

To be eligible to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen. 

In most States, you must be 18 years of age to vote. 

Some States, however, allow 17-year-olds to vote in 

a primary preceding a November 

election during which they 

will be 18 years old. Other 

States allow 17-year-olds 

to register to vote if they 

will turn 18 by the general 

election. States also have 

their own residency requirements to vote. For additional 

information about State-specific 

requirements and voter eligibility, contact your State 

or local election offices. The National Mail Voter 

Registration Form also contains each State’s requirements. (See list of Available Resources at the end of 

this guide.)
2 A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections

HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?

You may choose one of several ways to apply for 

voter registration.

Registering to vote by mail

You may apply to register to vote by completing and 

submitting by mail the National Mail Voter Registration 

Form.1 The “State Instructions” section of the National 

Mail Voter Registration Form provides information 

about where to mail the form in your State. You may 

also use the form to report a name or address change to 

a voter registration office or to register with a political 

party, if required by your State. The National Mail Voter 

Registration Form can be downloaded from the EAC’s 

Web site at www.eac.gov/NVRA. In addition, you 

may apply to register to vote by using your State’s 

voter registration form. Both the National Mail Voter 

Registration Form and State voter registration forms 

may be available at public libraries, public schools, 

and city or county clerk’s offices.

Registering to vote in person

You may be able to apply to register to vote in person 

at the following public facilities:

• State or local voter registration and/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 

1

 North Dakota, Wyoming, and U.S. territories (American Samoa, 

Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) do not accept this 

form. New Hampshire accepts it only as a request for a State absentee voter mail-in registration form.
A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections 3

Registering to vote online

Certain States now allow citizens to apply to register 

to vote online. To learn if your State offers online 

voter registration, please contact your State or local 

election office. (See list of Available Resources at the 

end of this guide.)

WHEN SHOULD I REGISTER TO VOTE?

You must register to vote by your State’s registration 

deadline to ensure voting eligibility. Each State has 

its own registration deadline. You can find this information by accessing the “State Instructions” section 

of the National Mail Voter Registration Form at 

www.eac.gov/NVRA or by contacting your State or 

local election office. Many States have online tools 

that enable voters to check their registration status if 

they are unsure if they are registered.

Important: Contact your State or local election 

office at least seven (7) weeks before an election to 

learn if you are registered to vote and what to do 

if you are not. It is important to make the inquiry 

before the registration deadline to allow sufficient 

time to register to vote. 

ARE THERE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS THE 

FIRST TIME I VOTE?

If you registered to vote through the mail, Federal 

law may require you to show proof of identification 

the first time you vote. This proof of identification 

includes the following (or if registering to vote by 

mail, a COPY of the following):

• A current and valid photo identification; OR 

• A current utility bill, bank statement, government 

check, paycheck, or government document that 

shows your name and address. 
4 A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections

You will not be required by Federal law to show 

proof of identification at the polling place or when 

voting by mail, however, if (1) you provided COPIES 

of the proof of identification listed above with your 

voter registration form; (2) your State or local election official matched the driver’s license number or 

Social Security information submitted on your voter 

registration application with an existing Federal or 

State identification record bearing the same number, 

name and date of birth as provided in such registration; 

or (3) you are entitled by Federal law to vote by 

absentee ballot.

Did You Know...?

Some States require identification at the polling 

place even if a voter has met the Federal proofof-identification requirement necessary for voter 

registration. These identification requirements affect 

all voters in the State, and you may be 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 additional information on 

your State’s voter identification requirements. (See 

list of Available Resources at the end of this guide.)

WHAT IS EARLY VOTING? 

Some States allow voters to cast a ballot before 

Election Day. Broadly defined, early voting is voting 

conducted before Election Day during which a voter 

completes a ballot in person at a jurisdiction’s election 

office, other designated polling place, or ballot drop site. 

Early voting dates and times vary among States. For 

information about whether and when your State offers 

early voting, contact your State or local election office. 

(See list of Available Resources at the end of this guide.)
A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections 5

WHAT IS ABSENTEE VOTING?

Voters who cannot go to their polling place on Election 

Day may qualify to cast an absentee ballot. Each State 

establishes its own rules and procedures for absentee 

voting. For example, some States allow voters to cast 

an absentee ballot only if they are unable to 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 deadlines for requesting 

and submitting absentee ballots. If you need to vote 

absentee, contact your State or local election office as 

soon as possible to confirm your eligibility to cast an 

absentee ballot and to ensure that you do not miss the 

deadline for requesting and submitting an absentee 

ballot. (See list of Available Resources at the end of 

this guide.)

In addition, voters meeting certain qualifications 

are entitled by Federal law to vote by absentee ballot 

in Federal elections. These Federal laws include the 

Voting Rights Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens 

Absentee Voting Act, and Voting Accessibility for the 

Elderly and Handicapped Act.

Important: After you have requested and 

received your absentee ballot, read the instructions 

carefully to avoid any errors that may result in 

your ballot not being counted. Also, be sure to sign 

your name where it is required. If you return your 

absentee ballot by mail, be certain to affix a sufficient 

amount of postage to the return envelope to prevent 

any delays in the delivery of your ballot.
6 A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections

WHERE DO I VOTE—

WHERE IS MY POLLING PLACE?

Voters are assigned to a polling place based on the 

home address listed on the voter registration record. 

At least two States conduct elections entirely by mail 

and, therefore, do not have polling places. In these 

States, voters may also submit their ballots at ballot 

drop sites located throughout the jurisdictions. To find 

out the location of your polling place or available 

ballot drop sites, contact your State or local election 

office or check your State or local election office’s 

Web site, which may have a polling place locator tool. 

(See list of Available Resources at the end of this guide.)

Important: Update your voter registration 

information each time you move.
A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections 7

WHAT IS PROVISIONAL VOTING?

Voters whose eligibility to vote is in question must be 

offered a provisional ballot at the polling place during 

Federal elections. In those cases, voters have a right 

to cast a provisional ballot, provided that they declare 

they are eligible and registered to vote in that jurisdiction. The provisional ballot is counted if the appropriate 

State or local election official determines that the voter 

was eligible and registered to vote under State law. 

The reasons a voter must be offered a provisional 

ballot include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. The voter’s name does not appear on the official 

list of voters at his or her polling place

2. The voter’s eligibility is challenged in accordance 

with state law

3. A court order requiring provisional ballots

4. A court order extending polling place hours

5. State law mandates provisional ballots

If you did not provide the identification required to 

register to vote under Federal law and do not provide 

it at the polling place on Election Day, you may be 

eligible to cast a provisional ballot.

Did You Know...?

Federal law requires States to provide a “free access 

system” accessible by toll-free number and/or the 

Internet that enables voters to check the status of 

their provisional ballots. Contact your State or local 

election office for more information about your 

State’s system. (See list of Available Resources at the 

end of this guide.)
8 A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR UNIFORMED 

AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS? 

To register to vote, members of the military and 

overseas citizens may use the Federal Post Card 

Application (FPCA), available from the Federal 

Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP’s) Web portal 

at www.fvap.gov. The FVAP Web portal offers a 

step-by-step tool to guide military service members 

and overseas citizens through the voter registration 

process. All States and territories accept the FPCA 

as a simultaneous application for registration and a 

request for an absentee ballot. Depending on your 

State of residence, you can return the completed 

FPCA by e-mail, fax, or mail. If you mail the FPCA, 

send it in an envelope with proper postage or in an 

FVAP prepaid return envelope. Go to www.fvap.gov

to see how to return your form. 

If you are already registered to vote, you may still 

submit an FPCA to request a ballot, ideally early in 

the Federal election year. 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 information or assistance you 

may need to complete the form. If you need help 

with the absentee voting process, visit the FVAP 

Web site at www.fvap.gov, contact the FVAP at 

(703) 588–1584 (toll free at [800] 438–VOTE; also 

available toll free from 70 countries at www.fvap.gov/

contact/tollfreephone.html), or e-mail the program at 

vote@fvap.gov.

Military service members and overseas citizens 

may also request the electronic transmission of blank 

voting materials. 

Jurisdictions that mail voting materials are required 

to send them to the requesting voter 45 days before an 

election to ensure sufficient time to receive and return 

voted ballots.
A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections 9

IS VOTING ACCESSIBLE FOR VOTERS WITH 

DISABILITIES?

Most polling places are designed with accommodations to make the voting process more accessible to 

all voters, including those voters with disabilities. 

Accessibility accommodations include clearly 

marked parking spaces, entrances with ramps, and 

well-marked routes and signage indicating the way to 

voting locations. 

Polling places must have voting equipment that is 

accessible for individuals with disabilities, including 

nonvisual accessibility for the blind and visually 

impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy 

and independence) as for other voters.

If you have questions about the accessibility of 

your polling place, or if you need information about 

voting equipment for individuals with disabilities, 

contact your State or local election office. (See list of 

Available Resources at the end of this guide.)
10 A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections

IS LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED?

The Voting Rights Act requires some jurisdictions 

to provide voting materials in languages other than 

English. Other jurisdictions voluntarily offer such 

assistance. Language assistance may include equipping polling places with voting materials (such as 

ballots and voting instructions) in other languages, 

staffing polling places with bilingual poll workers, 

and providing voting information online in languages 

other than English. Contact your State or local election office to learn more about language assistance in 

your area. (See list of Available Resources at the end 

of this guide.)

Did You Know...?

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission provides 

information for voters on its Web site in English, Chinese, 

Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. 

The National Mail Voter Registration Form is available 

in the above seven languages to assist voters and 

election officials. EAC has developed an interactive 

online glossary of election terminology, available at 

www.eac.gov, and has issued comprehensive hardcopy 

glossaries of election terminology in six languages. 

A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections is available in 

English, Cherokee, Chinese, Dakota, Japanese, Korean, 

Navajo, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Yup’ik.

MAY I REQUEST ASSISTANCE TO VOTE?

Under Federal law, voters who require assistance to 

vote for reason of blindness, disability, or inability to 

read or write may bring an individual, such as a friend 

or relative, to assist them in voting.2

 A poll worker 

2

 Federal law prohibits voters from receiving voting assistance from 

the voter’s employer or agent of the employer or officer or agent of 

the voter’s union.
A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections 11

may also provide voting assistance. State election 

laws may include additional provisions governing 

such assistance, so be sure to contact your State or 

local election office for additional information. 

First-time voters, voters with disabilities, and voters at polling places with new voting equipment may 

require assistance with the equipment. If you need 

help using the voting equipment, ask a poll worker 

for assistance. Poll workers are there to provide voters 

with instructions and demonstrations about using the 

voting equipment.

Did You Know...?

Some States offer “curbside voting” for voters who 

are not able to easily leave their cars. During curbside voting, a poll worker brings all voting materials, 

including a ballot, to the voter’s car. Check with your 

State or local election office to see if curbside voting 

is available in your jurisdiction and for information 

about who qualifies to use the program.

HOW DO I REPORT A PROBLEM OR FILE 

A COMPLAINT?

If you experience a problem at a polling place or with 

voting procedures in your jurisdiction, you may report 

the problem or file a complaint. Contact your State 

or local election office for information on complaint 

procedures. You may also register a complaint with 

the U.S. Department of Justice at (888) 736–5551 

or voting.section@usdoj.gov. (See list of Available 

Resources at the end of this guide.)
12 A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections

HOW CAN I BECOME A POLL WORKER?

Poll workers are essential to ensuring smooth, fair, 

and accurate elections. They manage the polling 

place by setting up voting equipment, verifying voter 

registrations, and providing voters with appropriate 

ballots or instructing them on the use of voting 

systems. At the end of the day, poll workers close the 

polling place, prepare election materials for delivery 

to the central election office, and submit their polling 

place results. 

Poll workers typically must be registered to vote in 

the county or State they wish to serve. Some States, 

however, allow college and high school students to 

work at the polls near their school, even if they are 

not registered to vote in that jurisdiction. 

To find out more about how to become a poll 

worker, contact your State or local election office. 

(See list of Available Resources at the end of this 

guide.)

About the U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission (EAC)

This publication was prepared by the EAC, an 

independent Federal commission established by the 

Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002. The EAC 

is charged with developing guidance to meet HAVA 

requirements, adopting voluntary voting system 

guidelines, and serving as a national clearinghouse of 

information about election administration. The EAC 

also accredits testing laboratories and certifies voting 

systems, audits the use of HAVA funds, and maintains 

the National Mail Voter Registration Form developed 

in accordance with the National Voter Registration 

Act of 1993.
A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections 13

AVAILABLE RESOURCES

VOTER’S CHECKLIST—Things To Do

Before Election Day

q Confirm you are registered to vote several weeks 

before the date of the election. Update your 

registration if information such as address, name, 

or political affiliation has changed.

q Know how and when to apply for an absentee ballot 

if you are unable to vote at your polling place on 

Election Day. 

q Know your options for early voting.

q Know the voter identification requirements in your 

State before you attempt to vote.

q Know which polling place you are assigned to and 

how to get there.

q Familiarize yourself with the voting device used in 

your jurisdiction. Learn how the device is accessible 

to voters with disabilities.

q Learn what assistance is available in languages 

other than English.

q Know what time the polls open and close.

q Become acquainted with the candidates and issues 

on the ballot.

q Consider becoming a poll worker in your community. 

Call your local election office to learn about poll 

worker requirements.
14 A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections

VOTER’S RESOURCES

U.S. Election Assistance Commission: A comprehensive resource of information on the Federal 

elections process. Citizens can register to vote by 

downloading the National Mail Voter Registration 

Form from the EAC’s Web site. 

Tel.: (866) 747–1471 / Web site: www.eac.gov

Federal Voting Assistance Program: Voting resources for uniformed service members and overseas 

citizens, including the Federal Post Card Application, 

a voter registration form for citizens living abroad. 

Tel.: (800) 438–8683 / Web site: www.fvap.gov

U.S. Department of Justice: Information about 

Federal voting rights laws. To report problems related 

to ballot access, including voter discrimination, call 

the Voting Section at (800) 253–3931. For voter fraud 

or intimidation, call the nearest office of the Federal 

Bureau of Investigation or your local U.S. Attorney’s 

Office. You may also file complaints with your State 

or local election official. 

Tel.: (202) 514–2000 / Web site: www.usdoj.gov

Federal Election Commission: A clearinghouse of 

information on Federal campaign finance. 

Tel.: (800) 424–9530 / Web site: www.fec.gov
A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections 15

State Election Office

Contact Information

*as of September 1, 2011

Alabama

Tel.: (800) 274–8683

Web site: www.sos.state.al.us/elections

Alaska

Tel.: (907) 465–4611

Web site: www.elections.alaska.gov

American Samoa

Tel.: (684) 699–3570

Web site: www.americansamoaelectionoffice.org

Arizona

Tel.: (602) 542–8683

Web site: www.azsos.gov/election 

Arkansas

Tel.: (800) 482–1127

Web site: www.sosweb.state.ar.us/elections

California

Tel.: (800) 345–VOTE

Web site: www.sos.ca.gov/elections

Colorado

Tel.: (303) 894–2200

Web site: www.elections.colorado.gov

Connecticut

Tel.: (860) 509–6100

Web site: www.ct.gov/sots

Delaware

Tel.: (302) 739–4277

Web site: www.elections.delaware.gov

District of Columbia

Tel.: (202) 727–2525

Web site: www.dcboee.org

Florida

Tel.: (866) 308–6739

Web site: http://election.dos.state.fl.us
16 A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections

Georgia

Tel.: (404) 656–2871

Web site: www.sos.ga.gov/elections

Guam

Tel.: (671) 477–9791

Web site: http://gec.guam.gov

Hawaii

Tel.: (808) 453–8683

Web site: http://hawaii.gov/elections

Idaho

Tel.: (208) 334–2852

Web site: www.idahovotes.gov

Illinois

Tel.: (217) 782–4141 (Springfield)

Tel.: (312) 269–7960 (Chicago)

Web site: www.elections.state.il.us

Indiana

Tel.: (317) 232–3939

Web site: www.in.gov/sos/elections

Iowa

Tel.: (515) 281–0145

Web site: www.sos.state.ia.us/elections

Kansas

Tel.: (800) 262–8683 

Web site: www.kssos.org/elections/elections.html

Kentucky

Tel.: (502) 564–3490

Web site: www.elect.ky.gov

Louisiana

Tel.: (800) 883–2805

Web site: www.geauxvote.com

Maine

Tel.: (207) 624–7736

Web site: www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec

Maryland

Tel.: (800) 222–8683 

Web site: www.elections.state.md.us

Massachusetts

Tel.: (800) 462–8683

Web site: www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm
A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections 17

Michigan

Tel.: (517) 373–2540

Web site: www.michigan.gov/vote

Minnesota

Tel.: (877) 600–8683

Web site: www.sos.state.mn.us

Mississippi

Tel.: (800) 829–6786

Web site: www.sos.ms.gov/elections.aspx

Missouri

Tel.: (800) 669–8683

Web site: www.sos.mo.gov/elections

Montana

Tel.: (888) 884–8683

Web site: http://sos.mt.gov/elections

Nebraska

Tel.: (402) 471–2555 

Web site: www.sos.ne.gov

Nevada

Tel.: (775) 684–5705

Web site: http://sos.state.nv.us/elections

New Hampshire

Tel.: (603) 271–3242

Web site: www.sos.nh.gov/electionsnew.html

New Jersey

Tel.: (609) 292–3760

Web site: www.njelections.org

New Mexico

Tel.: (800) 477–3632

Web site: www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-elections.html

New York

Tel.: (800) 367–8683

Web site: www.elections.state.ny.us

North Carolina

Tel.: (866) 522–4723

Web site: www.sboe.state.nc.us

North Dakota

Tel.: (800) 352–0867 

Web site: www.nd.gov/sos/electvote
18 A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections

Ohio

Tel.: (877) 767–6446

Web site: www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections.aspx

Oklahoma

Tel.: (405) 521–2391

Web site: www.ok.gov/~elections

Oregon

Tel.: (503) 986–1518

Web site: www.sos.state.or.us/elections

Pennsylvania

Tel.: (717) 787–5280

Web site: www.votespa.com

Puerto Rico

Tel.: (787) 758–3333

Web site: www.ceepur.org

Rhode Island

Tel.: (401) 222–2345

Web site: www.elections.state.ri.us

South Carolina

Tel.: (803) 734–9060

Web site: www.scvotes.org

South Dakota

Tel.: (605) 773–3537

Web site: www.sdsos.gov

Tennessee

Tel.: (877) 850–4959

Web site: www.tennessee.gov/sos/election

Texas

Tel.: (800) 252–8683

Web site: www.sos.state.tx.us/elections

U.S. Virgin Islands

Tel.: (877) 773–1021 (St. Croix)

Tel.: (877) 774–3107 (St. Thomas | St. John)

Web site: www.vivote.gov

Utah

Tel.: (800) 995–8683

Web site: www.elections.utah.gov/voterinformation.html

Vermont

Tel.: (802) 828–2464

Web site: http://vermont-elections.org
A Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections 19

Virginia

Tel.: (800) 552–9745

Web site: www.sbe.virginia.gov

Washington

Tel.: (800) 448–4881

Web site: www.secstate.wa.gov/elections

West Virginia

Tel.: (304) 558–6000

Web site: www.sos.wv.gov/elections

Wisconsin

Tel.: (866) 868–3947

Web site: http://gab.wi.gov

Wyoming

Tel.: (307) 777–7186

Web site: http://soswy.state.wy.us/elections/elections.aspx


U.S. Election Assistance Commission

1201 New York Ave, NW • Suite 300 • Washington • DC 20005866–747–1471 (toll free) • HAVAinfo@eac.gov • www.eac.gov