Name Change Following Marriage After the marriage is legally recognized, you must receive a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the clerk of the county where the paperwork was filed. To update your personal information, take the certified copy to the Social Security Administration and the DMV. Your new surname on the marriage license becomes your legal surname for all purposes including being used as your voter's registration address. The following states require a court order to change your name: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin. Some other states may also require a court order; check with your local courthouse to find out more. Once your name change has been processed by the appropriate agencies, you can register to vote using the information on your new ID card or driver's license. If you need help registering to vote, be sure to check with your local Democratic party committee or other group that registers voters. It is important to remember that if you are not registered to vote, you cannot be voted upon. Before you file away your old ID card and pick up a new one, make sure it includes your updated information.