Reform tracker · 50 states
Same-day registration
Eligible people can register and vote on the same day.
- States
- 50
- Changes pending
- 1
Research draft. We gathered this from official sources: election offices, state laws and court records, each linked to its source. Separate reviewers checked a random sample of 64 facts from the reform research against the cited sources and found 6 errors, since corrected; 1 couldn’t be checked because the source wouldn’t display its text. The rest hasn't been reviewed fact by fact yet, so check the linked source before relying on anything here.
§1Every state
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
- Including Election Day
- People can register and vote the same day, including on Election Day.
- During early voting only
- People can register and vote the same day during early voting, but not on Election Day.
- For president only
- Same-day registration lets people vote only in the presidential race.
- None
- Registration closes before Election Day.
- No registration at all
- Voters don’t register; they show they are eligible when they vote.
- Not confirmed
- We couldn’t confirm this from an official source.
A full mark means people can register and vote on Election Day; a half mark, only at some times or for some races. The marks show how far the practice applies, not whether it is a good idea.
- Including Election Day21 states
- During early voting only1 state
- For president only2 states
- None25 states
- No registration at all1 state
| State | Status | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | None1 | Registration closes during the 14 days before an election and on Election Day.1 Where in the source: p. 3, When to Register The registration deadline for the November 3, 2026 general election is October 19, 2026.1 Where in the source: p. 1 and p. 4 |
| Alaska | For president only2, | The Division of Elections says state law allows same-day registration only for voting for President and Vice President, citing AS 15.05.014.2, |
| Arizona | None6, | A voter's registration must reach the county recorder by midnight of the 29th day before the election, moved to the next business day if that day falls on a weekend or holiday.6 Where in the source: A.R.S. § 16-120(A)-(B) For the November 3, 2026 general election the registration deadline was October 5, 2026.7 |
| Arkansas | None8, | A person must apply to register at least 30 days before an election.8, |
| California | Including Election Day10, | After the regular deadline, eligible people can register and vote on the same day through Conditional Voter Registration at their county elections office, a polling place or a vote center, including on Election Day; their ballots are counted once the county verifies the registration.10 The regular deadline is 15 days before an election, which was October 19, 2026 for the November 3, 2026 general election.11 Where in the source: Voter Registration Deadlines for Upcoming Elections |
| Colorado | Including Election Day12 | Voters can register in person and vote at a voter service and polling center in their county during the 15 days before a general election and on Election Day.12 Where in the source: § 1-2-217.7(3)(a)(I), (4) Registering by mail, online, at a driver's license office or at another voter registration agency must be done by the eighth day before the election, and applications given to a voter registration drive must be turned in 22 days before.12 Where in the source: § 1-2-201(3)(b) Registering at a polling center means filling out and signing a registration application and a sworn statement of eligibility.12 Where in the source: § 1-2-217.7(4)(a) |
| Connecticut | Including Election Day13, | At a regular election, people who are not registered, or who moved from another Connecticut town, can register and vote in person on Election Day until 8 p.m. and during the early voting period, which for 2026 runs October 19 through November 1.13, |
| Delaware | None16, | The Department of Elections says the registration deadline is the fourth Saturday before an election; for the November 3, 2026 general election it was Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.16 Military and overseas voters had a later deadline of October 19, 2026.16 The state constitution requires at least two registration days for a general election, falling in a window that opens 60 to 120 days and closes 10 to 20 days before the election.17 Where in the source: art. V, § 4(b) |
| Florida | None18, | Registration closes on the 29th day before each election; applications received after that count only for later elections.18 For the November 3, 2026 general election, the deadline to register was October 5, 2026.19 |
| Georgia | None20 | The last day to register to vote in the November 3, 2026 general election was Monday, October 5, 2026.20 For a December 1, 2026 runoff, if one is needed, the last day to register is November 2, 2026.21 |
| Hawaii | Including Election Day22, | Voter service centers let a person register and vote in person at the same visit from 10 days before an election through Election Day; for the 2026 general election they are open October 20 to November 3, except Sundays.22, |
| Idaho | Including Election Day25, | An eligible person may register at their precinct polling place on Election Day by filling out an application, showing proof of identity and residence, and taking an oath.25 Where in the source: § 34-408A(1) Registration with the county clerk and online closes at 5 p.m. on the 11th day before an election, but a person may also register in person at an early voting site.26, |
| Illinois | Including Election Day29 | From the close of regular registration through Election Day, a person may register and vote at once during the grace period at the election authority's office, at early voting sites from 15 days before the election, and at polling places on Election Day.29 Counties under 100,000 people without electronic poll books may skip polling-place registration if they offer it on Election Day at the main election office and at a polling place in each municipality with at least 20 percent of the county's residents.29 For the November 3, 2026 election, regular registration closed October 6 and online registration October 18, and grace period registration runs through November 3.30 Where in the source: General Election: November 3, 2026 A person registering in person needs two forms of identification, at least one showing the current home address.31 |
| Indiana | None32 | To vote in the November 3, 2026 general election, a person had to register on or before October 5, 2026; mailed forms had to be postmarked by that date.32 Applications taken by a full-service agency such as the BMV by the close of business on the 29th day before the election must still be processed for that election.33 Where in the source: Full-Service Agencies |
| Iowa | Including Election Day34 | An eligible person may register on Election Day at their precinct polling place by filling out an application, signing an oath, and proving identity and residence.34 Where in the source: § 48A.7A(1)(a) Proof can be an Iowa driver's license or ID, or another listed photo ID plus a recent document with a current address, or an oath from a registered voter of the precinct who vouches for the person.34 Where in the source: § 48A.7A(1)(b), (c) After regular registration closes and before Election Day, people can also register and vote at the same visit when voting early in person at the county office or a satellite voting station.34 Where in the source: § 48A.7A(3) Regular registration closes at 5 p.m. 15 days before each election, which was October 19, 2026 for the general election.35 Where in the source: § 48A.9(1) |
| Kansas | None36, | The last day to register is the 21st day before an election, and registration stays closed from then through Election Day.36 Where in the source: § 25-2311(a)(3), (a)(6), (e)(1) The deadline to register or update a registration for the November 3, 2026 general election was October 13, 2026.37 |
| Kentucky | None38, | Registration closes on the fourth Tuesday before a primary or general election, and people who register after that cannot vote in that election.38 Where in the source: KRS 116.045(2) The last day to register for the November 3, 2026 general election was Monday, October 5, 2026.39 |
| Louisiana | None40, | Voters must register 30 days before an election in person or by mail, or 20 days before through the state's online system.41 For November 3, 2026, the deadline was October 5 in person, by mail or at a motor vehicle office, and October 13 online.40 |
| Maine | Including Election Day42 | A person may register in person at any time up to the close of the polls on Election Day, including during the 20-day period before an election when other registrations are closed.42 Where in the source: 21-A M.R.S. § 121-A(1)(D), (2)(A) Registrations by mail, by a third person or online must be received by the 21st day before the election.42 Where in the source: § 121-A(1)(A)–(B) |
| Maryland | Including Election Day43, | Eligible people may register and vote at the same time on Election Day at their precinct polling place, and during early voting at an early voting center in their county, by showing proof of where they live.43, |
| Massachusetts | None48 | Registration for an election closes at 5 p.m. on the tenth day before it, which for November 3, 2026 is October 24, 2026; mailed forms count if postmarked by that day.48 People who become citizens after the deadline, and certain other specially qualified voters, may register in person until 4 p.m. the day before the election.49 |
| Michigan | Including Election Day50, | Registration by mail, online or in person is open until the 15th day before an election.51 Where in the source: § 497(1) From the 14th day before the election through Election Day, a person can register in person at their city or township clerk's office by showing proof of residency, and can then vote.50, |
| Minnesota | Including Election Day52 | Registration by mail or in person closes at 5 p.m. on the 21st day before an election, and online at 11:59 p.m. that day.52 Where in the source: subd. 1(b) On Election Day an eligible person may register at their own precinct's polling place by completing an application, taking an oath and proving residence, for example with a Minnesota driver's license or ID, an approved document, or a registered voter from the precinct who vouches for them.52 Where in the source: subd. 3 |
| Mississippi | None53, | A person must register at least 30 days before an election, in person or by a mailed application postmarked by the deadline.53 Where in the source: p. 8 For the November 3, 2026 general election the deadline was October 5, 2026.54 |
| Missouri | None55 | To vote, a person must be registered by 5 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday before the election, which for November 3, 2026 was October 7, 2026.55 Some military and overseas voters who return or are discharged after the deadline may register in person until 5 p.m. on the Friday before the election.55 Where in the source: § 115.135.4 |
| Montana | Including Election Day56, | Regular registration closes 30 days before an election. For November 3, 2026, Powder River County's notice gives the close as 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026.56, |
| Nebraska | None59, | For November 3, 2026, registrations by mail (postmarked), online, at the DMV or at other agencies had to be completed by Friday, October 16; in-person registration at the county election office closed at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 23.59, |
| Nevada | Including Election Day62, | Registration by mail or in person at the county clerk's office closes on the fourth Tuesday before the election (October 6, 2026), but online registration stays open through Election Day.62, |
| New Hampshire | Including Election Day66, | A qualified person who is not on the checklist may register at the polling place on Election Day and vote in that election; anyone in line to register when polls close may still vote.66 Registrants, including on Election Day, must show proof of citizenship, age, domicile and identity. Accepted proof of citizenship includes a birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers or proof of earlier registration in New Hampshire.67, |
| New Jersey | None70 | The voter registration deadline is 21 days before an election; for the November 3, 2026 general election it was October 13, 2026.70, |
| New Mexico | Including Election Day72, | In a statewide election, an eligible person may register or update a registration and then vote right away at the county clerk's office or at an early voting or Election Day voting location.72 Where in the source: NMSA § 1-4-5.7(A)-(B) The Secretary of State says every Election Day polling place in the county offers it, and voters should check with the county clerk about early voting sites.73, |
| New York | None75, | For the November 3, 2026 general election, the last day to register in person is October 24, 2026, and mailed applications must arrive by the same day.75 A mailed registration form must be received no later than 10 days before the election.76 |
| North Carolina | During early voting only77, | An eligible person may register and then vote right away at an early voting site in the person's county during the early voting period, which for 2026 runs from October 15 to 3 p.m. on October 31.77, |
| North Dakota | No registration at all81, | The Secretary of State says North Dakota does not require voter registration; a U.S. citizen at least 18 years old who has lived in the state for 30 days before Election Day can vote with an accepted ID.81 Moving to a new address counts as a change of voting residence after 30 days there.82 Where in the source: N.D.C.C. § 16.1-01-04.2(4) |
| Ohio | None83 | A person must have been registered to vote for 30 days before an election to vote in it, so no one can register and vote on the same day.83 Where in the source: R.C. 3503.01(A) |
| Oklahoma | None84, | Applications received 24 or fewer days before an election are not approved for that election.84 Where in the source: § 4-110.1(A) For the November 3, 2026 general election, the State Election Board lists the registration deadline as October 9, 2026.85 |
| Oregon | None86, | A registration must be received, postmarked or submitted online by the 21st day before an election to count for that election.86 Where in the source: ORS 247.025 The Secretary of State lists October 13, 2026 as the registration deadline for the November 3, 2026 general election.87 |
| Pennsylvania | None88, | A registration application must reach the county registration commission at least 15 days before an election.88 Where in the source: § 1231(b) The Department of State lists October 19, 2026 as the deadline to register for the November 3, 2026 general election.89 |
| Rhode Island | For president only90, | A person who is not registered may vote only for President and Vice President on Election Day, at their city or town hall or another approved location, and that vote starts their registration.90 Where in the source: § 17-1-3(a) For all other races, registration closes on the 30th day before the election, which for November 3, 2026 is October 4, 2026; when the last day falls on a weekend, local boards may set a place and hours to take registrations.91 Where in the source: § 17-9.1-3(a)-(b) The 2026 general election has no presidential race, so Election Day registration does not apply to it.90 |
| South Carolina | None92, | Registration closes 30 days before each election.92 Where in the source: §§ 7-5-150, 7-5-155 For the November 3, 2026 general election, the State Election Commission set these deadlines: online, fax or email by Sunday, October 4; mail postmarked by Monday, October 5; in person at most county offices by 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 2.93, |
| South Dakota | None95, | A registration form must reach the county auditor by 5:00 p.m. local time at least 15 days before an election.95, |
| Tennessee | None98 | A new registration must be submitted online, postmarked or hand-delivered at least 30 days before an election to count for that election (T.C.A. 2-2-109).98, |
| Texas | None100, | A registration takes effect 30 days after it is submitted, so voters must register at least 30 days before an election; if that day falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.100 Where in the source: § 13.143(a), (e) For the November 3, 2026 general election, the last day to register was Monday, October 5, 2026.101 |
| Utah | Including Election Day102, | A person who is not registered may register and vote on Election Day or during early voting by casting a provisional ballot and showing valid voter ID and proof of where they live.102 Where in the source: § 20A-2-207(1) For the November 3, 2026 election, the regular registration deadline was 5 p.m. on October 23, 2026; after that, voters could register in person at an early voting site or on Election Day with two forms of ID.103, |
| Vermont | Including Election Day105, | Since January 1, 2017, eligible people may register on any day up to and including Election Day, at the town clerk's office before the election or at their polling place during voting hours.105, |
| Virginia | Including Election Day107, | Any person qualified to register may register in person up to and including Election Day and vote a provisional ballot that the local electoral board reviews before it is counted.107, |
| Washington | Including Election Day111, | A person may register or update an address in person at a county elections office, voting center or other site the county designates until 8 p.m. on Election Day, and receive a ballot that day.111, |
| West Virginia | None113, | Registration closes on the 21st day before an election, and the deadline for the November 3, 2026 general election was October 13, 2026.113, |
| Wisconsin | Including Election Day116, | A qualified voter may register at the polling place on Election Day by completing a registration form and showing proof of residence.116 Where in the source: § 6.55(2) Before Election Day, a voter may also register in person at the municipal clerk's office until 5 p.m. or the close of business on the Friday before the election.117 Where in the source: § 6.29(2)(a) Registration by mail or online closes on the third Wednesday before the election, which for November 3, 2026 was October 14.118 Where in the source: § 6.28(1)(a) |
| Wyoming | Including Election Day119, | Voters may register and vote at their polling place on Election Day, showing proof of identity, citizenship and residence.119, |
§2Changes pending
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Laws not yet in effect, open court cases and November 3 measures that would change a status above.
§3Notes on the research
The research notes that mention same-day registration, in their own plain words: what couldn't be read or confirmed, and judgment calls a reviewer should look at.
Alaska1 note
- AS 15.05.014, which the Division cites for presidential-only same-day registration, speaks of registration without a durational residency requirement and of voters who recently moved; the presidential-only reading is the Division's.
Delaware1 note
- The online Delaware Code (current through October 1, 2026) prints § 2036 as letting people register up to and on Election Day at their polling place, but the Department of Elections says the deadline is the fourth Saturday before the election (October 10, 2026), and the state constitution requires at least two registration days in a window that closes 10 to 20 days before a general election. We used the Department's deadline. We could not find, on an official court site, a ruling that explains the difference, and a reviewer should check it.
Montana3 notes
- News reports describe a May 8, 2026 preliminary injunction from the Lewis and Clark County district court that blocks the 2025 change to MCA 13-2-304 (SB 490, which set a noon Election Day cutoff in federal elections). We found the order only on an advocacy site, not on an official court site, so it is not cited. We could not confirm whether a trial ruling or appeal followed. The same-day registration value is election-day under either version, since even the 2025 text allows registration until noon on Election Day.
- The Election Day registration practice for November 3, 2026 is confirmed from one county's official notice (Powder River County). Powell County's election page answered with a bot check and was not used; other counties were not checked.
- We did not read the Montana Supreme Court's 2024 ruling on the 2021 law that ended Election Day registration (HB 176) on an official court site, so it is not cited.
North Carolina1 note
- The State Board of Elections says same-day registration is not available for most voters on Election Day but does not say on the pages we read who the exceptions are.