All About Voter Registration: Who Can and Can't Vote

Who Can Vote?

In the United States, voting is a fundamental right, but it is not without restrictions. To be eligible to vote in federal elections, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be at least 18 years old on Election Day
• Reside in the state where you are registering to vote

Who Can't Vote?

There are a few groups of people who are not eligible to vote in the United States. These include:

• Non-U.S. citizens
• People under the age of 18
• People who have been convicted of a felony and are currently serving a sentence
• People who have been declared mentally incompetent by a court

Voter Registration Rules, Dates, and Deadlines

The rules for voter registration vary from state to state, but there are some general guidelines that apply to most states. In general, you must register to vote before a certain deadline in order to be eligible to vote in an election. The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 presidential election is October 15, 2024, but again, this varies from state to state. Check the Federal Voting Assistance Program to confirm the deadline for your state.

You can register to vote in person at your local election office or online. You can also register to vote by mail, but you must do so by the deadline in your state. To register to vote by mail, you can download a voter registration form from the website of your state's election office.

Once you have registered to vote, you will be sent a voter registration card. This card will contain your name, address, and other information. You will need to bring your voter registration card with you when you go to vote on Election Day.

Conclusion

Voting is an important right, but it is not always easy to exercise. There are a number of rules and regulations that you need to be aware of in order to be able to vote. By understanding the who, what, when, where, why, and how of voter registration, you can make sure that you are able to participate in the democratic process.

For more information on voter registration, please visit the website of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.