Missed the deadline? In at least 20 states and D.C., you can still register on Election Day

For voters who have not registered, the calendar is short. In many states the registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election has already passed. In Texas, for example, it was Oct. 5, according to the Texas secretary of state.

But some states let eligible residents register and vote at the same time, including on Election Day itself.

Where you can register on Election Day

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, these 20 states and the District of Columbia allow voters to register on Election Day:

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.

Rules differ. States generally ask same-day registrants to prove where they live, and some limit same-day registration to certain locations, such as a county election office or a designated vote center rather than every polling place.

During early voting only

In Massachusetts, New York and North Carolina, voters can register and vote at the same time during the early voting period, but not on Election Day, NCSL says.

Montana: check with the state

NCSL’s page is not consistent about Montana. Its state-by-state table says Montana repealed Election Day registration in 2021, while the text of the same page says a 2024 court ruling left the earlier law allowing Election Day registration in effect. We could not resolve the difference from NCSL alone. Montana voters should confirm the current rule with the Montana secretary of state.

North Dakota

North Dakota has no voter registration, NCSL notes. Eligible residents vote by showing identification at the polls; North Dakota is among the states that ask for ID, according to NCSL.

How to check your status

Before you go, confirm whether you are already registered and what your state requires. Vote.gov links to each state’s official registration and election pages, and USA.gov explains the rules by state.