Pre-registration rules

Pre-registration lets you submit your voter registration to your state before you’re 18. The state saves your information, and when you turn 18, you’re automatically registered to vote.

The rules vary by state, but in some places you can pre-register as early as 15 years old. Find your state below to learn about the specific requirements and get started with pre-registration.

Alabama pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Alabama if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Alabama and your county at the time of registration
  • not currently be declared mentally incompetent through a competency hearing
  • swear or affirm to support and defend the Constitution of the US and the State of Alabama and further disavow any belief or affiliation with any group which advocates the overthrow of the governments of the US or the State of Alabama by unlawful means.

Alaska pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Alaska if you are at least 17 years and 9 months old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Alaska for at least 30 days just before the election.

Arizona pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Arizona if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Arizona and your county at least 29 days preceding the next election
  • be able to write your name or mark, unless prevented from doing so by physical disability
  • not currently be declared an incapacitated person by a court of law.

Arkansas pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Arkansas if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be an Arkansas resident
  • not claim the right to vote in any other jurisdiction
  • not be deemed mentally incompetent by a court
  • If you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed your entire sentence (including probation and parole) and paid any fines, fees, or restitution to register to vote. If you are re-registering to vote for the first time after your felony, you must provide proof of completion of your sentence along with a voter registration form.

California pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in California if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of California
  • not be imprisoned or on parole for the conviction of a felony
  • not currently be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law.

Colorado pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Colorado if you are at least 15 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Colorado 22 days prior to Election Day
  • not be currently incarcerated after being convicted and sentenced for a felony.

Connecticut pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Connecticut if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Connecticut and of the town where you want to vote
  • not currently be declared mentally incompetent to vote by a court of law
  • if convicted of a felony, have completed confinement and parole. If you have been convicted of an election related crime, you cannot vote until you have completed prison, probation, and parole.

Delaware pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Delaware if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a permanent resident of Delaware
  • not be mentally incompetent
  • if you have been convicted of a felony, you are eligible to vote as long as you have served your sentence (including parole) and your convictions were not for disqualifying felonies, including: murder and manslaughter (except vehicular homicide), sexual offenses, or crimes against public administration involving bribery or improper influence or abuse of office.

District of Columbia pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in District of Columbia if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a District of Columbia resident at least 30 days preceding the next election
  • not have been judged legally incompetent by a court of law
  • not claim the right to vote anywhere outside DC.

Florida pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Florida if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a legal resident of both the State of Florida and of the county in which you seek to be registered
  • not be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other State, or if you have, you must first have your voting rights restored
  • not have been convicted of a sexual crime or murder (If you have been convicted of any other felony, you must have completed your sentence, including probation and parole, and paid any fines, fees, or restitution)
  • swear or affirm the following: I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida, that I am qualified to register as an elector under the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, and that all information in this application is true.

Georgia pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Georgia if you are at least 17 years and 6 months old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you want to vote
  • not have been judicially determined to be mentally incompetent, unless the disability status has been removed.

Hawaii pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Hawaii if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of the State of Hawaii
  • not be incarcerated for a felony conviction
  • not be adjudicated by a court as non compos mentis.

Idaho pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Idaho if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • have resided in Idaho and in the county for at least 30 days before Election Day
  • not be serving a sentence of imprisonment for a felony. Your voting rights are restored once you have completed your sentence, probation, and parole.

Illinois pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Illinois if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Illinois and of your election precinct for at least 30 days before Election Day
  • not be currently incarcerated for a felony
  • not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

Indiana pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Indiana if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • have resided in the precinct at least 30 days before the next election
  • not currently be incarcerated for a felony.

Iowa pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Iowa if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Iowa
  • not currently be judged by a court to be “incompetent to vote"
  • not claim the right to vote in more than one place.

Kansas pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Kansas if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Kansas
  • have completed the terms of your sentence if convicted of a felony- a person serving a sentence for a felony conviction is ineligible to vote
  • not claim the right to vote in any other location or under any other name
  • not be excluded from voting for mental incompetence by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Kentucky pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Kentucky if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Kentucky for at least 28 days before Election Day
  • not have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law
  • not claim the right to vote anywhere outside Kentucky.

Louisiana pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Louisiana if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Louisiana at least 20 days prior to the election (if registering through the GeauxVote Online Registration System) OR 30 days (if registering by in-person or mail)
  • not currently be under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony (if you are under an order but have not been incarcerated within the last five years, you ARE eligible to vote unless your conviction was for election fraud)
  • not currently be under a judgment of interdiction for mental incompetence.

Maine pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Maine if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Maine and the municipality where you want to vote

Maryland pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Maryland if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a U.S. citizen
  • be a Maryland resident
  • not be under guardianship for mental disability
  • not have been convicted of buying or selling votes
  • not have been convicted of a felony, or if you have, have completed serving a court ordered sentence of imprisonment, including any term of parole or probation for the conviction.

Massachusetts pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Massachusetts if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Massachusetts
  • not be temporarily or permanently ineligible to vote because of election crimes
  • not be under guardianship with respect to voting
  • not be currently incarcerated for a felony conviction.

Michigan pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Michigan if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Michigan and be a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days before Election Day
  • not be currently incarcerated after being convicted and sentenced

Warning: Michigan law requires that the same address be used for voter registration and driver's license purposes. Therefore, if the residence address you provide on this form differs from the address shown on a driver's license or personal identification card issued by the State of Michigan, the Secretary of State will automatically change your driver's license or personal identification card address to match the residence address entered on this form. If an address change is made, the Secretary of State will mail you an address update sticker for your driver's license or personal identification card.

Minnesota pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Minnesota if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days before Election Day
  • maintain residence at the address given on the registration form
  • if previously convicted of a felony, have completed or been discharged from your sentence
  • not be under a court-ordered guardianship in which the right to vote has been revoked
  • not be found by a court to be legally incompetent to vote.

Mississippi pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Mississippi if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • have lived in Mississippi and in your county (and city, if applicable) for at least 30 days before Election Day
  • have not been convicted of voter fraud, murder, rape, bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, armed robbery, extortion, felony bad check, felony shoplifting, larceny, receiving stolen property, robbery, timber larceny, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, statutory rape, carjacking, or larceny under lease or rental agreement, or have had your rights restored as required by law
  • have not been declared mentally incompetent by a court.

Missouri pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Missouri if you are 17 years and 6 months old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

To vote in Missouri you must:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Missouri
  • not be on probation or parole after conviction of a felony, until finally discharged from such probation or parole
  • not be convicted of a felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage
  • not be adjudged incapacitated by any court of law
  • not be confined under a sentence of imprisonment.

Montana pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Montana if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Montana and of the county in which you want to vote for at least 30 days before the next election
  • not be in a penal institution for a felony conviction
  • not currently be determined by a court to be of unsound mind
  • meet these qualifications by the next Election Day if you do not currently meet them.

Nebraska pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Nebraska if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Nebraska
  • if convicted of a felony, two years have passed since the sentence was completed (including any parole or probation)
  • not have been officially found to be mentally incompetent
  • not have been convicted of treason, unless you have had your civil rights stored.

Nevada pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Nevada if you are at least 17 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • have continuously resided in the State of Nevada and in your county for at least 30 days and resided in your precinct for at least 10 days before the next election
  • not be incarcerated for a felony
  • not be determined by a court of law to be mentally incompetent
  • claim no other place as your legal residence.

New Hampshire pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in New Hampshire if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of New Hampshire and be a resident of the town or city within New Hampshire that you are registering to vote
  • not be incarcerated for a felony.

New Jersey pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in New Jersey if you are at least 17 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of New Jersey, your county and at your address at least 30 days before the next election
  • not be incarcerated for a felony
  • not be declared mentally incompetent by a court.

New Mexico pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in New Mexico if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of the State of New Mexico
  • not have been denied the right to vote by a court of law by reason of mental incapacity
  • if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed your sentence, including probation and parole.

New York pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in New York if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of New York and the county, city, or village for at least 30 days before Election Day
  • if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed prison and parole (if still on parole, your voting rights may have been restored by the governor — check your rights restoration status here)
  • not currently be judged incompetent by a court
  • not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

North Carolina pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in North Carolina if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of North Carolina and the precinct in which you live for at least 30 days prior to Election Day
  • if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed parole and probation
  • not be registered or vote in any other county or state.

North Dakota pre-registration rules

North Dakota does not have voter registration, but to be eligible to vote you must:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be 18 years or older on Election Day
  • be a resident of North Dakota
  • be a resident of the precinct for at least 30 days immediately preceding an election
  • not be currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
  • be able to provide a North Dakota driver's license, non-driver ID card, or a tribal ID that shows your current North Dakota residential address and your date of birth.

Ohio pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Ohio if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Ohio for the 30 days before Election Day
  • not be incarcerated for a felony conviction (if you have been convicted of violating Ohio's election laws three or more times, you must receive a pardon in order to be eligible to vote)
  • not have been declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court.

Oklahoma pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Oklahoma if you are 17 years and 6 months old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of the State of Oklahoma
  • have not been convicted of a felony, for which a period of time equal to the original sentence has not expired, or for which you have not been pardoned
  • not currently be under judgment as an incapacitated person, or a partially incapacitated person prohibited from registering to vote.

Oregon pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Oregon if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Oregon
  • not be incarcerated for a felony conviction.

Pennsylvania pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Pennsylvania if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States at 30 days before Election Day
  • be a resident of Pennsylvania and your election district at least 30 days before Election Day
  • not be incarcerated after conviction for a felony (your voting rights are restored immediately after incarceration).

Rhode Island pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Rhode Island if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Rhode Island for the 30 days before Election Day
  • not be currently incarcerated in a correctional facility due to a felony conviction
  • not have been lawfully judged to be mentally incompetent.

South Carolina pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in South Carolina if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of South Carolina, and live in the county and precinct where you are registering
  • not be confined in any public prison resulting from a conviction of a crime
  • never have been convicted of a felony or offense against Election Day laws, or if previously convicted, have served your entire sentence, including probation or parole, or have received a pardon for the conviction
  • not be under a court order declaring you mentally incompetent

South Dakota pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in South Dakota if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • reside in South Dakota
  • not be currently serving a sentence for a felony conviction which included imprisonment, served or suspended, in an adult penitentiary system
  • not have been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court

Tennessee pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Tennessee if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Tennessee
  • not be adjudicated incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction (or have been restored to legal capacity)

Texas pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Texas if you are 17 years and 10 months old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of the county in which the application for registration is made
  • not have been convicted of a felony, or if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have fully discharged your punishment, including any incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or be pardoned
  • have not been declared mentally incompetent by final judgment of a court of law

Utah pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Utah if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • have resided in Utah for 30 days immediately before Election Day
  • not be currently incarcerated for a felony conviction
  • not be found to be mentally incompetent by a court of law

Vermont pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Vermont if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Vermont
  • have taken the following Oath: You solemnly swear (or affirm) that whenever you give your vote or suffrage, touching any matter that concerns the state of Vermont, you will do it so as in your conscience you shall judge will most conduce to the best good of the same, as established by the Constitution, without fear or favor of any person [Voters Oath, Vermont Constitution, Chapter II, Section 42]

Virginia pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Virginia if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Virginia and of the precinct in which you want to vote
  • if convicted of a felony, have had your civil rights restored. Most people have their civil rights restored when they complete probation and parole. Click here to find your civil rights status.
  • not currently be declared incapacitated by a court.

Washington pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Washington if you are at least 16 years old.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a legal resident of Washington State, your county, and precinct for 30 days immediately preceding Election Day
  • not be incarcerated or on community supervision for a felony.

West Virginia pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in West Virginia if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • live in West Virginia and in the county in which you are registering
  • if you have been convicted of a felony, election bribery, or treason, you must have completed your sentence, including probation and parole
  • not be under conviction, probation, or parole for a felony, treason, or election bribery
  • not have been judged mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction

Wisconsin pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Wisconsin if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of Wisconsin for at least 28 days
  • if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed parole and probation
  • not be incapable of understanding the objective of the elective process or be under guardianship
  • If you register to vote by mail, you must send a proof‐of‐residence document with your complete first and last name and residential address, such as a copy of your current and valid Wisconsin driver license or state ID card, real estate tax bill, utility bill no older than 90 days, bank statement, paycheck or paystub, or a check or document issued by any government agency. A full list of acceptable documents is available at elections.wi.gov. If you forget to send this document, you will likely have to register again at the polls on Election Day and show your proof of residency then.

Wyoming pre-registration rules

You are old enough to pre-register in Wyoming if you are 17 years old now and you will be 18 by the next statewide general election.

You must also meet these registration requirements:

  • be a citizen of the United States
  • be a resident of the State of Wyoming
  • not be currently adjudicated mentally incompetent
  • Note that you must re-register to vote if you did not vote in the last General Election.