CREDO’s 2018 Voter Registration Dates Guide
CREDO’s 2018 Voter Registration Dates Guide:
Find your voting registration, absentee, and early vote dates state-by-state
Voting is a privilege. An honor. And, most importantly, our duty.
The 2018 midterm elections will be one of the most consequential in a generation. And although Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot – his dangerous agenda certainly is. That’s why it’s so critical that progressive voters turn out on November 6 in massive numbers if we want to hold Trump and his corrupt, greedy, racist, misogynistic administration accountable.
Your vote is your voice – make sure it’s heard. But it will only count if you show up, mark your ballot and ensure your friends and family do, too.
With the help of our friends at the Campus Organizing Guide, we’ve put together this state-by-state guide to help you navigate the sometimes confusing and difficult rules and dates surrounding voter registration. Use it to make sure your vote counts and share it with your friends and family.
Want to find out if you’re already registered? Check out our recent tip: “How to register to vote — or find out if you’re already registered
Click your state below to find out important voting dates:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Alabama
- Voter registration deadline: 10/22
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: Request by 11/1
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 at noon
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? Yes
- Early voting dates: None
Alaska
- Voter registration deadline: 10/7
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: Request by 11/5 at 5pm AKST
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: Submitted by Fax: 11/6 by 8pm AKST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Can be faxed
- Early voting dates: Starting 10/22
Arizona
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: Request by 10/26
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 7pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- No (may upload – but must receive authorization from the County)
- Early voting dates: 10/10 – 11/2
Arkansas
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: Request by 10/30 (or 11/5 if in person)
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by:
- 11/6 by 7:30pm if mailed
- 11/5 if delivered in person
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- No (email or fax ok)
- Early voting dates: 10/22 – 11/5
California
- Voter registration deadline:
- 10/22 online or postmarked
- 10/23 in person
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: Received by 10/30
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: Postmarked 11/6 and post received by 11/9
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Yes
- Early voting dates: Varies by county
Colorado
- Voter registration deadline: 10/29 online or by mail
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: none/automatic (if registered by 10/29)
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 7pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Yes
- Early voting dates: Varies by county
Connecticut
- Voter registration deadline: 10/30
- Election day registration: Yes (but not at polling places)
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/5 in person
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 at 8pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Yes
- Early voting dates: None
Delaware
- Voter registration deadline: 10/13
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline:
- 11/2 received by email, fax or mail
- 11/5 by noon in person
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 at 8pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? No (email or fax ok)
- Early voting dates: Varies by county, but ends 11/5 at noon; only for those that qualify to vote absentee
District of Columbia
- Voter registration deadline
- 10/16 online or by mail
- 10/21 in person
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/3
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 at 8pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? Yes
- Early voting dates: 10/22 – 11/2
Florida
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/31 at 5pm
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 7pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? No
- Early voting dates: 10/27-11/3
Georgia
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/2
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 7pm (8pm in cities of over 300k population)
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Yes
- Early voting dates: 10/15 – 11/2
Hawaii
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/30
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? Yes
- 10/23 – 11/3
Idaho
- Voter registration deadline: 10/12
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/26
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 8pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? Yes
- Early voting dates: ? – 11/2
Illinois
- Voter registration deadline:
- By Mail: 10/9
- Online: 10/21
- Election day registration:
- At Early Voting and Election Day.
- In person at the polling location and 2 forms of ID required when doing so
- Absentee ballot request deadline: Received by mail 11/1
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: Post received by 11/20 (and postmarked by 11/6)
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? Yes
- Early voting dates: 9/27-11/5
Indiana
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/29
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 6pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? Yes
- Early voting dates: 10/9 – ?
Iowa
- Voter registration deadline: 10/27
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: “well before Election Day to ensure ample time for you to receive and send back your ballot in time for Election Day”
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 9pm OR postmarked by 11/5 and received by 11/12 at noon
- Early voting dates: 10/27 – ?
Kansas
- Voter registration deadline: 10/16
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/2
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 in person; 11/9 and postmarked by 11/6 if mailed
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? Yes
- 10/22 – 11/5 (but begins as late as 10/30 for some counties)
Kentucky
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/30
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 6pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Must contact County Clerk’s office for the County you are registered to vote in
- Early voting dates: None
Louisiana
- Voter registration deadline
- By Mail: 10/9
- Online: 10/16
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/2 by 4:30pm CDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/5 by 4:30pm CST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? No, can submit online
- Early voting dates: 10/23-10/30
Maine
- Voter registration deadline: By Mail: 10/16
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/1
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 8pm EST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Contact the municipal clerk in the town or city where you are registered to vote
- Early voting dates: None
Maryland
- Voter registration deadline: Postmarked by 10/16 at 9pm EDT
- Election day registration: No, but can register to vote at Early Voting if you have a MD driver’s license or MVA issued ID card
- Absentee ballot request deadline: Online by 11/2 by 5pm EDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: Postmarked by 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- No, can submit online if you have a MD driver’s license or MVA issued ID card
- Early voting dates: 10/25-11/1
Massachusetts
- Voter registration deadline: 10/17
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/5 by noon EST
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Must apply in writing to city or town clerk or election commission
- Early voting dates: 10/22-11/2
Michigan
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/3 by 2pm
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 8pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? Yes
- Early voting dates: None
Minnesota
- Voter registration deadline
- Online: 10/16 by 11:59pm
- By Mail: 10/16 by 5pm
- Election day registration: Yes with proof of residence or another voter in that precinct attesting to your address
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/5
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? No, may submit online
- Early voting dates: None
Mississippi
- Voter registration deadline
- By Mail: Postmarked 10/9
- In-Person: 10/8 by noon CDT
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/3 by noon CDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/3 by noon CDT
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? Must contact circuit or municipal clerk’s office
- Early voting dates: None
Missouri
- Voter registration deadline: 10/10
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/31 by 5pm CDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form? By Mail or Fax
- Early voting dates: None
Montana
- Voter registration deadline: By Mail: 10/9
- Election day registration: Yes at the county election office before 8pm
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/5 by noon MST
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 8pm MST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- By Mail or dropped off at the county election office
- Early voting dates: None
Nebraska
- Voter registration deadline
- Online: 10/19 by 5:00pm CDT
- Postmarked by 10/19
- In Person: 10/26 by 6:00pm CDT
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/26
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- In Person, by mail or fax
- Early voting dates: 10/8 – 11/5
Nevada
- Voter registration deadline
- Online: 10/18
- Postmarked by 10/9
- In person by 10/16
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/30 by 5:00pm
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 7:00pm
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- In person or by mail
- Early voting dates: 10/20 – 11/2
New Hampshire
- Voter registration deadline: 11/6
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/5 by 5:00pm EST
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Contact town clerk
- Early voting dates: None
New Jersey
- Voter registration deadline: 10/16
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: In Person Request by 11/5 at 3:00pm EST
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 at 8:00pm EST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- In Person or by mail
- Early voting dates: None
New Mexico
- Voter registration deadline: Postmarked by 10/9 (received by 10/12)
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/2 by 5:00pm MDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 at 7:00pm MDT
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Online or contact County Clerk in person, by mail, or by phone
- Early voting dates: 10/9 – 11/3
New York
- Voter registration deadline: 10/12
- Postmarked by 10/12 (received by 10/17)
- In person: 10/12
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: In Person Request by 11/5
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- In Person or by mail
- Early voting dates: None
North Carolina
- Voter registration deadline: 10/12
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/30
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail, fax, email, in person
- Early voting dates: 10/18 – 11/3
North Dakota
- Voter registration deadline: None (11/6)
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/5
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: Postmarked by 11/5
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Online or by mail
- Early voting dates: Contact local election office
Ohio
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/3 by 12:00pm EDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 7:30pm EST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- In person or by mail
- Early voting dates: None
Oklahoma
- Voter registration deadline: 10/12
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/31 by 5:00pm CDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 7:00pm CST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Online or by mail
- Early voting dates: 11/1 – 11/2
Oregon
- Voter registration deadline: 10/16
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: none (vote by mail state – just need to be registered by 10/16)
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 8:00pm PST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Vote By Mail state
- Early voting dates: None
Pennsylvania
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/30 by 5:00pm EDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/2 by 5:00pm EST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- In person or by mail
- Early voting dates: None
Rhode Island
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/16 by 4:00pm EDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 8:00pm EST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- In person or by mail
- Early voting dates: None
South Carolina
- Voter registration deadline
- Postmarked by 10/9
- In Person by 10/5 by 5:00pm EDT
- Email or Fax by 10/7 by midnight
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/2 by 5:00pm EDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 7:00pm EST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail, fax, email, in person
- Early voting dates: None
South Dakota
- Voter registration deadline: 10/22
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/5 by 5:00pm CDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/5 by 5:00pm CDT
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail only
- Early voting dates: None
Tennessee
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/30
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/6 by 8:00pm EST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail, fax, or email
- Early voting dates: 10/17 – 11/1
Texas
- Voter registration deadline: 10/9
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/26
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by: 11/7 by 5:00pm CDT
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail only
- Early voting dates: 10/22 – 11/2
Utah
- Voter registration deadline
- Online by 10/30
- Postmarked by 10/9 (received by 11/1)
- In Person request by 10/7
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/1
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail, in person, or email
- Early voting dates: None
Vermont
- Voter registration deadline: 11/6
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/5
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by 11/5
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail, fax, email, in person
- Early voting dates: None
Virginia
- Voter registration deadline: 10/15
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/30 by 5pm EDT
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by 11/6 at 7pm EST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail, fax, email, in person
- Early voting dates: None
Washington
- Voter registration deadline:
- Online by 10/8
- Post received by 10/8
- In person by 10/29
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/29
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail only
- Early voting dates: None
West Virginia
- Voter registration deadline: 10/16
- Election day registration: No
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 10/31
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by 11/5
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail, fax, or email
- Early voting dates: 10/24 – 11/3
Wisconsin
- Voter registration deadline:
- Postmarked by 10/17
- In person by 11/2
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/2
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by 11/6 by 8:00pm CST
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- Mail only
- Early voting dates: Varies by locality – contact local elections office
Wyoming
- Voter registration deadline: Post received by 10/22
- Election day registration: Yes
- Absentee ballot request deadline: 11/5
- Completed absentee ballots must be received by 11/6
- Must mail absentee ballot request form?
- In person or by mail
- Early voting dates: None
South Carolina extended it’s registration to Oct. 17th, because of the hurricane disruption.
I want to be sure I rec an absentee ballot.
I am hoping that everyone who loves their freedom realizes how important this election is. Malcolm Nance and Chris Hedges believe it could be our last if we fail to take at least the HOUSE! I’m 66 and from what I have been reading since tRUMP took office I have to agree with the experts. VOTE IN MASSES so SHOW UP and VOTE BLUE all the way!