NLU Votes

You can vote in U.S. elections if you:

• Are a U.S. citizen
• Meet your state’s residency requirements
• You can be homeless and still meet these requirements. 
• Are 18 years old on or before Election Day
• In almost every state, you can register to vote before you turn 18 if you will be 18 by Election Day. See a table of voter registration age requirements by state.
• Are registered to vote by your state’s voter registration deadline. North Dakota does not require voter registration.

Those who cannot vote in U.S. elections: 

• Non-citizens, including permanent legal residents
• Some people with felony convictions. Rules vary by state. Check with your state elections office about the laws in your state.
• Some people who are mentally incapacitated. Rules vary by state.
• For president in the general election: U.S. citizens residing in U.S. territories

Check with your state or local election office for any questions about who can and cannot vote.

Voter Registration

See if you are registered: 

Voter’s registration deadlines vary by state. To see if you are registered to vote, click here and use the Voter’s Registration Tool

Online Voter Registration

A very common way to register is to do it all electronically.

Go to vote.gov to choose your state’s website to register. Typically, you must have:

• You must have your drivers license or state ID #
• Date the government ID was issued
• Your social security #
• Your date of birth
• Complete the application and submit

In-Person Voter Registration

Download the National Mail Voter Registration Form. You can fill it out onscreen and print the completed form, or print the blank form and fill it out by hand. Remember to sign the form before mailing it to the location listed for your state.

Mail-In Voter Registration

You can register in person with your state or local election office. You may also be able to register at one of these nearby public facilities. Check with the actual location first.

• The Department of Motor Vehicles
•  Armed Forces Recruitment Centers
•  State and county public assistance offices such as SNAP/food stamps and WIC

Voting by Mail

Each state has mail-in voting, but some allow you to take part only in certain circumstances.

• Some states require an excuse for voting by mail. Due to the coronavirus, some states are giving all voters an excuse to vote by mail for certain elections.
• Because of the coronavirus, your state may automatically send you an absentee ballot or a form to fill out to request one.
• Your state election office has specific rules for your state.

If your state doesn’t automatically send you an absentee ballot or a form to fill out to request one:

• Go to Can I Vote and select your state from the dropdown menu
• Or use this website to help you complete an absentee ballot request for your state

Find Your Polling Place

• To find your polling place and its hours, contact your state or territorial election office. And let them know if you need an accommodation for a disability.
• Or, check on Can I Vote. 
• Your state’s laws determine whether you will need to show an ID and if so, what kind.

BRING AN ID!

Please note:

Your polling place is based on your residential address. Go to the one you’ve been assigned. Your name will not be on the roster at any other location. Polling places are typically schools, community centers, and other public facilities. The site of your polling place may change from one election to the next, so check with your state’s election office before Election Day.

Opportunities to Work Election Day

Here is the link for general information about becoming a poll worker on Election Day. 

In Cook County, students are often offered paid positions to work the polls.

Click on the link for opportunities to become an election worker in Dupage County. 

Florida election worker opportunities vary by county. Here are the links for Hillsborough County and Pinellas County. 

International Students & Democratic Process

While international students are ineligible to vote in the election, we encourage all students to become involved in the democratic process regardless. 

1. Learn the subject matter: Educate yourself on the U.S. democracy. Make sure you know the difference between primary and general elections, the frequency in which elections take place, the differences in parties - not just on a national level, but on a local level too! 
2. Attend our events: Events that take place within the Office of Student Engagement and Civic Engagement are oftentimes rooted in education and conversation. Check our events calendar to see if there are events of interest to you and get in on the conversation!
3. Familiarize yourself with local candidates. 
1. Click here for a voter’s guide for the 2020 general election in Chicago
2. Ballotready.org offers a comprehensive guide to elections by home address.

Step 1: Register to vote: In-person, mail-in, online.

Step 2: Pick your party affiliation: Democratic Party, Republican Party, Liberatarian Party, Independent Party, Libertarian Party, Independents. Click here for more information on each party. 

Step 3: Research the candidates. Even though you choose a party affiliation, you are not obligated to vote for the specific candidate of your affiliation. Instead, it is important to do your research on your national and local candidates up for election or re-election. This can be a personal journey to discovering what you believe in and your choice is your own. Ballotready.org offers a comprehensive guide to the election by home address. 

Step 4: Check your sources. With the wealth of information on the internet these days, it can be hard to avoid misinformation. Make sure your information is coming from reputable news sources, publications with data citations and not social media, editorials, and not partisan news outlets. 

Step 5: Check your state rights and rules to voting. Each state varies on what documentation you must bring to your polling place and voter registration deadlines. Check out vote.gov for state-by-state rules and regulations. 

Step 6: Find your polling place! By simply entering your home address, you can find your polling place so that you are prepared come election day.

Step 7: Cast your ballot! Go to your polling place on election day to cast your ballot electronically or on paper. Make sure to bring your Driver’s License, State I.D. or Passport. If before the registration deadline, you also have the option to request a mail-in ballot. You will then be mailed a paper ballot and required to mail it back or drop it off at

A full comprehensive guide to candidates state-by-state can be found at ballotready.gov.