Voter Registration Eligibility

Understand citizenship, residency, age, and local eligibility rules before checking official instructions.

Last reviewed 2026-06-26. Confirm current rules with your official election office.

Eligibility questions

Understand citizenship, residency, age, and local eligibility rules before checking official instructions. Official election sources control current rules, deadlines, and instructions.

What to know first

Eligibility rules are partly federal and partly local. Federal elections generally require U.S. citizenship, but age, residence, conviction-related rules, and local election rules can vary.

If your situation is not straightforward, the safest path is to confirm directly with your official election office before submitting a registration.

Documents and ID Military and overseas registration

Quick guide

Federal elections generally require U.S. citizenship, but some local election rules can differ.
Age, residency, felony conviction, and court-related eligibility rules vary by jurisdiction.
If your situation is unusual, confirm with an official election office before submitting a registration.

Checklist

Confirm citizenship requirements for the election you want to vote in.
Check the age rule for your jurisdiction, including any pre-registration option.
Use your current voting residence when reviewing registration instructions.
Ask an official source about felony conviction, guardianship, or court-related questions.

Watch for

Primary election participation can depend on party registration rules.
Students, military voters, overseas voters, and recent movers may need extra residence guidance.
Older online summaries can be stale when eligibility laws change.

Official sources used

These links support the answers on this page. External government resources open in a new tab.

Who is generally eligible to register to vote?Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to register to vote?How old do I need to be to register?Can I register if I have a felony conviction?What residency rules apply to voter registration?

You generally must be a U.S. citizen, meet residency rules, and meet your jurisdiction's age and legal eligibility requirements.

The basic eligibility rules usually include U.S. citizenship, residence in the state or jurisdiction where you register, and meeting age requirements by the relevant election.

Some legal eligibility rules vary, including rules related to felony convictions, court findings, pre-registration for younger voters, and local election participation. Always confirm the current rules with official election sources.

Reviewed 2026-06-26 Link to this question

Sources

For federal elections, yes. Some local rules may differ for local elections, so confirm with official local sources.

For federal elections, voters must be U.S. citizens. State and territory election offices provide instructions for registering eligible voters.

Some local jurisdictions may have separate rules for certain local elections. If you are unsure which elections you are eligible for, confirm directly with the official election office before registering.

Reviewed 2026-06-26 Link to this question

Sources

Age rules vary. Many places allow registration at 18, and some allow pre-registration before age 18.

Many jurisdictions require voters to be 18 by Election Day, but some allow younger people to pre-register before they are eligible to vote.

Age rules may also vary for primaries, local elections, and pre-registration. Check the official election office for your state, territory, or district.

Reviewed 2026-06-26 Link to this question

Sources

Rules vary widely by state and situation, so confirm current eligibility with official election or rights-restoration resources.

Eligibility after a felony conviction is determined by state law and can depend on sentence status, probation, parole, rights restoration, and other factors.

Do not assume that an old rule still applies. Confirm current eligibility with your official election office or official rights-restoration resource before submitting a registration.

Reviewed 2026-06-26 Link to this question

Sources

You usually register where you live, but the definition of residence and required proof can vary.

Voter registration is tied to residence because your address determines the election districts and ballot you receive.

Residency rules can vary for students, military voters, people without a traditional address, recent movers, and people living temporarily away from home. Confirm your situation with official election sources.

Reviewed 2026-06-26 Link to this question

Sources