To learn more about the election process and who is running for office check out Rock the Vote’s Election Center.
- ON ELECTION DAY, IF I THINK MY RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Call (866) OUR-VOTE if you feel your rights have been violated. There will be lawyers on hand to answer Election Day questions and concerns about voting procedures.
- AM I REQUIRED TO VOTE FOR EVERYTHING ON THE BALLOT?
No! You don’t have to answer everything. If you’re not sure what is on the ballot, here are some great resources you can use.
- WHAT IF I GO TO THE POLLS AND THEY TELL ME I AM NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE?
First, make sure you are at the right polling place. If you are at the wrong polling place they will not have your name on the list of voters. If you are at the correct location and are not on the list, you can still cast a ballot. Ask the poll worker for a provisional ballot. After the polls close on Election Day the state will check on the status of your voter registration and if there was a mistake made. The state must notify you as to whether your ballot was counted. If you have a problem voting and think your rights have been denied, call (866) OUR- VOTE. There will be lawyers there to help.
- DO I NEED TO SHOW IDENTIFICATION TO VOTE?
Most states require some form of identification either when you register and/or when you vote. The rules vary state by state. Check out your state rules at our Election Center.
- WHERE DO I VOTE ON ELECTION DAY?
CLICK HERE to find out where you vote on Election Day. Polling places are usually within walking distance of your home (unless you are in a very rural area). A polling place can be in a business, a person’s house, a school, or a community center, to name a few establishments.
- HOW DO I UNSUBSCRIBE FROM EMAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES FROM ROCK THE VOTE?
After filling out an online voter registration form, you will receive – at most –three automated reminders to print, sign, and mail in your form. After that, if you have not signed up to receive Rock the Vote emails, you will not receive future emails from the organization. If you check the box to sign up for emails and no longer want to receive them, we can remove you from the list manually or you can click unsubscribe at the bottom of the next email we send. To unsubscribe from our text messages, text STOP to RTVOTE.
- I CHANGED MY LEGAL NAME. HOW DO I CHANGE MY NAME ON MY VOTER REGISTRATION?
On every voter registration form, there is a place to fill in your previous registration information. You will fill out the form as if it were your first time doing so, and where it asks you to put in your old information, you would put in your previous name, (for example, your maiden name).
- WHERE DO I VOTE EARLY?
Check out the Rock the Vote Election Center for information on where you can vote early.
- CAN YOU CHANGE YOUR VOTE IF YOU VOTED EARLY?
Some states allow you to do this. Please check with your local elections office to determine the rules in your state.
- HOW DO I OBTAIN AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
To vote by absentee ballot, you must submit an absentee ballot request form through your state.
- DOES A VOTER CARD SERVE AS A FORM OF IDENTIFICATION FOR VOTING?
Most states do not accept a voter card as a form of ID. If you are a first-time voter who mailed in your registration form, you should check out our Election Center to find out what identification you will need at the polls.
- WHY SHOULD I HOLD ONTO MY VOTER CARD?
A voter card lets you verify that your voter registration information is correct, such as your name, address, and birthdate. It also has the address for your polling place, which is where you will vote on Election Day.
- WHAT IF MY INFO ON THE CARD IS WRONG?
The card should have information on how to change any incorrect information (such as the wrong apartment number or that your name is misspelled). If for some reason there are no instructions, get the information to call your state or local election administrator.
- DO I NEED MY VOTER CARD TO VOTE?
No. Voter cards let you know that you have successfully registered to vote. They contain information for where you will vote on Election Day and a phone number for your state if you have any questions. Voter Cards are NOT required to vote. Check out our Election Center for additional information about what you must bring with you to the polls on Election Day.
- I LOST MY VOTER CARD. HOW CAN I GET ANOTHER ONE?
You should be able to call your state and request a new voter card. Not all states send out voter cards.
- I DON’T KNOW IF I EVER RECEIVED A VOTER CARD (OR I LOST MINE). WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Call your state to make sure you completed your voter registration form correctly and that they have you listed as a registered voter. If you’re registering right before the voter registration deadline, chances are you won’t receive the card in time for the election. You do not need this card to vote but you do need to know if you’re registered and where your voting location is. Get the information to call your state election authority with any questions.
- HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET MY VOTER CARD IN THE MAIL?
It usually takes 6-8 weeks for the state to send out your voter card. If 8 weeks have passed and you haven’t received your card, you probably are not registered and should call your state to make sure your registration went through properly. If you register to vote with fewer than 8 weeks to the election, you may not receive your card in time. Call your state to confirm your registration.
- WHAT DOES A VOTER CARD LOOK LIKE?
Voter cards vary from state to state but generally, they’re small cards that look like a postcard.
- WHAT IS A VOTER CARD?
After you register to vote, most states send out a “voter card” to let you know your registration has gone through. The voter card helps you to confirm you’re registered to vote and that your information is correct. Most also contain information about where you will go to vote on Election Day.
- IS IT TOO LATE TO REGISTER TO VOTE?
Voter registration deadlines vary by state. Check out our Election Center for information for the voter registration deadlines in your state.
- I MAY ALREADY BE REGISTERED BUT I DON’T KNOW. HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M REGISTERED TO VOTE?
You can check your voter registration status directly with your state or by using our voter registration lookup tool.
- CAN YOU REGISTER TO VOTE ONLINE?
Some states do offer online voter registration. Check with your local voter registration and/or your state election offices or register to vote online with Rock the Vote’s tool here.
- WHAT DO I DO IF I COMPLETED THE ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION FORM, BUT DO NOT HAVE A PRINTER?
If you do not have access to a printer you should complete a paper voter registration form at your local board of elections, the DMV, post office, or public library.
- WHEN I RECEIVED MY COMPLETED ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION FORM FROM ROCK THE VOTE, I REALIZED A PIECE OF MY PERSONAL INFORMATION (EMAIL, PHONE, ADDRESS, ETC.) WAS INCORRECT. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Not to worry. Your form is not processed until you’ve printed, signed and mailed it in. You will need to complete the form again online–make sure you review all the information before you submit so that you don’t have to correct anything again.
- CAN I PUT A PO BOX ADDRESS OR A SCHOOL MAILBOX ADDRESS AS MY PERMANENT ADDRESS?
No. Your form will not be processed if you put a P.O. Box as your permanent address. For districting purposes, you must put a physical address. There is a section of the form to put your mailing address, in addition to your physical address.
- I JUST MOVED TO A NEW STATE YESTERDAY. CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE IN THAT STATE RIGHT NOW?
Residency rules vary by state. In some states, you may be eligible to register to vote in your new state immediately upon moving. In others, you may need to wait a certain number of days or be living in the state for a certain amount of days before you register to vote in the next election. A state cannot require you to live there for more than 30 days to register to vote. Check out our Election Center for information on your state.
- I AM IN THE ARMED FORCES. HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?
You can register to vote and request a ballot through Rock the Vote’s partnership with the Overseas Vote Foundation.
- I LIVE ABROAD. HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?
You should contact the Federal Voting Assistance Program. The website is http://www.fvap.gov. They specialize in getting people in the armed forces and people living abroad registered to vote. The rules for people in the armed forces or abroad are different than for people living in the United States. The FVAP can also be reached by phone at (800) 438-VOTE.
- I AM A STUDENT. CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE AT MY SCHOOL ADDRESS?
YES! You have the right to register to vote at your school address – this includes a dorm room. Any student living in a dorm is entitled to the same rights as any other student. To imply otherwise is illegal. If you receive mail in a Post Office box you can sign an affidavit (or, in some cases, get a letter from your college’s Residential Life office) asserting that you live at your dorm address. For more info, check out our Election Center.
- I KNOW SOMEONE WHO’S MENTALLY IMPAIRED/DISABLED. CAN THEY VOTE?
In most states, if a person has been declared “non-compos mentis,” or “mentally incompetent” by a court of law, that person is ineligible to vote. For more information on how your state defines this, get the information to contact your state.
- I AM A VOTER WITH A DISABILITY. WILL MY POLLING PLACE BE ACCESSIBLE AND WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE TO CAST A BALLOT?
Every voter has the right to cast a private and independent ballot, including voters with disabilities. If you want to learn more about what your voting rights are or were denied the right to vote because of your disability, you can find your state’s National Disability Rights Network member agency here. Additional resources for voters with disabilities can be found through the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and Nonprofit VOTE.
- I WAS PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF A FELONY. CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE?
If you were convicted of a felony, your voting rights may vary from state to state. Learn more here.
- DO I NEED TO RE-REGISTER IF I’VE MOVED?
Yes, if you have changed your address, changed your name, or need to change your political party, you must re-register. Check out our Election Center for information for the requirements in your state.
- WHERE CAN YOU REGISTER TO VOTE?
You may be able to register to vote at public facilities like the DMV, your local election office or in some states, online. Before heading out, check with your state voter registration and/or your state election offices or register to vote here with Rock the Vote.
- DO I NEED TO BE A U.S. CITIZEN TO REGISTER TO VOTE?
Yes. You must be a naturally born or fully naturalized U.S. citizen to register to vote.
- DO I NEED TO BE 18 TO REGISTER TO VOTE?
The voter registration age requirement varies by state, but most states allow individuals who will be 18 by the next election to register to vote. Some states do have a minimum age requirement to register to vote (for example you may have to be 17 ½ years of age). Check out our Election Center for the voter registration eligibility requirements in your state.
- WHEN IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE?
Voter Registration postmark deadlines vary from 30 days out to just a couple of days before the elections. Check out our Election Center for information for the voter registration deadlines in your state.