Registering to vote

Note: This is current as of November 2004. Developed for the EphVote student voter registration campaign.

What NOT to do if something doesn’t work:

• Give up.

What to do:

• Fix it yourself! Usually some creative Googling (use keywords like ‘election’ or ‘voter’ and their variations) will get you to the right place. Please update the page when you’ve found a solution to a problem!

Voter registration takes place on a local level. Each state has its own form. In order to get a ballot in your SU Box, you will need to complete two tasks: registering to vote and requesting an absentee or mail-in ballot. Registering is not enough!

Follow the state-specific directions. In every case, you will have to fill out and mail in a form. Adobe Acrobat (installed on all college computers) is required to open most of them. The Office of Community Service will pay for postage – please drop off fully and properly addressed envelopes at Siskind House (in the quad behind Schow), and we’ll put it in the mail. However, we are not responsible for the consequences if the form has been improperly filled out or the envelope incorrectly addressed. Please check that your form is complete BEFORE you send it or drop it off in Siskind.

Some states require you to request an application for absentee balloting. In this case, you will fill out the form, send it in (either physically or electronically), receive the application, fill it out, and mail it back in. You must follow this procedure in order to receive your absentee ballot.

Most forms will go to a county election office. The lists of the office addresses are included with the instructions. To determine your county, go to FVAP.gov. Most of them also have telephone numbers to allow you to check on the processing of your forms. If not, contact your Secretary of State at the office telephone number.

If you need to find a notary public, contact the Williamstown Town Clerk/Registrar of Voters at 458-9341.

Alabama

1. Fill out the National Voter Registration Application and check for Alabama guidelines in the state-specific instructions.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver's license) to your county clerk.

Alaska

1. Fill out the National Voter Registration Application and check for Alaska guidelines in the state-specific instructions.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to: Alaska Division of Elections, Absentee Voting Section, PO Box 110017, Juneau, AK 99811-0017 OR fax it all to (907) 465-3203.

Arizona

Questions? (1-877-843-8683)

Register online! OR

1. Print out the voter registration form.
2. Mail the printed form and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk, then contact the clerk to request an early (i.e. absentee) ballot

Arkansas

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver's license) to your county clerk, and then contact the clerk to request an absentee ballot.

California

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk.

Colorado

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk (addresses on the absentee form).

Connecticut

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your Town Clerk. (scroll down to get a list of towns)

Delaware

Requires notarization! Contact the Williamstown Town Clerk/Registrar of Voters at 458-9341.

1. Fill out the relevant portions of the National Voter Registration Application (Delaware-specific directions provided inside).
2. Fill out column 1 of the absentee ballot request form.
3. Get form notarized and mail it in.

District of Columbia

1. Fill out an application to register to vote.
2. Fill out an application for a mail-in ballot.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to: District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics, 441 4th Street, NW, Suite 250 North, Washington, DC 20001

Florida

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your particular county clerk.
3. Some counties have online request forms. If not, call them to request an application.

Georgia

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail or fax the forms and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county board of registrars.

Hawaii

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your: county clerk.

Idaho

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the request for an absentee ballot.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk.

Illinois

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Mail the form and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county election authority.
3. Request an application for an absentee ballot from your county election authority. Some areas have forms available online, including, but not limited to, the Chicagoland counties: Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County (requires voter information), City of Chicago, Will County.

Indiana

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk (addresses on the form).

Iowa

1. Fill out a voter registration form.
2. Fill out the " application for an absentee ballot.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county auditor.

Kansas

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out an advance voting request.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county election official.

Kentucky

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk.
3. Request an absentee ballot application from your county clerk.

Louisiana

1. Fill out a voter registration form.
2. Fill out an absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to the appropriate registrar of voters.

Maine

1. Complete the card contained within the: voter guide.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot application.
3. Mail both and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to:

Office of the Secretary of State, Division of Elections, 101 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0101

Maryland

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county election board.

Massachusetts

Questions? (617-727-2828)

1. Fill out the form to request a voter registration: voter registration OR pick up a registration form in the Williamstown Town Hall (across from the Greylock Quad).
2. Mail the form to your town clerk.
3. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
4. Mail it to your town clerk.

Michigan

1. Fill out a voter registration form.
2. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk.
3. To receive an absentee ballot, write a request to your county clerk containing specific information.

Minnesota

1. Fill out a voter registration form.
2. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county auditor.
3. Call your county auditor to request an absentee ballot application form.

Mississippi

1. Fill out the voter registration application.
2. Mail it to your county voter registrars.
3. To request an absentee ballot, contact the circuit clerk in the county where you are registered. The clerk's office will send you an application for an absentee ballot. When you receive it, fill it out and mail it in. Soon thereafter, you will receive an absentee ballot listing all the candidates for office. Mark your choices and return the ballot to the circuit clerk's office. Your ballot must be received by the circuit clerk BEFORE the election day.

Missouri

1. Fill out the voter registration request form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot application.
3. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county election authority.

Montana

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out an absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county election administrator.

Nebraska

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk or commissioner.

Nevada

1. Fill out the National Voter Registration Application and check for NV guidelines in the state-specific instructions.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form, changing the mailing address to that of your particular county clerk.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your: county clerk with a request for an absentee ballot application.

New Hampshire

Requires notarization! Contact the Williamstown Town Clerk/Registrar of Voters at 458-9341.

1. To register, check here and apply to your town or city clerk's office.
2. Request an absentee ballot request form.
3. Fill out the form in the presence of a notary public and mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your town clerk.

New Jersey

1. Fill out a voter registration form.
2. Fill out an absentee ballot application.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk.

New Mexico

1. Fill out the National Voter Registration Application and check for NM guidelines in the state-specific instructions.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot application.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk.

New York

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot application.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county board of elections.

North Carolina

1. Fill out the: voter registration form.
2. Write a request for an absentee ballot to your county board of elections including your name, residence address, date of birth, address where you would like the ballots mailed, telephone number, and signature.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county board of elections.

North Dakota

No voter registration!

1. Fill out the: absentee ballot request form.
2. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk.

Ohio

1. Fill out the: online voter registration request form.
2. When the registration form arrives, fill it out.
3. Fill out an absentee ballot request form.
4. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county board of elections.

Oklahoma

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your specific county election board.

Oregon

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form (white out the Clackamas County address and fill in yours if you don’t live there).
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county election office.

Pennsylvania

1. Fill out the voter registration form. (Instructions)
2. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county election official (addresses on the instructions page).
3. Print out and mail the absentee ballot request form to your county election official.

Rhode Island

1. Fill out a voter registration form.
2. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your local board of canvassers. Request from them an application for a mail-in ballot.

South Carolina

(Absentee FAQ)

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county election board, then contact them to request an application for an absentee ballot.

South Dakota

Requires notarization! Contact the Williamstown Town Clerk/Registrar of Voters at 458-9341.

1. Fill out the: voter registration form.
2. Fill out the non-notary portions of the absentee ballot request form
3. Fill out the rest in the presence of a notary public.
4. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county auditor.

Tennessee

1. Fill out an application for voter registration.
2. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county election commission with a letter requesting a ballot by mail that includes your name, address in Tennessee, social security number, school Bldg. #/SU Box address, election you want to participate in (in this case, the General State Election), the reason for voting absentee, and your signature.

Texas

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out an application for a ballot by mail.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county voter registration official.

Utah

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your county clerk.

Vermont

Requires notarization! Contact the Williamstown Town Clerk/Registrar of Voters at 458-9341.

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Take the voter’s oath with a notary public, who must sign the form.
3. Fill out an absentee ballot request.
4. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your town clerk.

Virginia

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your general registrar.

Washington

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Be sure to check “Yes”; under “Ongoing Absentee Request”;
3. Mail it and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to: Office of the Secretary of State, Voter Registration By Mail, PO Box 40230, Olympia, WA 98504-0230

West Virginia

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out an absentee ballot request form.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your [http://www.wvsos.com/service/rosters/countyclerks.htm">county clerk:

Wisconsin

1. Fill out the voter registration form.
2. Fill out the request for an absentee ballot.
3. Mail everything and a copy of a government-issued ID (driver’s license) to your municipal clerk.

Wyoming

1. Fill out the voter registration form of your county.
2. Follow the county-specific instructions to mail it in with a copy of a government-issued ID (driver's license).
3. Contact your county clerk regarding absentee registration.