You need to re-register if:
- You have moved to a new address.
- You have changed your name.
- You want to change your political party affiliation.
You may not need to re-register if:
- Your name and address haven’t changed and you are an active voter.
If you are unsure if you need to re-register, you should check your voter registration information. This ensures you can vote in the next election.
Why should you look up your voter registration information?
States try to keep their voter registration lists as accurate as possible. This means:
- Removing registrations for voters who no longer reside there
- Marking some registrations as inactive
You might be marked inactive if you:
- Didn’t respond to a postcard or letter from election officials and
- Didn’t vote in the last two federal general elections (one midterm and one presidential election)
If your registration is inactive, you may need to take extra steps before you can vote. If you don’t, you may have to cast a provisional ballot.
Checking and updating (when needed) your registration ahead of time ensures:
- Your name, address, and political party are up to date. Depending on your state, you may not see your political party listed when you check your registration. This is because some states don’t require you to declare a party when you register.
- You have time to make any necessary changes if your registration is marked inactive.
- You can vote.
- You know your correct polling place.
