US Elections Data
Key details to remember about the structure of elections in the United States.
Contents
Voter Registration
Most states and territories have databases of residents who are registered to vote. North Dakota does not register voters.
Registration Timeline
Six states are exempt from the NVRA (1993). Unless indicated, this means that residents can register to vote on election day.
- Idaho
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota*
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
*North Dakota does not register voters
Twenty two states offer same day voter registration. (Twenty unconditionally)
- California
- Colorado*
- Connecticut
- D.C.
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maine
- Maryland**
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina**
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
*not applicable to mail in voting system
**only applicable to early voting
Registration Requirements
Most voter registration databases feature 'inactive status. In most states and territories, 'inactive' voters must present additional documentation proving residency.
In two states, 'inactive' voters are not eligible to vote. Voters must re-register, subject to normal timeline restrictions.
- Minnesota*
- Wyoming*
*state offers same day voter registration
Causes for 'inactive' status include:
- official election mail returned as undeliverable
- non-response to official election mail (i.e. canvass, residency confirmation, etc.)
- not voting for 4 consecutive years in some states, chiefly Minnesota
Voting Age
Most states and territories require an individual to be 18 years old before voting. Twenty five allow 17 year olds to vote in primary elections, if they will be 18 for the corresponding election day. (Eighteen unconditionally.)
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- D.C.***
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa**
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada**
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Alaska* **
- Hawaii* **
- North Dakota* **
- Wyoming* **
*state Republican Party bars 17 year olds
**state bars 17 year olds from congressional primaries
***D.C. does not have congressional representation
Many states have provisions for 16 or 17 year olds to 'pre-register'.