We hope you’re already registered to vote — not only is it important to make your voice heard, but there’s also the promise of the très chic “I voted” button Scarlett Johansson mentioned at the Democratic National Convention. Unfortunately, the voter registration deadline has already come and gone in several states. But there may still be time to fill out that application depending on where you live. So, get moving! You can’t rock the vote if they won’t let you in the booth.
Registering to vote is a lot easier than it sounds – it shouldn’t take much longer than filling out the “billing” part of an online shopping cart. You'll probably be asked to fill in your name, address, and Social Security Number, along with some other basic information. But online registration isn’t available everywhere.
Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Oregon, and Utah all offer online registration, though most require anyone who registers online to have a driver’s license or state-issued ID. You can even register at the polls if you live in Washington D.C., Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, or Wyoming, as long as you bring along a photo ID and proof of your address. But in most of the other states, you may have to mail in the form or visit a county building to register.
Find the deadline for your state or territory below, and visit the Election Assistance Commission for more information about how to register. Asterisks mark the states with deadlines of today (October 9). And don't forget that a lot of states require you to mail in a form, so get thee to a printer!