Why Do We Need To Register To Vote Again?

This story is role of Elections 2020, CNET'southward coverage of the voting in November and its aftermath.

Online voter registration has ended in many states for the2020 election, which is today. And if you've decided to votein person (safely), you won't be able to do so unless you're registered. However, several states will let you lot register to vote at your polling place. If you're not sure what your registration status is, it doesn't take long to find out.

If you chose to vote past post or absentee election, notation that different states take unlike cutoffs and some may accept already passed. For example, in California, your mail-in ballot must be postmarked past Tuesday evening. Hither's how totrack your ballot in every state.

In-person voting is besides bachelor, but yous may need help finding your polling location during the ongoing pandemic. Expect extra rules for social distancing and mask-wearing at the very least. Here's what y'all need to know well-nigh registering to vote and what you need to bring if y'all vote in person on Ballot Day. Remember, voter intimidation is illegal, and here's what to do if y'all spot it.

Now playing: Watch this: What political campaigns know most yous

5:47

How to bank check if yous're registered to vote

To come across if you're currently registered to vote, visit vote.org and click Check Your Registration. From here, y'all'll need to enter your personal information, like your first and last proper name, current address, date of birth and an e-mail accost. Brand certain all your information is correct and select Check your registration. On the next screen, y'all'll either see confirmation that you're registered or that you need to register to vote.

If you're not sure you're registered to vote

If you lot're going to the polls and you're not certain if you're registered, you can arrive at your local polling place with your proof of address and ID and speak to polling officials. You may exist instructed to complete a ballot, which would count if y'all are registered, and would non count if y'all aren't. We recommend checking electronically (run into above) to make sure.

Tin can I register to vote on Ballot Day?

These states volition still let yous annals to vote on Election Twenty-four hour period, but it must be in person. Notation that you'll most probable need to bring proof of address and a course of ID.

California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Dakota doesn't require voter registration
Rhode Island
Utah
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin

How do I annals to vote?

If you're not registered to vote and it's still open for your land, visit vote.org and click Register To Vote. From here, enter your personal details as mentioned above and click Continue. When you're finished filling out the course, you'll demand to sign and date it, then hand-deliver the class to the provided address. Note that the deadline for registering to vote in many states has already passed.

vote-elections-2020-trump-pence-biden-harris-0656 — Yous may demand to reregister to vote.
James Martin/CNET

If the borderline has passed for online voting in your state, but your country allows Ballot Mean solar day registration, call alee of time to make sure you take everything you demand to register. Almost states that allow you lot to register on Election 24-hour interval allow you lot annals at the polls.

Common reasons for needing to reregister to vote

Even if yous already registered to vote, here are several reasons why you may need to reregister.

You recently moved to another location.
You've changed your name since the final time y'all voted.
You'd like to change political parties.
You lot haven't voted in the past four years.
You've never registered to vote at all, in which case y'all'd need to register for the first time.

Need more than information about voting? Here's what'south going on with the USPS crisis and how it could affect the ballot and how to vote safely if you're voting in person.