Residency Requirements for Voting

Updated June 26, 2019 | Infoplease Staff

The Supreme Court decision of March 21, 1972, declared lengthy requirements for voting in state and local elections unconstitutional and suggested that 30 days was an ample period. Most of the states have changed or eliminated their durational residency requirements to comply with the ruling, as shown. Note, for all states, in order to register to vote, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of the state, and 18 years old on or before election day. Additionally, most states do not permit an individual to vote if he or she is a convicted felon currently serving time in prison or has been declared mentally incompetent by a court of law.

StateResidency requirement
AlabamaNo durational residency requirement. 10-day registration requirement. In-person registration by 5 P.M., eleven days before election date.
Alaska30-day registration requirement.
Arizona29-day registration requirement.
ArkansasNo durational residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
California15-day registration requirement.
Colorado30-day residency requirement. 29-day registration requirement.
ConnecticutNo durational residency requirement. Registration deadline 14th day before election by mail, 7 days in person; registration and party enrollment deadline by 12 noon the day before primary in person, 5 days by mail.
DelawareNo durational residency requirement. 20-day registration requirement.
District of ColumbiaNo durational residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
FloridaNo durational residency requirement. 29-day registration requirement before national election; 29-day registration requirement before first and second state primary.
GeorgiaNo durational residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
HawaiiNo durational residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
Idaho30-day residency requirement. May register 25 days prior to any election with County Clerk. Individual may also register on election day at polling place.
Illinois30-day residency requirement. 27-day registration requirement.
Indiana30-day residency requirement. 29-day registration requirement.
IowaNo durational residency requirement.10-day registration requirement. In-person registration by 5 P.M., 11 days before election date, 10 days for statewide primary and general elections.
Kansas15-day registration requirement.
Kentucky28-day residency requirement.
LouisianaNo durational residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
MaineNo durational residency requirement.
MarylandNo durational residency requirement.
MassachusettsNo durational residency requirement. 20-day registration requirement.
Michigan30-day residency requirement.
MinnesotaPermits registration and voting on election day with approved ID; 20-day residency requirement.
Mississippi30-day residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
MissouriNo durational residency requirement. Must be registered by the fourth Wednesday prior to election.
Montana30-day residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
NebraskaNo durational residency requirement. Registration deadline is third Friday prior to election.
Nevada30-day residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
New HampshireNo durational residency requirement. 10-day registration requirement. Individual may also register on election day at polling place.
New Jersey30-day residency requirement. 29-day registration requirement.
New MexicoNo durational residency requirement. 28-day registration requirement.
New York30-day residency requirement.
North Carolina30-day residency requirement. 25-day registration requirement.
North DakotaNo voter registration. 30-day residency requirement to vote in election.
Ohio30-day residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
OklahomaNo durational residency requirement. 25-day registration requirement.
OregonMust register by close of business day of registering agencies (which varies), 21st day before the election.
Pennsylvania30-day residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
Rhode IslandNo durational residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
South CarolinaNo durational residency requirement. Registration certificate not valid for 30 days, but if you move within the state you can vote in old precinct during the 30 days.
South DakotaNo durational residency requirement. 15-day registration requirement.
TennesseeNo durational residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
TexasNo durational residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement.
Utah30-day residency requirement. 15th and 18th day before election registration in person. Postmarked 30 days before election if registering by mail.
VermontAdministrative cut-off date for processing registration applications is second Saturday before the election, by 12 noon.
VirginiaNo durational residency requirement. 29-day registration requirement.
Washington30-day residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement. Individual may also register in person no later than 15 days before election.
West VirginiaNo durational residency requirement. 21-day registration requirement.
Wisconsin10-day residency requirement. Individual may also register on election day at polling place.
WyomingNo durational residency requirement. 30-day registration requirement. Individual may also register on election day at polling place.
Source: Questionnaires to the states.

Who Can Vote and Who Can Be ElectedU.S. ElectionsNational Voter Turnout in Federal Elections: 1960–2004
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