Handling voter registration online is one of the biggest modern conveniences available to US voters, but it's an option you might have to go without if you live in one of these seven states.
Early voting is already underway in a handful of places for this fall's general election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, and voter registration deadlines are inching closer in other locations. In most states, as well as Washington, DC, residents have the option to register by mail, in person or online. However, for a handful of states, online registration isn't an option, so residents there will have to take other steps to get signed up.
Based on recent statistics, registration has been surging lately, and it's likely that US residents all across the country are still keen to get registered. Last month, Vote.org reported that over 150,000 people used its services to register on National Voter Registration Day, Sept. 17. By comparison, the popular site registered just under 280,000 folks in total last year. Time is nevertheless running out to register ahead of November's general election, so here are the states where residents will need to go a little farther than the computer to get the process moving.
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Which states don't have online registration?
The following seven states don't offer any sort of online registration option:
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Wyoming
These states have a combined population of about 40 million people, with the majority of them, 30 million, in Texas.
In these states, voters will have to make do with mail and in-person registration options. Some of these states might offer the ability for residents to head online to download forms needed for registration, but that's it.
It's worth adding that North Dakota also doesn't offer online registration, but only because it doesn't use registration at all. Residents in the Peace Garden State need to present valid ID at their polling place to prove they're eligible to vote.
How much time do I have to register if I live in one of these states?
CNET has created an interactive map of the US that lets you find your registration deadline simply by hovering your cursor over your state. You can also read on for the details, from the US government's Vote.gov website.
State deadlines
- Arkansas: Registrations by mail must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 7. The in-person deadline is also Monday, Oct. 7.
- Mississippi: Registrations by mail must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 7. The in-person deadline is also Monday, Oct. 7.
- Montana: Registrations by mail must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 7. In-person registration can be done all the way up through Election Day.
- New Hampshire: Registrations by mail must be received by Election Day, Nov. 5. In-person registration can also be done all the way up through Election Day.
- South Dakota: Registrations by mail must be received by Monday, Oct. 21. The in-person deadline is also Monday, Oct. 21.
- Texas: Registrations by mail must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 7. The in-person deadline is also Monday, Oct. 7.
- Wyoming: Registrations by mail must be received by Monday, Oct. 21. In-person registration can be done all the way up through Election Day.
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