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Voter Guide · Updated Oct. 22

Is It Too Late to Register to Vote? 2026 Deadlines and Early Voting Dates

In some states, no. Here are the last registration deadlines for the Nov. 3 election, the states where you can still register in person, on Election Day or during early voting, and where early voting is open — checked against official state election offices.

Published October 9, 2026 · Updated October 22, 2026·5 min read·Voter Guide·Election Day is November 3

Short answer: in some states, no. As of October 22, regular registration is still open in Virginia (through October 23) and New York (through October 24), and New Hampshire towns set their own final sessions through October 28. In at least ten more states, you can still register at the last minute: in person, during early voting, or on Election Day itself.

Regular deadlines have now passed in most states, including Kansas (Oct. 13) and Pennsylvania (Oct. 19), which have no late option.

How we checked these dates

Every date below comes from a state election office, a state statute, or an official county election page, checked on October 9, 2026; on October 22 we moved deadlines that have since passed. Rules can change and some details vary by county or town, so confirm with your state or local election office before you rely on a deadline. Vote.gov links to every state’s official registration page.

Oct. 23
Virginia (online and mail); Nebraska in person, 6 p.m.
Oct. 24
New York, last regular deadline in this guide
10+
States in this guide with Election Day or same-day registration
None
Late option in Kansas or Pennsylvania

Registration deadlines still ahead

Sorted by the earliest deadline.

StateDeadlineLate option
New HampshireSet by each town: last session of the supervisors of the checklist, between Oct. 21 and Oct. 28At your polling place on Election Day, with proof of identity, age, citizenship and domicile
NebraskaOnline and mail closed Oct. 16; in person until 6 p.m. Fri., Oct. 23 at the county clerk or election commissionerNone after Oct. 23
VirginiaFri., Oct. 23 (online; mail postmarked)In person after Oct. 23 through Election Day, voting a provisional ballot
New YorkSat., Oct. 24 (must be received)None

Deadline passed, but you can still register

StateRegular deadlineHow to register now
MinnesotaOct. 13At your polling place on Election Day, or at early voting locations, with proof of residence
MaineOct. 13 (online and mail)In person through the close of polls on Election Day
WisconsinOct. 14 (online and mail)At your municipal clerk’s office until 5 p.m. Fri., Oct. 30; at your polling place on Election Day, with proof of residence
IowaOct. 19On Election Day at your polling place, or during early voting at the county auditor, with ID and proof of residence
MichiganOct. 19 (online and mail)In person at your local clerk’s office through 8 p.m. Election Day, with proof of residency
CaliforniaOct. 19“Conditional” registration through Election Day at county offices, vote centers or polling places

North Carolina

Same-day in early voting

The regular deadline was 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. But you can still register and vote at the same time at an early voting site through Oct. 31, with proof of residence. Same-day registration is not available on Election Day itself.

Nevada

Same-day available

Mail and in-person registration closed Oct. 6, but Nevada allows registration during early voting and on Election Day with a Nevada driver’s license, DMV ID or tribal ID. County election offices describe the details differently, so check with your county.

Montana

Late registration

Regular registration closed Oct. 5. Late registration is open in person at your county election office through Election Day. A court blocked a 2025 law that would have shortened these hours, so some state materials are out of date; confirm hours with your county.

Registration deadlines that have passed

StateDeadline
South CarolinaIn person Oct. 2; online Oct. 4; mail postmarked Oct. 5
AlaskaSun., Oct. 4
Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, TexasMon., Oct. 5
Nevada (mail and in person)Tue., Oct. 6 — see same-day option above
North CarolinaFri., Oct. 9 — see same-day option above
KansasTue., Oct. 13 — no late option
PennsylvaniaMon., Oct. 19 — no late option

When early voting starts

“Early voting” means different things in different states: some run official early-voting sites, while others let you vote an absentee ballot in person at the clerk’s office. Hours and locations almost always vary by county.

StateEarly in-person votingStatus Oct. 22
VirginiaSept. 18 – Oct. 31 (5 p.m.)Open
MinnesotaSept. 18 – Nov. 2Open
MaineOct. 5 – Oct. 29, at town or city hallOpen
NebraskaOct. 5 – Nov. 2, at the county election officeOpen
CaliforniaFrom Oct. 5 (sites vary); vote centers open by Oct. 24Open
OhioOct. 6 – Nov. 1 (uniform statewide hours)Open
ArizonaOct. 7 – Oct. 30Open
GeorgiaOct. 13 – Oct. 30 (Saturdays Oct. 17 and 24 required)Open
IowaOct. 14 – Nov. 2Open
KansasAs early as Oct. 14 (varies by county; all counties by Oct. 27) – noon Nov. 2Open (all counties by Oct. 27)
North CarolinaOct. 15 – Oct. 31 (3 p.m.)Open
NevadaOct. 17 – Oct. 30 (Clark and Washoe counties)Open
TexasOct. 19 – Oct. 30Open
AlaskaOct. 19 – Nov. 3Open
South CarolinaOct. 19 – Oct. 31 (closed Sun., Oct. 25)Open
FloridaRequired Oct. 24 – 31; counties may run Oct. 19 – Nov. 1Some counties open; statewide Oct. 24
WisconsinFrom Oct. 20, possibly through Nov. 1 (varies by municipality)Open (varies)
MichiganRequired Oct. 24 – Nov. 1; some communities offer more daysBy Oct. 24
New YorkOct. 24 – Nov. 1Oct. 24
PennsylvaniaNo early voting. You can request, fill out and return a mail ballot in one visit to your county election office until 5 p.m. Oct. 27.—
New HampshireNo early voting. Absentee voting requires a qualifying reason.—

Before you go

Bottom line

If you live in one of the states above with a deadline still ahead, register now; it takes minutes online in most of them. If your deadline has passed, check whether your state offers same-day or Election Day registration before assuming you’re out of luck.

Sources

  1. Kansas Secretary of State: 2026 General Election dates (PDF)
  2. Michigan Secretary of State: Register to vote / early in-person voting
  3. Pennsylvania Department of State: Voter registration
  4. Iowa Secretary of State: VoterReady Iowa
  5. Maine Secretary of State: State of Maine Voter Guide
  6. New Hampshire Secretary of State: Registering at the town or city clerk's office
  7. MyVote Wisconsin: Voter deadlines
  8. Minnesota Secretary of State: Elections calendar
  9. Nebraska Secretary of State: 2026 Election Calendar (PDF)
  10. Ohio Secretary of State: Voting schedule
  11. Georgia Secretary of State: November 3, 2026 General Election
  12. North Carolina State Board of Elections: Upcoming election
  13. North Carolina State Board of Elections: Register in person during early voting
  14. Texas Secretary of State: Important election dates
  15. Arizona Secretary of State: Election calendar
  16. Clark County, Nevada: 2026 General Election guide (PDF)
  17. Washoe County, Nevada: Register to vote
  18. Alaska Division of Elections: Absentee and early voting
  19. Florida Division of Elections: Early voting
  20. South Carolina Election Commission: Early voting
  21. Montana Secretary of State: Court order and Election Day registration
  22. New York State Board of Elections: Registration and voting deadlines
  23. California Secretary of State: Key dates and deadlines, Nov. 3, 2026
  24. Virginia Department of Elections: Upcoming elections
  25. Vote.gov: Official U.S. government voter registration portal