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Election Day is just around the corner, and early voting is hitting record highs.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, voters will make decisions on a variety of federal, state, and local positions, including the next president of the United States. While many voter registration deadlines have already passed, there may still be time to register depending on your location. Participating in the election is seen by many as a vital civic responsibility, and preparing to make your voice heard this year is essential.

Here are answers to your key questions about the voting process.

Am I eligible to vote?

Citizens of the U.S. who are registered can vote in this year’s elections at the federal, state, and local levels. Voters must meet the following requirements:

• Be a citizen of the United States. Americans can vote while residing abroad. Some jurisdictions also permit non-citizens to vote in local elections.
• Fulfill state residency qualifications. These can differ by state, and people without homes can also meet these conditions.
• Be at least 18 years old by Election Day.

Do I need to register to vote?

In order to participate in the general election, Americans must register before their respective state or local voter registration deadline, with one notable exception: voters in North Dakota are not required to register.

How do I register?

You can register online, via mail, or in person at your local election office. The voter registration process varies by location. To check your registration status or to register for the first time, visit vote.gov.

Alternatively, you can download, print, and complete the national mail voter registration form and mail it to the address provided for your area. Some government facilities like local DMV offices, recruitment centers for armed forces, and public assistance offices can also assist with registration.

Americans living abroad or military personnel stationed outside the U.S. can register and request an absentee ballot through the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

What’s the deadline to register?

Deadlines for voter registration differ by location. With Election Day quickly approaching, many states have already closed their voter registration. For instance, states like Colorado allow in-person registration right up to Election Day, while states like Iowa require registration at least 15 days in advance. In some states such as Ohio, registration must be completed 30 days before the elections.

To determine your specific deadline, visit vote.gov and select your state or territory.

I have moved, do I need to re-register?

If you have relocated to a different state, you must register again in your new state.

If you’ve moved within the same state, you need to update your registration. Should you have changed your name, that also requires an update to your registration. Depending on your state, you might need to re-register entirely or complete a specific form for the changes to take effect.

You can also modify the political party associated with your registration by reaching out to your local or state election office.

Can I vote online?

No, online voting is not permitted in federal elections in the United States. Most state and local elections also require voters to cast their ballots in-person or through mail.

Can I vote by mail?

The possibility of voting by mail varies by state. Some states, like Texas, require a valid excuse to vote by mail, while others, like California, allow it for any registered voter.

To find out the rules for your area, select your state or territory at vote.gov.

How do I get my mail-in ballot?

If your state allows voting by mail without requiring an excuse, obtaining a mail-in ballot is straightforward.

Many voters across the country will have the opportunity to vote by mail in 2024. For example, residents in states like Nevada will receive a mail-in ballot automatically upon registration. In other states, such as Wisconsin, registered voters will receive an application to request a mail-in ballot automatically. Some states require voters to proactively request an application for a mail-in ballot.

Check your state’s rules on vote.gov.

What’s the latest date I can vote by mail?

Post-pandemic, most states have permitted voters to submit ballots through the mail, but deadlines for when these ballots must arrive vary significantly. For instance, states like Missouri require that all mail-in ballots be submitted before polling places close on Election Day. Conversely, states like Maryland allow ballots to be received until—even after—Election Day, provided they are postmarked by that date.

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Make sure your ballots are postmarked by November 5.

Visit vote.gov to see the specific rules for your state or territory.

Can I track my mail-in ballot?

You can track your mail-in ballot in most states, although there are a few exceptions. For instance, Illinois and Wyoming lack a statewide ballot tracker, but some counties may provide tracking options. Missouri does not have any ballot tracking available. New York and Texas offer different tracking systems for domestic and overseas or military ballots.

Can I vote in person?

Absolutely. Voters across all states can vote in person on Election Day. Most states also allow for early in-person voting, which can start more than a month before Election Day and end the week prior.

If you’re unsure when early voting starts in your area, contact your local election office for details.

How can I find my polling place?

To discover your polling place, check your voter registration details, or reach out to your local election office for assistance or to request any necessary accommodations for disabilities.

You cannot change your polling location without modifying your voter registration. Your polling place is assigned based on your home address. If you vote at a location that is not yours, you may need to cast a provisional ballot, which might not be counted, as stated on vote.gov.

What should I do when I arrive at the polling site?

When you arrive at your polling site, especially on Election Day, prepare for possible wait times. Most states require voters to present a form of identification for in-person voting.

Voter ID requirements differ across states. Some may ask for a photo ID like a driver’s license or passport, while others might require a birth certificate or Social Security card. You can find a state-by-state breakdown of voter ID requirements through the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Poll workers are there to guide you and help you find a private area to cast your vote. Don’t forget to grab an “I voted” sticker as you leave.

Where can I find election results?

YSL News will provide live updates on national and state election results on election night and the following days. Final results are unlikely to be available on election night due to varying local and state certification deadlines, which can range from two days to over a month after November 5.

The rise in absentee and mail-in voting post-COVID led to delays in results reporting in 2020, taking four days for all votes to be counted before news outlets announced President Joe Biden as the winner. This can vary; in 2016, Donald Trump was declared the winner in the early morning hours post-election.

This year’s vote counting duration is uncertain, and potential legal challenges may delay the confirmation of the election winner, similar to the 2000 election.