The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Nov. 2, 2026
Written & Produced by:
November 1, 2026 11:33 amWASHINGTON, DC — Election day is here. For citizens who wish to vote but are still not registered, 24 states and DC offer election day voter registration for general elections. But doing so requires a voter to dig up the necessary documents before heading to the polls.
Before we start, a reminder that election rules vary state-to-state, and your local or state election office is always your best source of information. If you don’t know where to find those, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission has an interactive tool at EAS.gov.
The states offering election day registration according to the National Conference of State Legislatures are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. Rhode Island and Alaska only offer it only to vote for president or vice president.
For most states, voters need a government-issued ID, proof of age and U.S. citizenship, and documents proving where you live. For those who’ve changed their name, supporting documents may also be needed. State or local election offices can provide more details on the documents needed.
We’ve linked to more on election day registration at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
National Conference of State Legislatures – Same Day Registration
Brennan Center for Justice – (2018) Election Day Registration Could Cut Through Many of the Arguments in the Voting Wars
Vote.Gov – Register to Vote or Check Your Registration
MIT Election Data & Science Lab – Same-day registration
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Election Day Voter Registration is Good and Helps People Vote. But for Most Voters, Registering Before the Election is Better.
American Democracy Minute – Why People Don’t Vote Week: You Can’t Vote if You Don’t Register — So Why Don’t Nonvoters Register?
Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause MA, League of Women Voters US, 866OurVote.org
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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