Which states allow same day voter registration? What to know for the 2022 midterm elections

Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY
·2 min read

The 2022 midterm elections have arrived. And, if you haven't registered to vote yet but are still hoping to cast a ballot on Tuesday, it's important to know which states allow for same day voter registration.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 22 states and Washington, D.C. have implemented same day voter-registration as of 2022.

Election Day registration – which means you can both register and vote on Election Day – is possible in 20 of those states and Washington, DC, the NCSL says.

Two other states are slightly different. In North Carolina, same day registration is possible for a portion of early voting but not on Election Day, NCSL notes. A new law passed in Montana last year moved the state's registration deadline to the day before election day – but that legislation has faced lengthy legal challenges. According to the Montana Secretary of State, the law will not be enforced this year and voters should be able to register on Election Day by 8 p.m.

Election 2022 live updates: Dr. Oz won't answer if he will accept results in Pennsylvania

What are the midterm elections? Here's what to know about them and why they're important

Legal challenges over same day registration laws are not new. In Delaware, for example, the state's Supreme Court ruled same day voter registration unconstitutional last month, NCSL notes.

In addition to the District of Columbia, here are the states where you can register to vote this Election Day:

  • California

  • Colorado

  • Connecticut

  • District of Columbia

  • Hawaii

  • Idaho

  • Illinois

  • Iowa

  • Maine

  • Maryland

  • Michigan

  • Minnesota

  • Montana

  • Nevada

  • New Hampshire

  • New Mexico

  • Utah

  • Vermont

  • Virginia

  • Washington

  • Wisconsin

  • Wyoming

Voting registration 2022: Midterm election deadlines for online, mail or in-person ballots

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day

According to the NSCL, two additional states, Alaska and Rhode Island, allow for same day voter registration "only to vote for president and vice president." Since the presidency is not on ballots for the midterms, this does not apply on Tuesday.

Unlike other states, North Dakota does not require voter identification. All eligible voters can vote if they provide "acceptable identification."

Last-minute voting guide for Nov. 8: How to vote and what's on the ballot

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Which states offer same day voter registration in the 2022 elections?