If you live in a residential facility and you need to register to vote, you can register online, register on paper, or register when you vote.
If you register at a polling place, a staff person can go with you to the polling place to confirm your address as an alternative to other proofs of residence. Read more details below.
Voting from a residential facility
Voters in hospitals or certain health care facilities may have special opportunities to vote at their facility or via agent delivery. In addition, all voters can vote early by mail or in person.
Residential facilities include:
If you need to register on Election Day, you must provide proof-of-residence. This can be difficult when you live in a residential facility. One simple way you can provide proof-of-residence is to ask facility staff to go with you on Election Day to ‘vouch’ for you. Vouching is when the staff swears that they personally know you live in the facility.
Any staff person can vouch for all eligible voters who are residents of the facility. However, staff must prove their employment with election officials. Methods of proof include:
If you live in a nursing home, an assisted-living facility, residential treatment center, group home or battered women's shelter, you can ask someone to pick up and return an absentee ballot for you. Read more about agent delivery
Your agent must be at least 18 years old, have a pre-existing relationship with you and cannot be a candidate. An individual cannot be an agent of more than three voters in an election. The agent must show identification with their name and signature when returning a ballot.
Give your agent a completed absentee ballot application and a request for agent delivery of absentee ballot form. Have your agent take both forms to the local election office to receive your ballot.
Your agent can pick up your ballot starting seven days before the election until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Your agent or someone else you designate must return your ballot to the same elections office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can also return your ballot by mail, but election officials must receive your ballot on or before Election Day.
Vote early with an absentee ballot
You can vote early at your local elections office starting 46 days before Election Day. You can also apply to have an absentee ballot sent to you in the mail.