Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I register to vote using Rock the Vote's widget tool?
- If I have changed my address, name or party, how do I update my voter registration using the Rock the Vote widget?
- Why is my SSN or state ID required?
- Why won't my form print/Can I print my voter registration form at a later time?
- What do I do if I experience technical problems on the using the Rock the Vote voter registration widget?
- What happens to the information I provide through the Rock the Vote voter registration widget?
- Where do I send my voter registration form?
- How do I know I am registered?
- How do I get an absentee ballot?
- Where is my polling place?
- What is the Help America Vote Act?
- How do I vote if I am military personnel or a United States citizen living outside the United States?
- How do I register to vote using Rock the Vote's widget tool?
To register to vote, click the 'Register to Vote' button on any site hosting the Rock the Vote widget, or visit rockthevote.com. You will need Adobe Acrobat to download your voter registration form. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat, click here. You will also need a printer to print out your registration form.
Complete all requested fields in the form. You can access detailed federal and state instructions for any field by moving your mouse over the 'question mark' next to the field.
If you have any questions regarding the information requested by your state, please contact your Secretary of State. After you complete the process for filling out your voter registration application form online you must print, sign, and mail your form to your Secretary of State. For your convenience, the address of your Secretary of State is pre-printed on your form along with detailed registrations instructions for your state.
After you complete the Rock the Vote voter registration application process you will be emailed a .pdf of your completed application for your records or the convenience of printing it out at a later date.
Please note: North Dakota, New Hampshire and Wyoming don't accept the National Voter Registration Application form. If you live in one of these states, contact your Secretary of State's office.
- If I have changed my address, name or party, how do I update my voter registration using the Rock the Vote widget?
To register to vote, click the 'Register to Vote' button on any site hosting the Rock the Vote widget, or visit rockthevote.com. You will need Adobe Acrobat to download your voter registration form. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat, click here. You will also need a printer to print out your registration form.
Enter the state you are currently living in, at the top of the form, along with your email address. Then, select 'No' after 'Are you registering to vote for the first time?'
Further down the form, you will be able mark a checkbox indicating that you are changing your name, address, and/or party. If changing your name, enter your former name in the 'Previous name' fields. If changing your address, enter your former address in the 'Previous address' fields. You may also indicate that you are changing your party affiliation; simply enter your new party affiliation in the 'Political party' field.
- Why is my SSN or state ID required?
Under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), federal law now requires registrants to provide an identification number. The requirements for this information vary from state to state. You can access detailed federal and state instructions for the ID field by placing your cursor over the red 'question mark' graphic on the right side of your screen. If a more detailed instruction is available for a topic, you will be able to click on the 'question mark' for additional information. If you have any questions about your state's requirements, please contact your Secretary of State.
- Why won't my form print/Can I print my voter registration form at a later time?
Why won't my form print?
Make sure that you have the most current version of Adobe Acrobat (you can download it for free at Adobe Acrobat). Your voter registration form can only be read and printed using Adobe Acrobat¨ Reader¨.
Can I print my voter registration form at a later time?
Yes. At the end of the voter registration process you will be directed to 'Print Form'. If you cannot immediately print your form, you can save the .pdf file to your computer or a disk for later printing. Rock the Vote will also send you an email with a copy of your .pdf form attached.
- What do I do if I experience technical problems on the using the Rock the Vote voter registration widget?
If you are still having technical problems, you can download a blank voter registration form and fill it out by hand. You can also contact your Secretary of State to request that a registration form be mailed to you. Click here for your Secretary of State's website, contact information and state registration deadlines.
- What happens to the information I provide through the Rock the Vote voter registration widget?
All personal information and other unique identifiers entered into the widget are used to produce the voter registration form to send to your local or state election officials and for the use of Rock the Vote and its partners. If you provide a social security or identification number, it will be used solely for the production of your voter registration form. You can also read a complete copy of the Rock the Vote Privacy Policy.
- Where do I send my voter registration form?
For your convenience, the voter registration widget pre-prints the address of your Secretary of State onto your form. You may also click here to find the address for your Secretary of State.
- How do I know I am registered?
To find out the status of your voter registration application, please contact your Secretary of State or local elections official. Please click here to find the contact information for your Secretary of State.
- How do I get an absentee ballot?
To obtain an absentee ballot, please contact your Secretary of State. Please click here to find the contact information for your Secretary of State.
- Where is my polling place?
To find your polling place, please contact your Secretary of State. Please click here to find the contact information for your Secretary of State.
- What is the Help America Vote Act?
The Help America Vote Act, or HAVA, was passed by Congress in October 2002. The goal of the legislation is to improve administration of elections nationwide. The Act includes provisions addressing items such as voter systems, provisional voting, voter identification, voter registration databases, disability access and voter outreach. For more information, please visit the Election Assistance Commission web site.
- How do I vote if I am military personnel or a United States citizen living outside the United States?
For information on voting, registering to vote and absentee ballots for military personnel or United States citizens living outside the United States, please visit Federal Voting Assistance Program Web Site.