➋ Election officials will notify you that you are registered.

➌ Election officials will send you a ballot.

➍ Vote the ballot and send it back by the deadline – election day in most states. If you have not received a ballot by 30 days before the general election, you should use the federal write-in absentee ballot.

Alabama: Register by Jan. 25 to vote Feb. 5. www.sos.state.ala.us

Alaska: Register by July 27 to vote Aug. 26. www.elections.state.ak.us

Arizona: Register by Feb. 26 to vote Feb. 26. www.azsos.gov

Arkansas: Register by Jan. 29 to vote Feb. 5.  www.sosweb.state.ar.us

California: Register by Jan. 29 to vote Feb. 5. www.sos.ca.gov

December 7, 2008: the first day Military and Overseas Absentee Ballots will
be available
January 22, 2008: the last day to register to vote for this election
January 29, 2008: the last day to request an absentee ballot

Colorado: Register by Aug. 8 to vote Aug. 12. www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections

Connecticut: Register by Feb. 4 to vote Feb. 5. www.sots.state.ct.us

Delaware: Register by Feb. 1 to vote Feb. 5. www.electionsncc.delaware.gov/absentee_de

District of Columbia: Register by Dec. 10 to vote Jan. 8. www.dcboee.org

Florida: Register by Jan. 23 to vote Feb. 8. www.election.dos.state.fl.us

Georgia: Register by Jan. 7 to vote Feb. 5. www.sos.state.ga.us/elections

Hawaii: No presidential primary. www.hawaii.gov/elections

Idaho: Register by May 2 to vote May 27. www.idsos.state.id.us/elect/eleindex.htm

Illinois: Register by Jan. 5 to vote Feb. 5. www.elections.state.il.us

Indiana: Register by April 7 to vote May 6. www.in.gov/sos/elections

Iowa: No presidential primary. www.sos.state.ia.us

Kansas: No presidential primary. www.kssos.org

Kentucky: Register by April 21 to vote May 20. www.elect.ky.gov

Louisiana: Register by Jan. 9 to vote Feb. 9. www.geauxvote.com

Maine: No presidential primary. www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec

Maryland: Register by Jan. 22 to vote Feb. 12. www.elections.state.md.us

Massachusetts: Register by March 3 to vote March 4. www.sec.state.ma.us/ele

Michigan: Presidential primary date to be determined. www.michigan.gov/sos

Minnesota: No presidential primary. www.sos.state.mn.us

Mississippi: Register by Feb. 10 to vote March 10. www.sos.state.ms.us/elections/elections.asp

Missouri: Register by Jan. 30 to vote Feb. 15. www.sos.mo.gov

Montana: Register by May 8 to vote June 3. www.sos.mt.gov/ELB/index.asp

Nebraska: Register by May 7 to vote May 13. www.sos.state.ne.us/elec

Nevada: No presidential primary. www.sos.state.nv.us

New Hampshire: Presidential primary date has not been determined. www.sos.nh.gov/electionsnew.htm

New Jersey: Register by Feb. 1 to vote Feb. 5. www.state.nj.us/lps/elections/electionshome.html

New Mexico: Register by Jan. 21 to vote Feb. 5. www.sos.state.nm.us

New York: Register by Jan. 11 to vote Feb. 5. www.elections.state.ny.us

North Carolina: Register by May 5 to vote May 6. www.sboe.state.nc.us

North Dakota: No presidential primary. www.nd.gov/sos/electvote

Ohio: Register by Feb. 4 to vote March 24. www.sos.state.oh.us

Oklahoma: Register by Jan. 30 to vote Feb. 5. www.elections.state.ok.us

Oregon: Register by April 29 to vote May 20. www.sos.state.or.us/elections

Pennsylvania: Register by March 24 to vote April 29. www.dos.state.pa.us

Rhode Island: Register by Feb. 2 to vote March 4. www.sec.state.ri.us/elections

South Carolina: Register by Dec. 30 to vote Jan. 29. www.scvotes.org

South Dakota: Register by May 19 to vote June 3. www.sdsos.gov/elections

Tennessee: Register by Jan. 7 to vote Feb. 5. www.state.tn.us/sos/election

Texas: Register by Feb. 4 to vote March 4. www.sos.state.tx.us/elections

Utah: Register by Jan. 16 to vote Feb. 12. www.elections.utah.gov

Vermont: Register by Feb. 25 to vote March 4. www.vermont-elections.org/soshome.htm

Virginia: Register by Jan. 14 to vote Feb. 12. www.sbe.state.va.us

Washington: Register by Feb. 19 to vote Aug. 19. www.secstate.wa.gov

West Virginia: Register by April 22 to vote May 13. www.wvvotes.com

Wisconsin: Register by Jan. 30 to vote Feb. 19. www.elections.state.wi.us

Wyoming: No presidential primary. www.soswy.state.wy.us/election/election.htm

Source: Information from the 2008–09 U.S. Voting Assistance Guide; dates may differ for  U.S. Service members. Information may have changed based on legislation and clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice.