Motor Voter Driver Services
The Secretary of State's office does not register people to vote. It does, however, provide voter registration applications, which are forwarded to local election authorities for processing. When applying for or renewing your driver's license at a Driver Services facility, you will be asked if you want to register to vote. If you wish to register to vote at that time, you will be given a voter registration application form to sign, along with a receipt. You must retain the receipt until you receive your voter card from your local election authority. If you do not receive your voter registration card within 30 days, contact the local election authority listed on your receipt. To be eligible to register to vote, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen;
- Not be convicted of an offense and in jail;
- Be at least age 18 on or before the next election;
- Not claim the right to vote anywhere else; and
- Live in your election precinct at least 30 days prior to the next election.
When renewing your driver's license by phone, online or by mail as part of the Secretary of State's Safe Driver Renewal Program, you will be asked if you want to register to vote. If you answer yes, a packet of voter registration materials will be mailed to you. Instructions for completing and mailing the materials to your local election authority are included in the packet. If you apply to register to vote by mail, you cannot vote by absentee ballot in the next election.
Although the Secretary of State's office forwards voter registrations applications on your behalf at any time, if you apply to vote within 30 days of an election, your local election authority will not be able to process your registration until after the election, and you will not be eligible to vote in that election.