Voter Registration Requirements, Schedule of Primary Elections

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Voter Registration Requirements and
Schedule of Primary Elections

Academic studies have demonstrated that electoral laws affect voter participation. For example, voter registration laws have been shown to hinder citizens from participating in elections (Wolfinger and Rosenstone 1980). It is the responsibility of state election officials to determine such voter registration requirements as the length of time one must be a resident in order to register or the date by which one must register in order to vote. Consequently, registration requirements as well as levels of voter participation vary from state to state.

Table 1 (see below) summarizes these regulations for each state. Of particular interest to observers of elections is the comparison between registration requirements and voter turnout for the state (information on voter registration and turnout in 2000 can be found on the fact sheet regarding past voting behavior of citizens). For example, states without voter registration requirements (North Dakota) or those that offer registration on election day (Minnesota, Wisconsin) had higher rates of voter turnout in 2000 (over 60% turnout of the voting age population) than most of those states that placed a deadline on registration. For those focusing on minority and ethnic voter participation, it is particularly interesting to study the registration requirements of those states in which foreign migration has been high. For example, it is noteworthy that such states as California, Florida and Texas have a relatively lenient residency requirement. All three states require that prospective voters are residents of the state, but there is no particular length of residency that is required. Such a regulation might serve as an incentive to newcomers to participate in elections.

Table 1: State Voter Registration Requirements and Deadlines

State	Residency Requirements	Age Requirements	Legal Standing	Deadline	Other
Alabama	Must be citizen of state and co. when register	Must be 18 before any election	Must not have been convicted of felony punishable by imprisonment or have had civil rights restored	11 days before the election	Must swear an oath to U.S. Constitution and state of Alabama
Alaska		Must be 18 within 90 days of registration	Must not be a convicted felon	30 days before the election	Must not be registered to vote in another state
Arizona	Must be resident of state and co. 29 days before the election	Must be 18 on or before next general election	Must not have been convicted of treason or felony or have had civil rights restored	29 days before the election
Arkansas	Must live in state at address listed on voter application	Must be 18 on or before next election	Must not be a convicted felon or have discharged your sentence or been pardoned	30 days before the election	Must not claim right to vote in any other jurisdiction
California	Must be resident of state	Must be 18 at time of next election	Must not be imprisoned or on parole for conviction of felony	15 days before the election
Colorado	Must be resident of state 30 days before the election	Must be 18 on or before election day	Must not be prisoner or serving any part of sentence under mandate	29 days before the election a
Connecticut	Must be resident of state and town in which you vote	Must be 17 to register and 18 to vote	Must have completed confinement or parole if felon and have had voting rights restored	14 days before the election
Delaware	Must be a permanent resident of state	Must be 18 on date of next general election	Felons eligible to vote if fines and sentences completed 5 years prior to application date and convictions may not be disqualifying convictions (i.e. murder)	20 days before the election
Dist. of Columbia	Must be a resident of District 30 days before the election	Must be 18 on or preceding next election	Must not be in jail for felony conviction	30 days before the election	Must not claim right to vote anywhere outside D.C.
Florida	Must be legal resident of state and co. in which you register	Must be 18 to register and may pre-register at 17	Must not have been convicted of felony without civil rights having been restored	29 days before the election	Must not claim right to vote in any other county or state and must swear to defend constitutions of U.S. and the state
Georgia	Must be legal resident of state and co. in which you vote	Must be 18 within 6 months after day of registration and 18 to vote	Must not be serving sentence for convicted felony	5th Monday before any primary or general election
Hawaii	Must be resident of state	Must be 16 to register and 18 by election day in order to vote	Must not be incarcerated for felony conviction	30 days before the election
Idaho	Must be resident of state and co. 30 days before the election	Must be 18	Must not have been convicted of a felony and without having rights of citizenship restored or in prison on conviction of criminal offense	25 days before the election
Illinois	Must be resident of state and precinct 30 days before the election	Must be 18 on or before election day	Must not be in jail for felony conviction	28 before the election	Must not claim right to vote anywhere else
Indiana	Must be resident of precinct 30 days before the election	Must be 18 on day of next general election	Must not currently be in jail for criminal conviction	29 days before the election
Iowa	Must be resident of state	Must be 17 ½ to register and 18 to vote	Must not have been convicted of a felony or have had your rights restored	10 days before elections for state primaries and general elections b	Must not claim the right to vote in any other location or under any other name
Kansas	Must be resident of state	Must be 18 by next statewide general election	Must have completed sentence if convicted of felony	15 days before the election	Must not claim the right to vote anywhere outside the state
Kentucky	Must be resident of state and co. 28 days before the election	Must be 18 on or before next general election	Must not be a convicted felon or civil rights must have been restored by executive pardon if convicted felon	29 days before the election
Louisiana	Must be resident of state. Resident address must be address where claim homestead exemption.	Must be 17 to register and 18 prior to the next election to vote	Must not be currently imprisoned for conviction of felony	30 days before the election
Maine	Must be resident of state and municipality in which you vote	Must be 17 to register and 18 to vote		10 business days before the election c
Maryland	Must be resident of state	Must be 18 by next general election	Must not be under sentence or on probation following conviction for "infamous crime" (i.e. any felony) and must not have been convicted more than once of such crime without a pardon	21 days before the election
Massachusetts	Must be resident of state	Must be 18 on or before next election	Must not have been convicted on corrupt practices regarding elections and must not be currently incarcerated for felony conviction	20 days before the election
Michigan	Must be resident of state and 30 day resident of city/township by election day	Must be 18 by next election	Must not be confined in jail after being convicted and sentenced	30 days before the election
Minnesota	Must be resident of state 20 days before the election and reside at address given	Must be 18 by election day	Must not be convicted of treason or a felony or have had your civil rights restored	21 days before the election d
Mississippi	Must have lived in state and co. 30 days before the election	Must be 18 by time of general election	Must not have been convicted of such crimes as murder, rape, etc. or have had your rights restored	30 days before the election
Missouri	Must be a resident of the state	Must be 17 ½ to register and 18 to vote	Must not be on probation or parole for conviction of felony, must not be convicted of felony or misdemeanor connected with suffrage, and must not be under imprisonment	28 days before the election
Montana	Must be resident of state and co. in which you vote 30 days before the election	Must be 18 on or before election	Must not be in a penal institute for felony conviction	30 days before the election	Must meet all qualifications by next election day if do not currently meet them
Nebraska	Must be a resident of state	Must be 18 or will be 18 on or before 1st Tues. after the 1st Mon. of Nov.	Must not have been convicted of a felony or must have had civil rights restored	3rd Friday before the the election e
Nevada	Must be continuous resident of state and co. 30 days before the election and resident of precinct 10 days before the election	Must be 18 by date of next election	Must not be laboring under felony conviction or other loss of civil rights	5th Saturday before any primary or general election	Must claim no other place as legal residence
New Hampshire	Must have a permanent established domicile in state	Must be 18	Must not have been denied right to vote due to felony conviction	10 days before the election f
New Jersey	Must be resident of state and co. at your address 30 days before election	Must be 18 by time of next election	Must not be serving sentence, parole, or probation due to conviction of indictable offense	29 days before the election
New Mexico	Must be a resident of the state	Must be 18 at time of next election	Must have completed all conditions of probation and parole if convicted of felony, served sentence, or been granted pardon by Governor	28 days before the election
New York	Must be resident co. or city of NY 30 days before the election	Must be 18 by Dec. 31 of year in which you file registration form.	Must not be in jail or on parole for felony conviction	25 days before the election	Must not claim the right to vote elsewhere
North Carolina	Must be resident of state and co. in which you live 30 days before the election	Must be 18 by day of next general election	Must have rights of citizenship restored if convicted felon	25 days before the election	Must not be registered to vote in any other county or state
North Dakota	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ohio	Must be a resident of state	Must be 18 on or before election day. May vote for candidates in primary if 18 on or before general election	Must not be convicted of a felony and currently incarcerated	30 days before the election
Oklahoma		Must be 18 on or before date of next election	Must not have been convicted of a felony or have been pardoned	25 days before the election
Oregon	Must be a resident of state	Must be 18 by election day		21 days before the election
Pennsylvania	Must be resident of state and election district 30 days before election	Must be 18 on day of next election		30 days before the primary or general election
Rhode Island	Must be resident of state for 30 days before the election	Must be 18 by election day	Must not be serving prison sentence for conviction of felony and may not be serving any sentence (i.e. probation) upon conviction of felony committed after Nov. 5, 1986	30 days before the election
South Carolina	Must be resident of state and must claim address on application as only legal place of residence and claim no other place as legal residence	Must be 18 on or before next election	Must not be imprisoned resulting from conviction of a crime and must never have been convicted of felony or offense against election laws, or if convicted, have served sentence or have been pardoned	30 days before the election
South Dakota	Must reside in state	Must be 18 by next election	Must not be under a sentence of imprisonment for felony conviction	15 days before the election
Tennessee	Must be a resident of state	Must be 18 on or before next election	Must not be convicted of felony or, if convicted, have had full rights of citizenship restored	30 days before the election
Texas	Must be resident of co. in which apply for registration	Must be 17 and 10 months to register and 18 to vote	Must not be finally convicted of a felony. May register if pardoned, after discharge from correction institution, or after period of probation.	30 days before the election
Utah	Must be resident of state 30 days before the election	Must be 18 on or before next election	Must not be convicted felon currently incarcerated for commission of felony	20 days before the election
Vermont	Must be a resident of state	Must be 18 on or before election day		2nd Saturday before the election	Must swear oath to state
Virginia	Must be resident of state and precinct in which you vote	Must be 18 by next May or Nov. general election	Must not have been convicted of a felony or have had civil rights restored	29 days before the election
Washington	Must be legal resident of state, co., and precinct 30 days before the election	Must be 18 by election day	Must not be convicted of "infamous crime" unless civil rights restored	30 days before the election g
West Virginia	Must live in state at address listed on registration application	Must be 18 to register, or to vote in primary, 17 and turning 18 before general election	Must not be under conviction, probation, or parole for felony, treason or election bribery	20 days before the election
Wisconsin	Must be resident of state 10 days before the	Must be 18	Must not have been convicted of treason, felony, or bribery or have had civil rights restored	13 days before the election where registration is required h	Must not make or benefit from bet or wage depending on result of an election
Wyoming	Must be resident of state	Must be 18 on day of next election	Must not be convicted of a felony, or if convicted, have had civil rights restored

Source: Federal Election Commission Website, www.fec.gov

Notes:	North Dakota does not have voter registration. All states require that registration applicants are citizens of the United States.
	A majority of states require that applicants have not been declared mentally incompetent or an incapacitated person or are not under guardianship for a mental disability. The following states do not have such requirements: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington.
	Registration deadlines and requirements are the same for general and primary elections. In the instance of special primaries or special elections, a state's registration deadline may differ from the deadline listed above.
a	If application is received in the mail without a postmark, it must be received within 5 days of close of registration.
b	Registration must be delivered 11 days before other elections. Registration forms postmarked 15 or more days before an election are considered on time even if received after the deadline.
c	A voter may register in person up to and including election day.
d	Election day registration also is available at polling places.
e	Registration also may be delivered by 6:00PM on the second Friday before the election.
f	Registration application accepted only as a request for absentee voter mail-in registration form.
g	Or delivered in person 15 days before the election
h	Registration also may be completed in local voter registration office up to 5:00PM 1 day before the election or at the polling place on election day.

Information regarding the primary dates for the 2000 presidential election can be found in Tables 2 and 3 (see below).

Table 2: 2000 Presidential Primary Dates by State

State	Primary Date	Caucus Date
Alabama	6/6
Alaska		5/19 (R 5/20 (D) (Conventions)
Arizona	2/22 3/11 (D)
Arkansas	5/23
California	3/7
Colorado	3/10
Connecticut	3/7
Delaware	2/5 2/8 (R)
Dist. of Columbia	5/2
Florida	3/14
Georgia	3/7
Hawaii		3/7 (D) 5/19 (R)
Idaho	5/23
Illinois	3/21
Indiana	5/2
Iowa		1/24
Kansas		4/22 (D) 5/25 (R)
Kentucky	5/23
Louisiana	3/14
Maine	3/7
Maryland	3/7
Massachusetts	3/7
Michigan	2/22	3/11 (D)
Minnesota		3/7
Mississippi	3/14
Missouri	3/7
Montana	6/6
Nebraska	5/9
Nevada		5/19-21 (D) 5/25 (R) (Conventions)
New Hampshire	2/1
New Jersey	6/6
New Mexico	6/6
New York	3/7
North Carolina	5/2
North Dakota		2/29 (R) 3/7 (D)
Ohio	3/7
Oklahoma	3/14
Oregon	5/16
Pennsylvania	4/4
Rhode Island	3/7
South Carolina	2/19 (R)	3/9 (D)
South Dakota	6/6
Tennessee	3/14
Texas	3/14
Utah	3/10
Vermont	3/7
Virginia	2/29 (R)	6/3 (R) (Convention)
Washington	2/29
West Virginia	5/9
Wisconsin	4/4
Wyoming		3/10 (R) 3/25 (D)

________
Source: Federal Election Commission Website, <www.fec.gov>.

Table 3: 2000 Presidential Primary Dates (Chronological Order)

State	Primary Date	Caucus Date
Iowa		1/24
New Hampshire	2/1
Delaware	2/5 2/8 (R)
South Carolina	2/19 (R)
Arizona	2/22
Michigan	2/22
North Dakota		2/29 (R)
Virginia	2/29 (R)
Washington	2/29
California	3/7
Connecticut	3/7
Georgia	3/7
Maine	3/7
Maryland	3/7
Massachusetts	3/7
Missouri	3/7
New York	3/7
Ohio	3/7
Rhode Island	3/7
Vermont	3/7
Hawaii		3/7 (D)
Minnesota		3/7
North Dakota		3/7 (D)
South Carolina		3/9 (D)
Colorado	3/10
Utah	3/10
Wyoming		3/10 (R)
Arizona	3/11 (D)
Michigan		3/11 (D)
Florida	3/14
Louisiana	3/14
Mississippi	3/14
Oklahoma	3/14
Tennessee	3/14
Texas	3/14
Illinois	3/21
Wyoming		3/25 (D)
Pennsylvania	4/4
Wisconsin	4/4
Kansas		4/22 (D)
Dist. of Columbia	5/2
Indiana	5/2
North Carolina	5/2
Nebraska	5/9
West Virginia	5/9
Oregon	5/16
Alaska		5/19 (R) (Convention)
Hawaii		5/19 (R)
Nevada		5/19-21 (D) (Convention)
Alaska		5/20 (D) (Convention)
Arkansas	5/23
Idaho	5/23
Kentucky	5/23
Kansas		5/25 (R)
Nevada		5/25 (R) (Convention)
Virginia		6/3 (D) (Convention)
Alabama	6/6
Montana	6/6
New Jersey	6/6
New Mexico	6/6
South Dakota	6/6

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Source: Federal Election Commission Website, <www.fec.gov>.

Primary dates for the 2004 presidential election can be found in Tables 4 and 5 (see below). Once again, primary dates and the methods by which citizens choose presidential nominees vary from state to state. The nature and date of the election are a function of state statutes, party constitutions, party rules and regulations, and party by-laws (Federal Election Commission). Over the years, states have tended to “front-load” the primary process. In an effort to play an influential and prominent role in the process, states have been inclined to move their primary election earlier in the election season. As a result, candidates are able to secure enough delegates to win the nomination months before the convention. Another result is that states holding their election later in the season have little to no say in the selection of their party’s nominee. Again, of particular interest to observers of elections and minority participation might be the primary dates of those states that are both electorally important and have been subject to large numbers of foreign immigrants. For example, California and New York played a prominent role in the 2000 presidential primary process. With their primaries falling on March 7, these large and ethnically diverse states heavily influenced the outcome of the nomination contests.

Table 4: 2004 Presidential Primary Dates By State

State	Primary Date	Caucus Date	Open or Closed Primary
Alabama	6/1		Open
Alaska
Arizona	2/3		Closed
Arkansas	5/18		Open
California	3/2		Modified Closed
Colorado
Connecticut	3/2		Closed
Delaware	2/3 (D)		Closed
Dist. of Columbia	1/13	2/10 (D)*	Closed
Florida	3/9		Closed
Georgia	3/2		Open
Hawaii		3/2 (D)
Idaho	5/25	2/24 (D)	Open
Illinois	3/16		Open
Indiana	5/4		Open
Iowa		1/19
Kansas	8/3		Open
Kentucky	5/18		Closed
Louisiana	3/9		Open
Maine		2/8 (D)
Maryland	3/2		Closed
Massachusetts	3/2
Michigan		2/7 (D)
Minnesota		3/2 (D)
Mississippi	3/9		Open
Missouri	2/3		Open
Montana	6/8		Open
Nebraska	5/11		Open
Nevada
New Hampshire*	1/27		Closed
New Jersey	6/8
New Mexico		2/3
New York*	3/2		Closed
North Carolina	5/4		Closed
North Dakota		2/3
Ohio	3/2		Open
Oklahoma	2/3		Closed
Oregon	5/18		Closed
Pennsylvania	4/27		Closed
Rhode Island	3/2
South Carolina	2/3 (D) 2/3
South Dakota	6/1		Closed
Tennessee	2/10		Open
Texas	3/2		Open
Utah
Vermont	3/2		Open
Virgina	2/10 (D) 2/10 (R)*		Open Open
Washington	3/2	2/7 (D)
West Virginia	5/11		Closed
Wisconsin	2/17		Open
Wyoming

_____
Source: Project Vote Smart Website, <www.vote-smart.org/>.

Notes: States without presidential primaries include Alaska, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming

* tentative date

Table 5: 2004 Presidential Primary Dates (Chronological Order)

State	Primary Date	Caucus Date	Open or Closed Primary
Dist. of Columbia	1/13		Closed
Iowa		1/19
New Hampshire*	1/27		Closed
Arizona	2/3		Closed
Delaware	2/3 (D)		Closed
Missouri	2/3		Open
New Mexico		2/3(D)
North Dakota		2/3
Oklahoma	2/3		Closed
South Carolina	2/3 (D)
South Carolina	2/3
Michigan		2/7 (D)
Washington		2/7 (D)
Maine		2/8 (D)
Dist. of Columbia*		2/10 (D)
Tennessee	2/10		Open
Virginia	2/10 (D)		Open
Virginia*	2/10 (R)		Open
Wisconsin	2/17		Open
Idaho		2/24 (D)
California	3/2		Modified Closed
Connecticut	3/2		Closed
Georgia	3/2		Open
Hawaii		3/2 (D)
Maryland	3/2		Closed
Massachusetts	3/2
Minnesota		3/2 (D)
New York*	3/2		Closed
Ohio	3/2		Open
Rhode Island	3/2
Texas	3/2		Open
Vermont	3/2		Open
Washington	3/2
Florida	3/9		Closed
Louisiana	3/9		Open
Mississippi	3/9		Open
Illinois	3/16		Open
Pennsylvania	4/27		Closed
Indiana	5/4		Open
North Carolina	5/4		Closed
Nebraska	5/11		Open
West Virginia	5/11		Closed
Arkansas	5/18		Open
Kentucky	5/18		Closed
Oregon	5/18		Closed
Idaho	5/25		Open
Alabama	6/1		Open
South Dakota	6/1		Closed
Montana	6/8		Open
New Jersey	6/8
Kansas	8/3		Open

______
Source: Project Vote Smart Website, <www.vote-smart.org/>.

Notes: States without presidential primaries include Alaska, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming

* tentative date

________________________________________________________________
Works Cited:

Federal Election Commission. “2000 Presidential Primary Dates and Candidate Filing Deadlines for Ballot Access.” Federal Election Commission website <www.fec.gov>.

Wolfinger, Raymond E., and Steven J. Rosenstone. 1980. Who Votes? New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

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