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Elections and Voting

Find information about national, state, and local elections in the United States, including voter registration and identification requirements, voting rights, polling places, and other resources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Special Circumstances

Can residents of US territories vote?

There are currently sixteen US territories, and five of them have permanent residents who are US citizens. These five territories include Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands. Residents of the other eleven US territories cannot vote in US presidential elections and do not elect voting representatives or senators to US Congress. 

Can US non-citizens vote?

US non-citizens (including permanent legal residents) cannot vote in federal, state, and most local elections.

Can people who have a criminal conviction vote?

Rules regarding votes for people with criminal convictions depends on the policies for each state. The US Department of Justice has compiled a Guide to State Voting Rules that Apply after a Criminal Conviction that outlines some policies for specific states.

In Illinois, you only lose your right to vote if you are currently incarcerated for a criminal conviction (misdemeanor or felony). In Illinois you are considered incarcerated if you are on a prison furlough or in a work release program. You are eligible to vote immediately upon release, even if you are on probation or on parole.

How do overseas US citizens vote?

US citizens living overseas maintain their right to vote anywhere they are located. The Federal Voting Assistance Program provides voting assistance for service members, their families, and overseas citizens.