Election Hub
Nonpartisan voter information for all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Know your deadlines. Know your ballot. Know your rights.
The Midterm Moment
Faithfulness at the polls is not accidental — it is prepared. Here is how much time is left to get ready.
"Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." — Habakkuk 2:2, KJV
Issues, Not Candidates
Love in Action Social Justice Ministry, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. We provide voter education and encourage full participation in the democratic process. We do not endorse or oppose any candidate, campaign, or political party. Every resource on this page is offered in that spirit.
Questions about what your church can and cannot do? See our compliance guidance or contact our team.
Three Steps To Being Ready
Work these in order, then bring someone with you. Voting together is the whole point.
Register Or Verify
Register for the first time, confirm you are still on the rolls, or update your address after a move. Rolls get purged — check even if you voted last time.
Start HereRead The Whole Ballot
See every race and measure on your specific ballot — including the local offices that shape your schools, your courts, and your neighborhood.
Look It UpKnow Your State
Deadlines, ID requirements, early voting windows, mail ballot rules, and rights restoration where you live.
Find Your StateSee What Is On Your Ballot
Enter your address in any of these nonpartisan tools to see your actual ballot. We link to them because they are trusted, free, and do not tell you how to vote.
Vote411
Personalized ballot by address with candidate answers in their own words. The gold standard for nonpartisan candidate information.
Open Vote411Ballotpedia
Encyclopedic detail on candidates, ballot measures, and officeholders. Strong on down-ballot and local races.
Open BallotpediaBallotReady
Clean mobile experience. Build and save a ballot plan you can carry into the voting booth on your phone.
Open BallotReadyWhat Changed Since Your Congregation Last Voted
The rules have moved, so our preparation moves with them. Four changes matter most this cycle.
New Documentation Rules In The States
Nine states passed stricter voting laws between January and May 2026: Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia.
Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Utah now require proof-of-citizenship documents — a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization certificate — to register for state and local elections. Several of these laws are in court; New Hampshire’s was struck down and is on appeal.
The SAVE America Act passed the U.S. House in February 2026 and stalled in the Senate. Nothing federal is final, but states are moving now.
What We Do: Gather citizenship documents early. Replacements can take weeks to months.
Voter Rolls Are Being Trimmed
Several states, including Ohio and Texas, are running aggressive voter list removal programs — some using federal databases that advocates report are outdated. Naturalized citizens have been disproportionately flagged.
A voter can be removed without ever knowing it. Many find out at the polling place, when it is too late to fix.
For scale: Utah reviewed more than two million registrations in 2026 and confirmed 27 non-citizens on its rolls.
What We Do: Verify registration three times — today, in early October before the deadline, and the week before Election Day.
Student IDs Are Disappearing At The Polls
Indiana — student IDs no longer accepted (April 2026)
New Hampshire — student IDs no longer accepted (June 2026)
Florida — ban takes effect in 2027
North Carolina — only state-approved college IDs count
Georgia — public institution IDs only, excluding seven of ten HBCUs
What We Do: No student in our congregations should depend on a student ID. Get a state ID where they study, or vote absentee from home.
Mail Ballot Rules Changed
The Supreme Court, in Watson v. RNC (June 2026), upheld postmark grace periods in fourteen states plus the District of Columbia — but most states still require ballots to arrive by Election Day, and the rules are still shifting state by state.
Separately, mid-decade redistricting redrew congressional maps in Texas, California, and beyond, with more cases in court. You may be in a new district without ever moving. Pull a fresh sample ballot.
What We Do: Make early in-person voting our first choice. Vote early, in person, together.
Find Your State
Organized by Love in Action region. Tap your region to open it, then find your state. Every state links to its official election office — always the final authority.
| State | Registration Deadline | Early Voting Opens | Same-Day | Voter ID | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 7 days before | Oct 19 | Yes | ID requested; alternatives available | CT SOTS → |
| Delaware | 24 days before | Oct 22 | No | ID requested; affidavit alternative | DE Elections → |
| District of Columbia LSU | 21 days by mail; same-day in person | — | Yes | No ID required for most voters | DC BOE → |
| Maine | Same-day available | Oct 4 | Yes | No ID required for most voters | ME SOS → |
| Maryland LSU | 21 days; same-day during early voting | Oct 22 | Yes | No ID required for most voters | MD Elections → |
| Massachusetts | 10 days before | Oct 17 | No | No ID required for most voters | MA Elections → |
| New Hampshire | 6–13 days; same-day available | No early voting* | Yes | Photo ID required; affidavit alternative | NH SOS → |
| New Jersey LSU | 21 days before | Oct 24 | No | ID for first-time voters only | NJ Elections → |
| New York LSU | 10 days before | Oct 24 | No | ID for some first-time voters | NY Elections → |
| Pennsylvania | 15 days before | Varies‡ | No | ID for first-time voters at a poll | PA Votes → |
| Rhode Island | 30 days before | Oct 14 | Presidential only | Photo ID requested; affidavit alternative | RI SOS → |
| Vermont | Same-day available | Sep 19 | Yes | No ID required for most voters | VT SOS → |
| State | Registration Deadline | Early Voting Opens | Same-Day | Voter ID | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama LSU | 15 days before | No early voting* | No | Photo ID required | AL Votes → |
| Arkansas LSU | 30 days before | Oct 19 | No | Photo ID required | AR SOS → |
| Florida LSU | 29 days before | Oct 24 | No | Photo ID required | FL Elections → |
| Georgia LSU | 29 days before | Oct 13 | No | Photo ID required | GA SOS → |
| Kentucky LSU | 29 days before | Oct 29 | No | Photo ID required; alternatives available | KY SOS → |
| Louisiana LSU | 30 days (20 if online) | Oct 20 | No | Photo ID required; affidavit alternative | LA SOS → |
| Mississippi | 30 days before | No early voting* | No | Photo ID required | MS SOS → |
| North Carolina LSU | 25 days; same-day during early voting | Oct 15 | Early voting only | Photo ID required | NC Board → |
| South Carolina | 30 days before | Oct 19 | No | Photo ID required | SC Votes → |
| Tennessee LSU | 30 days before | Oct 14 | No | Photo ID required | TN SOS → |
| Virginia LSU | 22 days; same-day available | Sep 18 | Yes | ID requested; signed statement alternative | VA Elections → |
| West Virginia | 21 days before | Oct 21 | No | ID required | WV SOS → |
| State | Registration Deadline | Early Voting Opens | Same-Day | Voter ID | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois LSU | 28 days by mail; grace period available | Sep 24 | Yes | No ID required for most voters | IL Elections → |
| Indiana LSU | 29 days before | Oct 6 | No | Photo ID required | IN SOS → |
| Iowa | 15 days by mail; same-day available | Oct 14 | Yes | ID required | IA SOS → |
| Kansas | 21 days before | Oct 14 | No | Photo ID required | KS SOS → |
| Michigan LSU | 15 days online; same-day in person | Oct 24 | Yes | Photo ID requested; affidavit alternative | MI SOS → |
| Minnesota | 21 days; same-day available | Sep 18 | Yes | ID only for same-day registration | MN SOS → |
| Missouri LSU | 28 days before | Oct 20 | No | Photo ID required | MO SOS → |
| Nebraska | Second Friday before (in person) | Oct 5 | No | Photo ID required | NE SOS → |
| North Dakota | No registration required | Varies‡ | N/A | ID required | ND SOS → |
| Ohio | 30 days before | Oct 6 | No | Photo ID required | OH SOS → |
| South Dakota | 15 days before | Sep 18 | No | Photo ID required; affidavit alternative | SD SOS → |
| Wisconsin | 20 days by mail; same-day available | Oct 20 | Yes | Photo ID required | WI Elections → |
| State | Registration Deadline | Early Voting Opens | Same-Day | Voter ID | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 29 days before | Oct 7 | No | ID required at polls | AZ SOS → |
| New Mexico | 28 days; same-day available | Oct 6 | Yes | No ID required for most voters | NM SOS → |
| Oklahoma LSU | 25 days before | Oct 28 | No | ID required | OK Elections → |
| Texas LSU | 30 days before | Oct 19 | No | Photo ID required; alternatives available | TX SOS → |
| State | Registration Deadline | Early Voting Opens | Same-Day | Voter ID | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 30 days before | Oct 19 | Presidential only | ID required (photo or non-photo) | AK Elections → |
| California LSU | 15 days; conditional through Election Day | All-mail† | Yes | No ID required for most voters | CA SOS → |
| Colorado | 8 days for mailed ballot; same-day in person | Oct 19 | Yes | ID required (photo or non-photo) | CO SOS → |
| Hawaii | Same-day available | Oct 20 | Yes | ID may be requested | HI Elections → |
| Idaho | 25 days by mail; same-day available | Oct 13 | Yes | Photo ID required; affidavit alternative | ID SOS → |
| Montana | 30 days; late registration available | Oct 5 | Yes | ID required | MT SOS → |
| Nevada | Same-day available | Oct 17 | Yes | No ID required for most voters | NV SOS → |
| Oregon | 21 days before | All-mail† | No | No ID required for most voters | OR SOS → |
| Utah | 11 days online; same-day available | Oct 20 | Yes | ID required | UT Vote → |
| Washington | 8 days online; same-day in person | Oct 16 | Yes | No ID required for most voters | WA SOS → |
| Wyoming | 14 days by mail; same-day available | Oct 6 | Yes | ID required | WY SOS → |
Early voting dates verified late August 2026 and drawn from LIA's Know Your Power voter education briefing. * No early in-person voting — vote absentee if eligible, or on Election Day. † All-mail state; ballots are mailed to every voter and in-person options vary by county. ‡ Varies by county — check locally. — Confirm directly with your election office.
Registration deadlines last reviewed August 2026. LSU marks a Love Shows Up™ priority state. Election rules change every legislative session. Every state above links to its official election office, which is always the final authority — confirm your deadlines and requirements directly with your state before you act.
The Offices That Shape Your Daily Life
Most voters know the top of the ballot. The offices below it decide what happens on your street, in your child's school, and in your county courtroom. Do not leave them blank.
School Board
Curriculum, discipline policy, school funding, and whether police are stationed in your child's building.
Prosecutor
Who gets charged, who gets diverted, what bail is requested, and which cases are pursued.
Sheriff
Jail conditions, cooperation with federal agencies, and policing practice in unincorporated areas.
Judges
Sentencing, evictions, family court, and the day-to-day meaning of justice in your community.
City Council
Housing policy, zoning, local budgets, public safety spending, and neighborhood services.
County Commission
Public health, roads, county hospitals, and election administration including polling places.
Secretary Of State
In most states, the chief election officer — voter roll maintenance and election rules.
Ballot Measures
Direct votes on taxes, bonds, constitutional amendments, and criminal justice policy.
Your Rights At The Polls
If anyone tries to turn you away, you have options. Do not leave without voting.
What You Are Entitled To
- If you are in line when polls close, stay in line. You have the right to vote.
- If your name is not on the roll, ask for a provisional ballot, then follow up with your election office.
- If you make a mistake on your ballot, ask for a replacement.
- If you have a disability or need language help, you may bring someone to assist you.
- If your right to vote is challenged, ask the poll worker to document the reason.
Election Protection Hotline
Free, nonpartisan legal help if you run into trouble voting.
Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA
Asian languages: 888-API-VOTE
Arabic: 844-YALLA-US
Operated by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Not affiliated with Love in Action.
Restoring The Right To Vote
Millions of Americans are barred from voting because of a past conviction, and the rules differ sharply from state to state. Here is the national picture.
Never Lose The Right
Maine, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. Citizens vote even while incarcerated. Nothing is taken away.
Restored On Release
In roughly half the country, rights return the day you walk out — including while on probation or parole. If you were released and never re-registered, you may already be eligible.
After Full Sentence
Some states require completing prison, parole, and probation. A number also require payment of all fines, fees, and restitution before rights return.
Requires Individual Action
Mississippi, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Restoration can require a gubernatorial pardon, a certificate of restoration, or an individual act of the legislature.
"Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." — Proverbs 31:8-9, KJV
If you or someone in your congregation has a past conviction, check your state's rule first. Many people are eligible to vote and do not know it.
Bring This To Your Congregation
Your church can run voter education and registration drives while staying fully within 501(c)(3) rules. We have the materials, and we will walk you through it.
Love Together. Vote Together. Stay Together.
Register. Read the whole ballot. Make a plan you will keep. Then bring someone with you.