Every state except North Dakota requires citizens to register if they want to vote in state and federal elections. In North Dakota, eligible citizens can simply appear at the polls with the required identification and be permitted to vote.

Depending on the state, the voter registration deadline could be as much as a month before an election. Each state has its own voting and election laws, including when and how to register to vote. In many states registration may be completed online. A citizen may also register at the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), at the local elections office, or through a voter registration organization.

Voter registration laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the elections code.

In California, citizens must register to vote in state and federal elections, unlike North Dakota. The state allows for online voter registration, which can be accessed through the California Secretary of State's website. Additionally, Californians can register to vote in person at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), at county elections offices, and through authorized voter registration organizations. The deadline to register to vote in California is 15 days before an election, but there is also a provision for 'Conditional Voter Registration' which allows eligible citizens to register and vote provisionally at their county elections office or a designated satellite location during the 14 days prior to, and including, Election Day. The specific regulations and procedures for voter registration are outlined in the California Elections Code, which provides comprehensive details on the requirements, processes, and deadlines for voter registration in the state.