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 Connecticut (CT), citizens are required to register to vote in state and federal elections. The state offers several methods for registration, including online registration, mail-in registration forms, and in-person registration at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), election offices, and through voter registration drives. Connecticut's voter registration deadline is generally 7 days before an election if registering online, by mail, or in-person at a registration agency. However, there is an Election Day Registration (EDR) option that allows eligible citizens to register and vote on Election Day at designated EDR locations, not at the regular polling places. The specific requirements and deadlines for voter registration in Connecticut are detailed in the state's election statutes, which provide comprehensive guidance on the process, including identification requirements and procedures for updating voter registration information.