VOTUS

Mission Statement

What is VOTUS?

Our mission is to empower every eligible citizen by facilitating accessible, equitable, and efficient voter registration. We are dedicated to fostering a vibrant democracy where every voice is heard and every vote counts. Through education, advocacy, and innovative solutions, VOTUS strives to eliminate barriers to voting and ensure that the democratic process is inclusive and representative of all communities. Together, we champion the right to vote as a cornerstone of a just and thriving society.

Voting History

Importance of Voting

Voter registration is a foundational element of a functioning democracy, empowering citizens to participate in the electoral process and have a voice in the decisions that shape their communities, states, and nation. It is the first step toward ensuring that every eligible voter can exercise their right to vote, influencing policies, leadership, and governance. By registering to vote, individuals can help determine the direction of their country, from local issues affecting schools and public safety to national debates on healthcare, economy, and civil rights. 

Our Intensive States

registering to Vote

Mississippi Voting Requirements
  1. A resident of Mississippi and the county, city, or town for 30 days;
  2. 18 years of age or older;
  3. Not declared mentally incompetent by a court; and,
  4. Not convicted in a Mississippi court of arson, armed robbery, bigamy, bribery, carjacking, embezzlement, extortion, felony bad check, felony shoplifting, forgery, larceny, murder, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, rape, receiving stolen property, robbery, statutory rape, theft, timber larceny, larceny under lease or rental agreement, or unlawful taking of motor vehicle (unless having been pardoned, had rights of citizenship restored by the Governor or had suffrage restored by the Legislature.)
Arkansas Voting Requirements

You are eligible to vote in Arkansas if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen
  • Are a resident of Arkansas
  • Are at least 18 years old by Election Day

You are NOT eligible to vote in Arkansas if:

  • You are currently serving a sentence including incarceration, parole, probation, or extended supervision for a felony conviction
  • A judge has specifically ruled that you are not able to vote

To register to vote in Arkansas you should provide one of the following:

  • Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
  • Your Arkansas Driver’s License Number
Texas Voting Requirements

You are eligible to register to vote if:

  • You are a United States citizen;
  • You are a resident of the county where you submit the application;
  • You are at least 17 years and 10 months old on the date your voter registration application is submitted, and you are 18 years of age on Election Day.
  • You are not a convicted felon (you may be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation, and parole); and
  • You have not been declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.

Click here to register.

Louisiana Voting Requirements

To register to vote you must:

  • be a U.S. citizen;
  • be 17 years old (16 years old if registering in person at the Registrar of Voters Office or at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles), but must be 18 years old to vote;
  • not be under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony or, if under such an order not have been incarcerated pursuant to the order within the last five years and not be under an order of imprisonment related to a felony conviction for election fraud or any other election offense pursuant to La. R.S. 18:1461.2;
  • not be under a judgment of full interdiction for mental incompetence or partial interdiction with suspension of voting rights;
  • reside in the state and parish in which you seek to register; and
  • must be registered at least 20 days prior to an election if registering through our GeauxVote Online Registration System with a Louisiana driver’s license or Louisiana special ID card or 30 days prior to an election if registering in person or by mail to be eligible to vote in that particular election. If mailing in an application, the application or envelope must be postmarked 30 days prior to the first election in which you seek to vote.

Click here to register.

Alabama Voting Requirements

To register to vote in the State of Alabama, an individual must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be a United States Citizen
  • Reside in Alabama
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have not been convicted of a disqualifying felony (or have rights restored)
  • Have not been legally declared “mentally incompetent” by a court

Click here to register.

Kentucky Voting Requirements

To register to vote, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen and a Kentucky resident for at least 28 days before the election.
    • Non-U.S. citizens, including U.S. nationals do not qualify;
  • Be at least 18 years old by the next General Election;
    • Kentucky law allows qualified individuals to register at 17 years of age and be able to participate in a Primary Election if the individual will be 18 years old by the General Election;
  • Not be a convicted felon (or, if convicted of a felony, my right to vote has been restored following an expungement, Executive Pardon, or Executive Order;
  • Not have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law and have voting rights removed;
  • Not claim the right to vote outside Kentucky;

Click here to register.

Tennessee Voting Requirements

To be eligible to vote in Tennessee:

  • You must be a citizen of the United States.
  • You must be (18) years of age or older on or before the date of the next election.
  • You must be a resident of Tennessee. View Guidelines for Determining Residency and special considerations for Homeless Persons Residency and Non-resident Property Owners.  
  • If you have been convicted of a felony, your eligibility to register and vote depends upon the crime you were convicted of and the date of your conviction. If your conviction made you ineligible, you may regain your eligibility if your conviction has been expunged or if you have had your voting rights restored, unless you were convicted of a crime that rendered you permanently ineligible to vote. View Eligibility to Vote after a Felony Conviction.  

Click here to register.


The South and Voting

In 2020, the South had some of the lowest voting turnout rates in the United States. Out of the 8 lowest voter turnout rates in the United States, 5 are Southern states.

Tennessee: 45.4%
West Virginia: 46.2%
Mississippi: 46.4%
Oklahoma: 47.7%
Hawaii: 48.2%
Arkansas: 48.7%
Indiana: 49.1%
Alabama: 49.8%