Planning to vote in the upcoming Mat-Su Borough, state or national election, or voting for the first time? There is one important step you need to take before you head to the polls or wait by the mailbox for your absentee ballot: voter registration.

To vote in the November election, you must register by Oct. 6, one month before Election Day. Voters who want to vote in the Wasilla, Palmer and Houston municipal elections on Oct. 1 needed to register by Sept. 1.

Registering to vote is a simple process administered by the Alaska Division of Elections. Alaska voters can also request an absentee ballot, which can be returned by mail.

Here's what you need to know.

2024 Alaska voter registration

Due to an update to state law approved by voters in 2016, every Alaskan over the age of 18 who applies for a Permanent Fund Dividend payment will also register to vote, unless they proactively sign and return an opt-out waiver after each year's PFD process. That means if you are of voting age, have ever applied for the PFD and didn't return the opt-out form this year, you are already registered.

If you have not participated in the PFD process or would like to register after opting out, you can do so through the Alaska Division of Elections website.

There are three ways to register: by using an online system that verifies you using your Alaska driver's license information, by using an online system that requires the last four digits of your Social Security number or by manually filling out and mailing in a paper form.

You can find online registration options on the Division of Elections website.

You can fill out and print a voter registration form through this site, which is administered by the federal government.

If you don't have a printer and need a form, you can pick one up at the borough clerk's office or contact the Alaska Division of Elections to have one mailed to you. Contact the Division of Elections at 907-270-2700 or email akabsentee@alaska.gov.

Update your Alaska voter registration

If you've moved since your last PFD filing or Election Day, you'll want to update your voter registration information so you can vote in the correct precinct and for the correct borough and state races. You may also want to update your voter registration if you've changed your mind about which political party you want to be affiliated with.

In Alaska, voters update their information using the same forms used for initial voter registration. You can find the online versions here.

Not sure if you're registered to vote? Here's how to check

The Alaska Division of Elections allows voters to verify their registration through an online portal. Simply visit this website, enter the voter's first name, last name and city, and select "Submit." The website will provide you with voter registration information, party registration and the precinct where you can cast your ballot on Election Day. As of the time of this writing, the voter verification website did not work in a Chrome browser.

2024 Alaska absentee voter registration

Absentee voting allows you to receive a blank ballot by mail, email or fax and then return it by mail or fax (email return is not available).

The deadline to register for an absentee ballot is Oct. 26, and it must be postmarked by Nov. 5.

For more information about registering and returning an absentee ballot, visit the Division of Elections website.

-- Amy Bushatz can be contacted at abushatz@matsusentinel.com.