Voting Rights
States set voting policies so our access to the ballot box varies dramatically depending on where we live. Learn more about voting rights policies in your state.
I’m interested in diving deeper by:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District Of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has no access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, limited access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has some ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has some restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has no access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has some restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, no access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has no access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, complete access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, no access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, limited access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Limited access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has some ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, no access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has no access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Limited access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, no access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, no access to online voter registration, no access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has no access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, no access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, no access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has no access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has some ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, no access to online voter registration, no access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Limited access to automatic voter registration, limited access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Limited access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, limited access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, complete access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, complete access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has some ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has some ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, no access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, limited access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, limited access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, no access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has no access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, no access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Limited access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Limited access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has no access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Complete access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, complete access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- Limited access to automatic voter registration, no access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, limited access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has the ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has some restrictive ID requirements to vote, has no restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, limited access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has no ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has restrictive ID requirements to vote, has some restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
- No access to automatic voter registration, complete access to same-day voter registration, limited access to pre-registration for those under 18, no access to online voter registration, complete access to opportunities to vote early, complete access to vote-by-mail and absentee voting, has some ability to vote in a primary if 18 by the general election, has some access to voting rights restoration, has no restrictive ID requirements to vote, has some restrictive documentation requirements to register. Updated June 2021.
Overall
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
This map classifies states as Leaders, Slackers, or Blockers based on a combination of state voting policies that impact young people’s access to democracy. Click a state on the map to get a quick look at its following policies:
- Automatic Voter Registration
- Same-Day Voter Registration
- Pre-Registration
- Online Voter Registration
- Early Voting
- Absentee Voting
- Voting in Primaries at 17
- Voting Rights Restoration
- Voter ID
- Documentation Requirements
Absentee Voting
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
Leaders have vote-by-mail or no-excuse absentee ballots available. Slackers have absentee ballots available, but only for certain voters.
Voting in Primaries at 17
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
Leaders allow 17-year-olds to vote in any primary election if they will turn 18 by the corresponding general election. Slackers allow 17-year-olds to vote in some, but not all, primaries if they will turn 18 by the corresponding general election. Blockers do not allow 17-year-olds to vote in any primary elections even if they will turn 18 by the corresponding general election.
Automatic Voter Registration
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
Leaders have automatic voter registration in place. Slackers have passed legislation for automatic voter registration, but have not yet implemented it. Blockers do not have automatic voter registration.
Documentation Requirements
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
Leaders do not require documentation for most voters beyond the registration form. Slackers require voters to submit a copy of ID of proof of residency to register to vote, in addition to completing the voter registration form. Blockers require voters to provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote.
Early Voting
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
Leaders have in-person early voting or no-excuse in-person absentee voting available. Slackers have passed legislation for early voting but have not yet implemented it, or only have early voting available with an approved excuse. Blockers do not have early voting available.
Voter ID
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
Leaders do not require voter identification to beyond federal HAVA requirements for first-time voters. Slackers request ID, but provide alternate ways to vote if a voter doesn’t have ID, like a provisional ballot or identity affidavit. Blockers require ID and do not allow voters to vote without ID, or only count their vote if they return within a certain time period and present ID.
Online Voter Registration
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
Leaders have online voter registration available that does not require a state ID to use. Slackers have online registration available, but only with a state ID. Blockers do not have online registration available.
Pre-Registration
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
Leaders allow young people to pre-register starting at age 16. Slackers allow young people to pre-register at 17 or if they will turn 18 by the next election. Blockers do not have pre-registration available.
Voting Rights Restoration
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
Leaders do not ever revoke voting rights due to legal convictions. Slackers restore voting rights automatically upon completion of a sentence. Blockers require returning citizens to complete a waiting period or a formal rights restoration process to regain their voting rights, or never restore voting rights.
Same-Day Voter Registration
- Leader
- Slacker
- Blocker
Leaders have same-day voter registration available for all voters with the same requirements as advance registration. Slackers have passed legislation for same-day registration but have not yet implemented it, or have same-day registration available, but with extra requirements or limitations on who is eligible or which offices they can vote for. Blockers do not have same-day registration available.
Last updated Sept. 2021. The textured background of the map is an intentional accessibility feature for color blind users. Accessibility is core to our values.