A Republican-backed election overhaul, which would add proof-of-citizenship and other identification requirements to the voting process, has stalled in Congress. Despite this federal impasse, voters in a number of states are weighing in on some of these same issues this year.
Oklahoma is the first state to take action, with a vote on its proposal scheduled for Tuesday's primary runoff. That measure would essentially codify existing voter ID policy in the state constitution. The remaining states, including the swing states of Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina, have measures on the ballot for this fall's general election that would toughen ID requirements for voters.
These ballot measures follow a trend of legislative activity, as lawmakers in eight other states have made voter ID requirements more stringent this year, according to the Voting Rights Lab, a research group that supports expanded voting access. In addition to the identification proposals, several other ballot measures appearing this fall concern who can vote and how.
A voter walks past a sign requiring a photo ID at a polling location in Mount Holly, N.C., on March 5, 2024. North Carolina is one state deciding a voter ID ballot measure this year. Chris Carlson/AP hide caption
