With the midterm election primary season beginning, voters will need to consider how voting rules have changed since 2024. Many states have passed laws relaxing or tightening requirements, including how and when to vote by mail, changes to early voting, and how to address voting problems.

Nearly 200 bills affecting elections were passed by state legislatures in 2025 and into 2026. Here are the ones most impactful to the 2026 midterms, based on a review by the Voting Rights Lab, an advocacy group.

Alabama

Alabama passed a law that says driver’s licenses issued to noncitizens aren’t valid voter ID.

Another new law requires more frequent voter roll maintenance and bans the use of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) for determining address changes. Many Republicans have criticized the use of ERIC data for voter registration outreach because of concerns about the privacy and confidentiality of voter information.

Arizona

Arizona moved its primaries from August to July. It also increased access for poll watchers and people designated by political parties to challenge votes.

In addition, it passed a law saying that only voters on the permanent mail voting list can receive mail-in ballots.

The same law stipulates that local government offices must be open on Fridays and the weekends right before and after an election to let people cure ballots with signature or ID issues, if any such ballots are outstanding.

Arkansas

Arkansas has an amendment to its state constitution on the 2026 ballot that would explicitly state that only United States citizens can vote in any election in the state. The state already requires a photo ID to vote.

The state also adopted a whole slew of election-related bills since 2025.

One law aims to collect from federal courts lists of people disqualified from jury duty for being noncitizens and several other reasons, so they could be removed from voter rolls.

Another law requires early voting locations in cities with populations of more than 15,000, even if there is already one in the same county.

Yet another law requires absentee voters to sign an oath on the ballot return envelope attesting not only that they are qualified to vote, but also that they haven’t received any unauthorized assistance in filling out the ballot and that their signature was witnessed by someone over 18 years old.

There’s also a new law tightening the rules for administrators of long-term care facilities that provide voting assistance. Another center staff member now needs to serve as a witness.

County election boards will also be allowed to close early-voting locations due to inclement weather, provided at least one remains open.

Lastly, a new law requires people who help disabled voters at polling places to be at least 18 and present a photo ID.

California

California passed several election-related laws, including one addressing its problem with long-delayed election results. Officials must now finish counting ballots within two weeks of election day or file an extension with the secretary of state.

Another law allows observers to watch not only signature verification for mail-in ballots, but also the process of verifying signatures on cure statements.

The state also passed a law to shorten the deadline for voters to return ballot curing statements from 28 days after the election to 22 days for regular elections.

The same law also allows voters to work with nongovernment organizations to complete their signature verification statements and envelope statements.

Yet another new law extends the deadline for receiving mail-in ballots to seven days after Election Day, up from three days. It applies only to all-mail elections, which any county can hold if it passes certain criteria.

There’s also a new law that requires counties to run voter registration programs.

And another law makes it a felony to knowingly offer anything of value to a person to vote or register to vote, with some exceptions, such as transportation to polls or giving employees time off to vote.

Colorado

Colorado passed a bill that allows candidates to pick their own election watchers. Previously, the candidate’s party would pick.

Another new law allows first responders and their spouses to request that their addresses on the voter rolls be confidential.

The state also passed a law making it a civil infraction to intimidate election officials, anyone trying to vote, or anyone helping others to vote. It states that carrying a visible firearm or even an imitation firearm creates a “presumption of … intimidation” regardless of intent.

Yet another law created a new right to sue political subdivisions over voter suppression or vote dilution based on race or language. Any action that results in voter participation disparity between the minority and majority counts as suppression. The law also expands access to multilingual ballots.

Florida

Florida created a new felony crime for voting as a noncitizen. It established that believing one is a citizen, or not knowing, is not a defense. It also made it a felony to knowingly solicit a noncitizen to vote.

Georgia

The state passed a law that prohibits the use of driver’s licenses in electronic format as voter ID.

Idaho

Idaho moved its voter registration deadline closer to Election Day—11 days out instead of 24. It also made the early voting period three weeks rather than two.

Another law requires officials to collect more data to identify ineligible voters, including from the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, and to use that data to remove such people from voter rolls more often.

Indiana

The state now allows voters to request replacement mail-in ballots by email. Voters are now also allowed to take pictures of their ballots at some voting places and post them on social media. The same law enacting these changes also requires officials to check the voter rolls more frequently for ineligible individuals.

Another law requires people who register to vote with IDs issued to noncitizens to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or a passport. It bans the use of a PO box as a voter registration address. It allows voters from another precinct to challenge their vote. It also requires rejection of mail-in ballots with inaccurate dates or signatures.

Yet another law requires officials to collect more data and remove ineligible voters from the rolls more often. It also bans the use of a student ID as a voter ID.

Iowa

Iowa expanded the collection of information to determine whether a person is not a U.S. citizen, including information from the Department of Transportation.

It also requires voters to affirm their citizenship in the voter declaration prior to voting. The bill also puts county sheriffs in charge of investigating election crimes. Previously, the state Attorney General conducted investigations. The bill also bans ranked-choice voting.

Kansas

Kansas passed a bill that requires the DMV to send the secretary of state a quarterly list of driver’s licenses issued to noncitizens so that they can be removed from voter rolls.

Another law requires mail-in ballots to be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Previously, they had to be postmarked by that time, but could arrive within three days after election day.

Yet another law bans government agencies from accepting federal funds for election administration, except for election security.

Kentucky

The state established a new Unit of Election Investigations and Security within the state attorney general’s office. The unit is responsible for investigating violations of election law.

The state expanded the list of excuses for voting an in-person early ballot. It also requires that video surveillance from ballot drop boxes remain available for at least 60 days after the election and for longer in certain circumstances, such as litigation. The bill also bans credit cards from being used in the process to prove one’s identity in the absence of a proper voter ID.

Louisiana

Louisiana now requires a Social Security number or an ID number to change one’s name on the voter rolls after marriage. Under the same law, the state now also allows voters to cure defective ballots by receiving a replacement ballot from a registrar.

Previously, voters had to cure ballots in person. The bill also allowed voters’ grandparents or grandchildren to return an absentee ballot on their behalf. Most other close relatives were already allowed to do so. The law bans unaffiliated voters from voting in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. They can only pick one.

Maryland

The state now allows high school students serving as poll workers to be paid or receive credit toward their graduation. But people will no longer get paid for completing poll worker training if they don’t actually serve as poll workers during the election.

Another law expands access to translators and multilingual voting materials.

Massachusetts

The state now requires its Department of Corrections to provide voter registration information to people leaving its prisons.

Minnesota

A new law requires mail-in ballots delivered in person to arrive by 5 p.m. on election day, rather than the previous 8 p.m. deadline.

It also requires a state license or ID number, as well as the last four digits of the Social Security number, to request a mail-in ballot. One of the numbers can be substituted by a certified statement that the voter doesn’t have it. Previously, only one number was required, and the voter could make the statement instead.

In addition, each location where ballots are counted now needs to have an equal number of election judges from each major party.

Previously, the requirement only applied to precincts. Election judges will also need to swear an oath that they won’t knowingly share false information about voting or interfere with voting processes. It requires ballots be sent out at least 28 days before an all-mail election, rather than the previous 14.

Mississippi

The state banned changing polling place locations within 60 days of the election except in “exigent circumstances.”

Another law made it a felony for a person assisting a voter to willfully fail to deliver their vote.

Montana

Montana voters must include their date of birth with their signature when registering to vote and when returning their mail-in ballot.

The list of acceptable voter IDs has been cut short. Only “current, valid, and readable” IDs, such as a driver’s license, passport, or military ID, will do. Alternatively, a voter can use any current photo ID, along with a current utility bill or another such document showing their name and address.

Residents need to register to vote by noon on election day for any federal election and by noon on the day before election day for any other election. Previously, registrations were accepted until the polls closed on election day.

The state no longer requires lists of people who voted by mail to be posted conspicuously at polling places.

Another law bans officials from moving a voter from inactive to active status merely because he signed a petition for a state-wide ballot issue.

Also, voters requesting cancellation of their registration now need to sign the request.

A new law makes it easier to remove from the voter rolls people whose voter registration applications contain missing or unverified information.

Also, the secretary of state will no longer be able to reject a county’s plan to hold an all-mail election.

Nebraska

The state now requires officials to match signatures on mail-in ballot envelopes with voter records. Previously, they only needed to verify that the name and address matched.

Poll watchers can’t be excluded from ballot-counting places, unless they are provided with video surveillance. Poll watchers must maintain at least 8 feet from ballots, ballot boxes, sign-in registers, and counting equipment. Each vote-counting device must be tested in the presence of party-appointed observers at least three times.

Nevada

Voters can now request that their mail-in ballots be sent earlier than the date set by the county or city clerks.

The Secretary of State must provide multilingual election services, including translation services for voters via a toll-free phone line.

New Hampshire

The state now allows in-person voters to request that their ballot be counted by hand. They will hand it to an election officer for counting after the polls close.

Mail-in ballot applications can’t be accepted unless received or postmarked within six months before an election. They will need to include a photo ID copy or a notarized signature. Previously, only name and address were required.

Also, people sending their voter registration application by mail will need to include proof of citizenship, age, domicile, and residency.

The state no longer allows challenges from 10 or more voters to delay the processing of mail-in ballots until after the polls close.

Another bill requires voter roll maintenance every year, rather than every decade.

After each election, the secretary of state must audit at least eight randomly selected vote-counting machines.

New Jersey

County election boards are now allowed to expand their electioneering ban from 100 feet to 200 feet of polling place entrances and ballot drop boxes.

Early primary voting now starts seven days before Election Day.

The state now allows third-party machines to be used in post-election audits.

Residents will only be automatically registered to vote if they apply for a REAL ID driver’s license or REAL ID card. If they apply for other IDs, they must opt in to voter registration. Previously, all applicants were automatically registered, unless they opted out.

Voters who fail to complete the mail-in ballot certificate or fail to include or seal the inner or outer envelope will have a chance to cure the issue. Previously, those ballots would be rejected.

New Mexico

Unaffiliated voters can now vote in primaries.

New York

It is now allowed to provide meat, drink, tobacco, refreshments, or other provisions in connection with voting. Previously, it was a misdemeanor.

The state now requires, by law, that its Board of Elections join ERIC or its successor by July 31.

North Dakota

All mail-in ballots must be returned by the close of polls on Election Day. They cannot be returned at a polling place. They need to be mailed or hand-delivered to the county office or put in a drop box. By the same bill, the state also prohibited the use of private entities to administer an election.

Ohio

The DMV is no longer required to give all driver’s license and state ID applicants an opportunity to register to vote. It’s now required to offer the opportunity only to those who’ve proven their citizenship.

A different bill allows residents to register to vote electronically during DMV transactions. But the state Board of Elections needs to review each such registration. The bill also prohibits third parties from pre-filling voter registration forms or mail-in ballot requests, except in limited circumstances.

Mail-in ballots need to be received by the close of polls on election day. Previously, four days after election day sufficed if postmarked before election day.

Election officials are required to challenge the vote of anybody who tries to use an ID that indicates the person isn’t a citizen. Such individuals will need to provide a document proving citizenship, such as a birth certificate, passport, or an ID that indicates citizenship.

Officials also need to maintain voter rolls more frequently and collect more data to identify ineligible voters. Identified noncitizens will be removed from the voter rolls before they are notified, rather than notified first.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma banned the use of vote centers where residents of multiple precincts can vote, except in emergencies.

It also established a process to remove noncitizens from voter rolls based on federal, state, and local databases indicating citizenship. Identified noncitizens will have 30 days to provide documents acceptable for obtaining a REAL ID to prove their citizenship.

Rhode Island

The state made it a misdemeanor to threaten bodily harm to election officials or their families based on their election duties.

Any voter can now sign up for the permanent mail voting list. Previously, only disabled individuals and those indefinitely confined due to illness could sign up.

South Dakota

The state expanded access to voter files and will now include information about mail-in ballot requests and returns.

Voters registered at a post office box or other non-residence location will be allowed to vote only in federal elections unless they provide a description of their actual residence.

The state also created a new process for challenging a voter’s eligibility based on residency, felony conviction, mental incompetency, or death.

Tennessee

A driver’s license in electronic form no longer counts as voter ID.

The state also overhauled the process for felons to restore their voting rights.

When registering to vote in person, residents now need to provide an acceptable ID, such as the state’s driver’s license, passport, or military ID.

Texas

Anybody guilty of a first- or second-degree felony can no longer serve as a poll watcher.

Voters who want to vote curbside must sign a form affirming their need to do so. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor. Anyone transporting more than seven voters to the polls during early voting and election day must sign a form explaining what they’re doing. Intentional failure to do so is a misdemeanor.

Texas also increased penalties for voter fraud.

Local law enforcement is now required to report to the state attorney general any probable cause of an election law violation.

The secretary of state is now required to use data from the Department of Public Safety to identify voters that moved and are registered in multiple jurisdictions.

People who register to vote in Texas after moving will have their prior residence information conveyed to officials in their previous jurisdiction so they can be removed from voter rolls there.

Under new rules, voters may be informed of issues with their mail-in ballot more quickly.

Utah

Data included in voting history records will include details on the voting method, the mail-in ballot return date, and others.

The state also passed a bill to abolish all-mail elections, but it will only come into effect in 2029.

Vermont

Vermont officials can now start processing mail-in ballots 45 days before the election, rather than 30 days. Residents will be automatically registered to vote at the DMV only if they attest to citizenship or provide proof of citizenship.

Virginia

Virginia residents can now regularly register to vote up until 10 days before the primary or general election.

Officials will be required to report mail-in voting results no later than 5 p.m., 10 days after an election.

Washington

The state began a process to expand automatic voter registration to government agencies beyond the state’s driver’s licensing agency.

West Virginia

Only photo IDs are now accepted as voter ID for casting a regular ballot, with some exceptions.

Voters who recently changed their address within their county can now cast a regular ballot at their new precinct if they provide proof of their new address and the registration is updated before the canvass.

Wisconsin

The state passed an amendment last year that enshrined voter ID into its constitution. The state already had voter ID laws on the books.

Wyoming

Wyoming now requires proof of citizenship for voter registration. A state driver’s license or ID card only works if it doesn’t indicate the person is a noncitizen. A passport or birth certificate is accepted, too.

The state also banned officials from accepting, soliciting, or using any nongovernment funding or services for election administration.

Wyoming also expanded the use of DMV and SAVE data to determine voter ineligibility. Voters are notified of the intent to cancel their registrations.

Officials are also prohibited from distributing unsolicited mail-in ballot applications.