States Have Amended Their Voter ID Laws

As November nears and Voters head to the Polls in 36 States, States require Voters to present Identification when Casting their Ballots, and see where Voter ID Laws have changed in 2025.

Across the U.S., 36 states require Voters to present Identification to Vote at the Polls on Election Day. Of those States, 24 require Voters to Present Photo Identification, while the other 12 States accept Identification that does Not contain a Photograph. The remaining 14 States do Not require Voters to present Identification to Vote at the Polls on Election Day, in most cases.

Ten States have Amended their Voter ID Laws so far in 2025. One state, West Virginia, moved from Requiring Non-Photo Identification to Vote, to Requiring Photo Identification. Valid Forms of Identification differ by State. Commonly accepted forms of ID include: Driver’s Licenses, State-issued Identification Cards, and Military Identification Cards.

Some States requiring Voters to provide Identification may have Exceptions allowing some People to Cast a Ballot without providing an ID. For instance, 15 States allow Some or All Voters to Sign an Affidavit Attesting to their Identity at the Polls instead of Presenting Identification. Seven States allow another Voter or an Election Official to Vouch for the Person’s Identity in at least some Cases. Four States allow Voters who live and Vote in State-Licensed Nursing Homes or Residential Care Facilities to Vote without showing Identification.

Three States: Alabama, New Hampshire, and Kentucky, require Voters to provide a Copy of their Identification when Requesting an Absentee/Mail-In Ballot. Two Sstates: Arkansas and North Carolina, require Voters to provide a Copy of their Identification when Returning an Absentee/Mail-in-Ballot.

Across the Country, 10 States Passed 10 Bills related to Voter ID for In-Person Voting or Absentee/Mail-In Voting, during 2025 Legislative Sessions. Some Noteworthy Laws States adopted this year include:

Colorado SB 1 expanded the List of Eligible Forms of Non-Photo Iidentification to include: Identification and Cards issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, or any other Federal Agency that includes an Address in the State.

Georgia HB 296 required that Driver’s Licenses used as Identification for Voting purposes be in a Physical Format and Issued by the Georgia Department of Driver Services.

Montana SB 276 expanded the List of Eligible Forms of Identification to include a Student ID Card issued by a School in the Montana University system or a Montana School, that is a Member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

>New Hampshire SB 287 required Voters to include a Copy of their Identification or a Notarized Signature when requesting an Absentee Ballot by Mail or to present their ID to an Election Official when Requesting an Absentee Ballot in Person.

Utah HB 300 required Voters to provide the Last Four digits of their Driver’s License, ID Card, or Social Security Number when Returning a Mail-in Ballot, starting on Nov. 5, 2025. Until Dec. 31, 2028, election officials will attempt to match the voter’s signature on the envelope affidavit to the signature on file for Voters who do Not provide an Identification Number. Starting on Jan. 1st, 2029, Voters must Provide the Last Four Digits of an Identification Number or Include a Copy of an Acceptable ID when Returning their Mail Ballot.

West Virginia HB 3016 required Photo Identification to Vote, though Vriver’s Licenses issued without a Photograph remain Valid for Voting. The Bill removed Documents from the List of Eligible fFrms of Identification and allowed Voters 65 years of Age and Older to use an Expired ID, if the Focument was Valid when they turned 65.

Wisconsin Voters in April, Approved a Constitutional Amendment adding Language requiring a Photo ID, to Vote in the Wisconsin Constitution. The Amendment allows the State Legislature to Define what Qualifies as a Valid Photo ID and provide Exceptions to the Requirement. Wisconsin Passed a Statutory Voter ID Law in 2011. On Nov. 4th, Maine Voters will Decide on a Ballot Measure that would make Multiple Changes to the State’s Election Laws, including Changes to Photo IDs.

Five States Adopted Five Laws related to Voter ID in 2024. Thirteen States Adopted 14 such Laws in 2023. Nine States adopted 10 such Laws in 2022.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker