Voter ID ballot measures gain momentum in states as federal legislation stalls
Quick Look
While federal election overhaul efforts remain stalled in Congress, voters in at least six U.S. states will decide on ballot measures this year concerning voter ID requirements, marking a record high for such proposals in a single election cycle.
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Why It Matters
A Republican-backed federal election overhaul requiring proof-of-citizenship has stalled in Congress. Meanwhile, states are independently pursuing stricter voter ID requirements via ballot measures.
A Republican-backed election overhaul, which would add proof-of-citizenship and other identification requirements to the voting process, has stalled in Congress.
But voters in a number of states are weighing in on some of these same issues this year.
Voters in at least six states will decide ballot measures related to voter ID — the largest number of voter ID measures in a single year, per Ballotpedia.
Oklahoma is first up, voting on its proposal during Tuesday's primary runoff. That measure would essentially codify existing voter ID policy in its state constitution. The remaining states — including the swing states of Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina — have measures for this fall's general election that would toughen ID requirements for voters.
The ballot measures follow lawmakers in eight other states making voter ID requirements more stringent this year, according to the Voting Rights Lab, a research group that supports expanded voting access.
Several other of this fall's ballot measures concern who can vote and how:
Open Questions
- How will the outcomes of these ballot measures affect voter turnout?
- Will other states follow the trend of codifying ID requirements in constitutions?
