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AMERICA’S BALLOT ACCESSIBILITY INDEX

How difficult is voting in America?

In states with the most-accessible ballots…

  • residents are automatically registered to vote

  • ballots are distributed by mail

  • people can vote at polling sites which tend to stay open longer

  • in-person voters aren't required to show an ID when they vote

  • early voting is available to everyone

  • absentee voting is available to everyone

  • people convicted of felony crimes retain their right to vote

  • workers are given time off work to vote

In states with the least-accessible ballots…

  • voters have to show documentation that proves U.S. citizenship

  • there is no automatic voter registration

  • there is no option to register online

  • voters have to show photo ID to receive a ballot

  • voters must duplicate the signature on their ID to the satisfaction of poll workers

  • polling sites are open fewer hours

  • there is no absentee voting

  • there is no early voting

  • people who complete a felony sentence lose voting privileges unless pardoned

S T A T S

most-accessible ballots

22 points

Illinois, New York

20 points

California, Massachusetts

Minnesota, North Dakota

19 points

Maryland, Nevada

18 points

Colorado, New Jersey

New Mexico, Ohio

least-accessible ballots

4 points

Mississippi

5 points

New Hampshire

7 points

Alabama

9 points

Delaware, South Carolina

10 points

Florida, South Dakota

Texas, Wyoming

methodology

 

States are assigned points according to 9 categories.

Points are totaled and indexed accordingly.

  • 0 = no

    1 = limited

    2 = yes

  • 0 = no

    1 = approved but not implemented

    2 = yes

  • 0 = yes

    1 = legally required but not enforced

    2 = no

  • 0 = photo ID required

    1 = non-photo ID required

    2 = no ID needed

  • 0 = no absentee ballots

    1 = absentee ballots for some

    2 = absentee ballots for everyone

  • 0 = no early voting

    1 = early voting for some

    2 = early voting for everyone

  • 0 = right to vote is lost upon felony conviction; not reinstated

    1 = some crimes permanently disqualify a person’s right to vote; reinstatement requires pardon from governor or state legislature

    2 = voting rights must be requested upon completion of sentence; all outstanding fines/fees must be paid in full

    3 = voting rights automatically restored upon completion of sentence; all outstanding fines/fees must be paid in full

    4 = voting rights automatically restored upon completion of sentence; fines/fees do not need to be paid in full

    5 = a felony conviction does not affect a person’s right to vote

  • 0 = workers must vote on their own time

    1 = workers given time off unless their schedule allows 1-2 hours to vote before/after work

    2 = workers given time off unless their schedule allows 3+ hours to vote before/after work

    3 = workers given time off to vote without exceptions

    4 = workers given paid time off to vote

  • 0 = state law opens polls for 0-9 hours

    1 = state law opens polls for 9-12 hours

    2 = state law opens polls for 12-15 hours

    3 = state law opens polls for 15+ hours