The Voting Access Scorecard measures the accessibility of American elections by analyzing state election laws and practices. Each state’s performance is based on 30 measurable metrics — broken into 8 categories — shown to affect accessibility and foster participation. Below is an overview of the categories and metrics.
Click on the drop down to learn more about each category.
Summary of voting categories
Click on each category to learn more.
Metrics within this Category
% of States Meeting Requirement
State registration deadline is the Friday before Election Day or later
35%
State offers Election Day registration
31%
State has automatic registration
19%
State does NOT create barriers to voter registration by third parties (e.g. allows third party registration, does not require registration drive training or notification)
80%
State does NOT impose fines or criminal penalties for negligent/accidential voter registration mistakes
80%
Metrics within this Category
% of States Meeting Requirement
State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting in multiple locations per municipality/county
31%
State offers early voting/in-person absentee voting during evenings and/or weekends
43%
State allows no-excuse early voting/in-person absentee voting
74%
Metrics within this Category
% of States Meeting Requirement
During voter maintenance process, if address has not changed, state allows voter to simply mail back confirmation form
88%
State is NOT a member of Interstate Crosscheck
45%
State is Member of ERIC
41%
State refused to comply with the Pence-Kobach voter registration data request
39%
Metrics within this Category
% of States Meeting Requirement
State voting technology requires a paper trail
58%
State requires poll worker training
84%
State law requires voting machines to meet federal standards, testing by a federally accredited laboratory, or federal certification
68%
State provides readily accessible voting technology information
54%
Metrics within this Category
% of States Meeting Requirement
State holds all elections entirely by mail
6%
State does NOT require an excuse to vote by mail
62%
State deadline to return absentee ballot is NO earlier than Election Day (via any type of delivery)
74%
State allows all voters to sign up to vote by absentee permanently
19%
Metrics within this Category
% of States Meeting Requirement
State allows voters to request vote by mail ballot online
34%
State allows voters to register online
67%
State allows voters to check their Election Day polling location online
95%
State allows voters to check their vote by mail status online
71%
Metrics within this Category
% of States Meeting Requirement
State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote on Election Day
58%
State does NOT require a Photo ID to vote early or by mail
68%
If ID required, State allows voter to vote through alternative process that does not require voter action (Note: full points received if no ID required at all)
84%
Metrics within this Category
% of States Meeting Requirement
State allows individuals to vote when their sentence is complete
75%
State allows individuals to vote during their term of incarceration
3%
State allows individuals to vote after incarceration, while on probation or parole
