Voters in 13 states will decide on 15 ballot measures related to election policy in the Nov. 3 election.
Voter ID laws
Six states will vote on ballot measures related to voter ID. Measures in two of those states, California and Nevada, would enact new voter ID laws. Both measures would require in-person voters to provide ID at the polls and vote-by-mail voters to provide the last four digits of an identification number when returning their ballot.
In Colorado, Amendment 84 would require voters casting a mail ballot to provide their signature and an identification number, such as a Social Security or driver’s license number.
Three additional states, Arizona, North Carolina and Ohio, will vote on whether to add existing voter ID laws to their state constitutions. Oklahoma approved adding its voter ID requirement to the state constitution on Aug. 25.
The seven measures represent the largest number of statewide ballot measures related to voter identification in a single year. From 2004 through 2025, voters decided 13 measures requiring voter ID, approving 10 (77%) and defeating three (23%). The previous single-year high was in 2022, when voters decided on three measures.
Citizenship requirements for voting
Six states will decide ballot measures related to citizenship requirements for voting. Each measure would establish that only U.S. citizens may vote in state and local elections.
Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota, and West Virginia do not currently have constitutional prohibitions on noncitizens voting in local elections. No localities in those five states allow noncitizen voting.
Arizona’s measure would amend the constitution to state that “only citizens may register and vote in Arizona elections.” Unlike the other five states, Arizona has existing constitutional language prohibiting noncitizen voting.
Between 2018 and 2025, voters decided on 15 measures prohibiting noncitizen voting and approved all 15, with an average of 73% voting in favor. Eight of the 15 appeared on the ballot in 2024.
Nationally, 18 state constitutions explicitly prohibit noncitizen voting. Three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — have localities that allow noncitizens to vote in municipal or school board elections.
Voter registration
Massachusetts voters will decide on a measure that would institute same-day voter registration in the state. Currently, voters must register to vote 10 days before the election. The registration period overlaps with the early voting period for eight days.
Twenty states and the District of Columbia offer same-day voter registration on Election Day. Connecticut offers same-day voter registration for general elections only. Six states offer same-day registration during at least part of the early voting period, but not on Election Day. Alaska and Rhode Island allow same-day registration to vote for president and vice president.
Between 2010 and 2025, voters in four states decided ballot measures to implement or reinstate same-day voter registration. Measures in Maine, Maryland, and Michigan were approved, and one in New York was defeated.
Voting rights for people with felony convictions
In Virginia, voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to automatically restore political rights, including the right to vote, of individuals convicted of a felony upon release from incarceration.
Virginia is one of three states where individuals with felony convictions never regain the right to vote without state action to restore their rights. People must apply for restoration to the governor's office upon completion of their sentence, including any prison time, parole, and probation, and their applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The Virginia Department of Elections published guidance in September stating that, in response to a federal court ruling, only individuals convicted of three crimes — murder, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter — would need to petition the governor to have their rights restored. Individuals convicted of all other felonies may register to vote and vote if they have been released from prison.
Electoral systems
Voters in Alaska and Massachusetts will decide whether to change their state’s electoral system.
In Alaska, Ballot Measure 2 would repeal the state’s top-four primary system and the use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) in general elections.
Currently, Alaska uses top-four primaries and RCV in general elections. Under this system, candidates run in a single primary election, regardless of party affiliation. The four candidates that receive the most votes advance to the general election.
At the general election, voters elect state and federal candidates using RCV. For state executive, state legislative, and congressional elections, voters rank the four candidates that advanced from their top-four primaries. A candidate needs a simple majority of the vote (50%+1) to be declared the winner of an election. If no candidate wins a simple majority of the vote, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. People who voted for the eliminated candidate as their first choice have their votes redistributed to their second choice. The tabulation process continues until two candidates remain, and the candidate with the most votes is declared the winner.
If the measure is approved, the state would switch to a party-choice primary system, where parties could decide whether to hold open or closed primaries.
In 2020, Alaska voters adopted RCV by approving Ballot Measure 2 50.6%-49.5%.
In 2024, voters decided on another measure related to RCV, also called Ballot Measure 2. This measure would have repealed the top-four primaries and ranked-choice voting system voters approved in 2020. On Nov. 5, 2024, voters rejected the measure 50.1% to 49.9%.
In Massachusetts, voters will decide whether to implement top-two primaries. Currently, the state uses a semi-closed primary system. This means that voters who are affiliated with a political party and unaffiliated voters may vote in that party's primary.
If the top-two primary initiative is approved, all candidates would be listed on the same ballot, regardless of their party affiliation. All registered voters would participate in the same primary. The top two vote-getters would advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliations. This system would not be used for presidential primaries.
California, Nebraska, and Washington use a top-two primary for at least some elections. Alaska and Louisiana use some variation of top-two primaries for their elections.
For more on 2026 ballot measures, click here.