Voters in at least three states will decide on constitutional amendments that would prohibit noncitizen voting, with a fourth state potentially joining them in the weeks ahead. Here's a look at how voting requirements related to citizenship vary across the U.S.
In November 2026, voters in Arkansas, Kansas, and South Dakota will decide on constitutional amendments to prohibit noncitizen voting. Supporters of a proposed ballot initiative in Alaska have submitted signatures to the state Division of Elections for verification.
State Rep. Pat Proctor (R) argued in support of the Kansas amendment: “There are no decisions and no statutes preventing a municipality from allowing non-citizens to vote in a municipal election," he said. “Further, this or a future Kansas Supreme Court could overturn previous judicial precedents in the state and allow non-citizens to vote in elections for county and state elections, as well."
In Arkansas, State Rep. Diana Gonzales Worthen (D) argued that there have been no documented cases of noncitizens voting in her state: “Immigrants do not want to break the law, especially in this manner, because if they’re in line for citizenship, this will totally erase that,” she said during debate on the amendment last year.
Eighteen states have language in their constitutions explicitly granting only U.S. citizens the right to vote in their elections. Fifteen of those states have added this language via ballot measure in the last eight years. The other 32 state constitutions specify who can vote (e.g., all citizens or every citizen), but do not explicitly prohibit noncitizen voting.
In 1996, President Bill Clinton (D) signed a law prohibiting noncitizens from voting in federal elections. This law does not apply to state or local elections.
No states currently allow noncitizens to vote in statewide or state legislative elections. All 49 states with voter registration require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens. North Dakota does not have voter registration, though voters in that state must be U.S. citizens.
California, Maryland, and Vermont have jurisdictions that allow noncitizens to vote in municipal or school board elections. Maryland has 16 jurisdictions that have passed ordinances allowing noncitizen voting, the most of any state. Washington, D.C., also allows noncitizens to vote in local elections.
So far this year, lawmakers in 12 states have introduced or carried over 26 bills related to noncitizen voting. In seven states, lawmakers have introduced bills or constitutional amendments to prohibit noncitizen voting. In one state, Massachusetts, legislators have proposed allowing some or all municipalities to give noncitizens the right to vote in local elections.
Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have passed laws requiring all prospective voters to provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, all of those laws are not in effect. A federal judge invalidated Kansas' proof of citizenship law in 2018, and Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana have not implemented their laws.
Of the states with laws in effect, Arizona and New Hampshire require proof of citizenship only for people newly registering to vote in the state. Wyoming requires both new registrants and individuals updating their registration to provide proof of citizenship.
Ohio requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility.
While Georgia's proof of citizenship law is not in effect, election officials compare the driver's license number or Social Security number of prospective voters who submit paper registration forms against state records to determine if that person has previously provided proof of citizenship. If not, the individual will be notified that they must provide such proof before they are registered to vote.
Each state has different requirements for which documents constitute proof of citizenship. Commonly accepted documents include birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, and naturalization documents.
Lawmakers in 15 states have introduced or carried over 28 bills related to proof of citizenship for voting so far this year. In at least 11 states, legislators have introduced bills requiring individuals to present documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote.
In 2025, one state, Wyoming, enacted proof of citizenship legislation. In 2024, two states enacted two bills or resolutions related to documentary proof of citizenship. In 2023, two states enacted two proof-of-citizenship-related bills.
Click here to read more about state laws related to noncitizen voting, and here for more about proof of citizenship laws across the country.