Proof of Citizenship to Vote by State (2026)
As of September 10, 2026, 9 states require documentary proof of citizenship for at least some voter registrations, 6 have a law on the books that is not enforced, and 36 (including D.C.) have no requirement. Pick your state for the documents, deadlines, and birth certificate ordering details.
States that require proof of citizenship to vote now (9)
Documentary proof of citizenship is currently enforced for at least some registrants. Scope varies: some states check every new registrant, others only flag registrants through DMV or federal database matches.
- Arizona proof-of-citizenship rules
- Indiana proof-of-citizenship rules
- Iowa proof-of-citizenship rules
- Mississippi proof-of-citizenship rules
- New Hampshire proof-of-citizenship rules
- South Dakota proof-of-citizenship rules
- Tennessee proof-of-citizenship rules
- Utah proof-of-citizenship rules
- Wyoming proof-of-citizenship rules
States with a proof-of-citizenship law on the books, not enforced (6)
A law exists but is blocked by a court, not yet effective, or never implemented. Registrants are generally not asked for citizenship documents today.
States with no proof-of-citizenship requirement (36)
Registration uses a citizenship attestation under penalty of perjury. If the federal SAVE Act passes, these states would have to start collecting documents.
- Alaska proof-of-citizenship rules
- Arkansas proof-of-citizenship rules
- California proof-of-citizenship rules
- Colorado proof-of-citizenship rules
- Connecticut proof-of-citizenship rules
- Delaware proof-of-citizenship rules
- District of Columbia proof-of-citizenship rules
- Hawaii proof-of-citizenship rules
- Idaho proof-of-citizenship rules
- Illinois proof-of-citizenship rules
- Kentucky proof-of-citizenship rules
- Maine proof-of-citizenship rules
- Maryland proof-of-citizenship rules
- Massachusetts proof-of-citizenship rules
- Michigan proof-of-citizenship rules
- Minnesota proof-of-citizenship rules
- Missouri proof-of-citizenship rules
- Montana proof-of-citizenship rules
- Nebraska proof-of-citizenship rules
- Nevada proof-of-citizenship rules
- New Jersey proof-of-citizenship rules
- New Mexico proof-of-citizenship rules
- New York proof-of-citizenship rules
- North Carolina proof-of-citizenship rules
- North Dakota proof-of-citizenship rules
- Oklahoma proof-of-citizenship rules
- Oregon proof-of-citizenship rules
- Pennsylvania proof-of-citizenship rules
- Rhode Island proof-of-citizenship rules
- South Carolina proof-of-citizenship rules
- Texas proof-of-citizenship rules
- Vermont proof-of-citizenship rules
- Virginia proof-of-citizenship rules
- Washington proof-of-citizenship rules
- West Virginia proof-of-citizenship rules
- Wisconsin proof-of-citizenship rules
Status is derived from each state record and re-verified on every data pass; see the verification sources on each state page. Federal SAVE Act status.