Election legislation tracking: Category tags

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Election Administration Legislation
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Enacted • Absentee/mail-in voting • Early voting • Electoral systems • Felon voting rights • Private funding • Primary systems • Redistricting • Voter identification
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Every bill in Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker has been assigned at least one category tag that helps to summarize the contents of the bill. These categories are listed below, along with a brief description of each one. Each category belongs to a parent category, which describes a broader policy area (e.g., the parent category for "Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility" is "Absentee/mail-in voting").

Click a topic below to navigate to that section.

Absentee/mail-in voting

Absentee/mail-in ballot administration: Any bill concerning the administration of the absentee/mail-in voting process, such as dates for transmitting ballots.
Absentee/mail-in ballot deadlines: Any bill that changes the deadline for voters to request or return absentee/mail-in ballots.
Absentee/mail-in ballot request processes: Any bill concerning the way in which voters can request or receive absentee/mail-in ballots.
Absentee/mail-in ballot return processes: Any bill that changes how voters can return absentee/mail-in ballots. This category does not include bills related to third-party ballot collection (see “ballot collection”).
Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility: Any bill that either expands or restricts absentee/mail-in voting eligibility, including any excuse requirement to vote by absentee/mail-in ballot.
Automatic mail-in ballots: Any bill concerning an automatic mail-in ballot voting system in which officials automatically send mail-in ballots to all eligible voters.
Drop-box availability: Any bill that regulates the allowance, availability, or placement of ballot drop-boxes.
Permanent absentee/mail-in ballot lists: Any bill regarding the creation, maintenance, or elimination of a permanent absentee/mail-in voter list.

Alternative voting methods

Approval voting: Any bill that concerns approval voting, a system where voters may vote for as many candidates as they approve of, and the candidate (or candidates) that receives the most votes wins.
Indirect elections: Any bill that concerns a non-presidential election system where the popular vote is used to select electors who then vote to determine the winner of the election.
Online voting: Any bill that addresses internet voting.
Proportional representation voting: Any bill addressing proportional representation voting. Under this system, the number of votes a party’s candidates win in an election determines the number of seats that party will control in the legislature.
RCV - Allow RCV: Any bill allowing (but not requiring) the use of ranked-choice voting in one or more elections.
RCV - Amends RCV laws: Any bill amending existing laws on ranked-choice voting (but not repealing or prohibiting ranked-choice voting in a place where it is already allowed or required).
RCV - Prohibit RCV: Any bill prohibiting ranked-choice voting in one or more elections.
RCV - Repeal RCV: Any bill repealing existing laws requiring or allowing ranked-choice voting in one or more elections.
RCV - Require RCV: Any bill requiring the use of ranked-choice voting in one or more elections.
RCV - Study RCV: Any bill commissioning a study of ranked-choice voting.

Audits and oversight

Audits: Any bill that involves auditing election results and/or election processes, procedures, or election officials’ performance.
Oversight and accountability: Any bill creating or modifying oversight authorities, investigatory or disciplinary review processes for state or local officials, or public reporting requirements.
Poll observers: Any bill affecting poll observer training or qualifications, or affecting observer access to any part of the voting and canvassing process.
States of emergency: Any bill affecting the modification of the times, places, or manner of elections during declared emergencies.
Transparency: Any bill that affects the publication, disclosure, or redaction of election data or documents, such as the posting of ballot images online or the publication of voter rolls.

Ballot access

Ballot access for ballot measures: Any bill that affects the process by which ballot measures qualify for the ballot.
Ballot access for candidates: Any bill that affects the process(es) by which individual candidates file for placement on the ballot or changes procedural or documentation requirements.
Ballot access for parties: Any bill that affects the process(es) by which political parties can be granted ballot status or changes procedural or documentation requirements.
Personal qualifications for ballot access: Any bill that addresses candidate eligibility for ballot access, including age or residency requirements, term limits, or other non-filing-related qualifications.

Ballot measures

Ballot measures: Any bill that deals with ballot measures (citizen-initiated, legislative, or other), including bills that set requirements for how ballot measures appear on the ballot, regulate the date or manner in which ballot measure elections are held, or require voter approval for specific policy changes. (See also: Ballot access for ballot measures)
Recalls: Any bill that concerns recall elections.
Tax or bond elections: Any bill concerning requirements for tax or bond elections.

Ballot verification

Cure provisions: Any bill that creates, eliminates, or amends ballot curing provisions, including signature-matching requirements (see also: “Signature matching”).
Driver's licenses for voter ID: Any bill related to the content or issuance of driver's licenses as used to verify a voter's identity for voting or registering to vote.
In-person voter ID: Any bill that concerns voter identification requirements for in-person voting. This category does not include voter identification requirements for voter registration (see “Voter ID for registration”).
Signature matching: Any bill that concerns a signature matching process for absentee/mail-in ballots.
Voter ID for absentee/mail-in ballots: Any bill that concerns voter identification requirements for absentee/mail-in voting, including requiring identification when requesting an absentee/mail-in ballot. This category does not include voter identification requirements for voter registration (see “Voter ID for registration”).
Voter ID for low-income voters: Any bill that concerns a program to provide free or low-cost identification to low-income voters.
Witness or notary requirements: Any bill that requires absentee/mail-in voters to have their ballots witnessed or notarized to affirm the voter’s identity.

Ballots and voting materials

Ballot design: Any bill concerning the design, form, or content of ballots, including the placement of candidates’ names on the ballot, straight-ticket voting, and official ballot measure summaries.
Language accommodations: Any bill concerning the provision of language accommodation materials.
Voting materials: Any bill concerning the form, content, or distribution of official voting materials—excluding ballots—such as registration forms, absentee/mail-in ballot applications, or voter guides.

Bills without substantive content

Bills without substantive content: Any bill that does not contain substantive content. Such bills may be filed as placeholders at the beginning of a legislative session. If such bills are later amended with substantive provisions, they will be put in new categories.

Campaign finance

Campaign finance for ballot measures: Any bill that creates, modifies, or repeals campaign finance regulations related to ballot measure campaigns.
Campaign finance for candidates: Any bill that creates, modifies, or repeals campaign finance regulations related to candidate campaigns.
Campaign finance for party committees and political action committees: Any bill that creates, modifies, or repeals campaign finance regulations related to party committees or political action committees.
Campaign use of funds: Any bill that creates, modifies, or repeals regulations related to how campaigns may use contributions.
Contribution limits: Any bill that creates, modifies, or repeals limits on how much individuals, organizations, corporations, or committees may contribute to political campaigns or committees.
Disclosure and reporting requirements: Any bill that creates, modifies, or repeals requirements for campaign finance disclosure and reporting.
Election-related political spending prohibitions: Any bill that creates, modifies, or repeals prohibitions on political spending specifically related to candidate or ballot measure elections.
Foreign contributions: Any bill that creates, modifies, or repeals campaign finance regulations related to contributions from foreign individuals or entities.
Public campaign financing: Any bill that creates, modifies, or repeals public financing of campaigns.
Use of public campaign funds: Any bill that regulates how campaigns use public funds.

Counting and certification

Certification: Any bill affecting how election results are certified.
Counting and canvassing procedures: Any bill concerning how ballots are processed, counted, and/or canvassed.
Hand counting: Any bill that establishes or modifies requirements for hand counting ballots, not including hand counted audits.
National Popular Vote Interstate Compact: Any bill intended to join or withdraw from the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
Recounts: Any bill affecting how recounts and recanvasses are conducted.
Reporting: Any bill affecting how election returns are posted, including measures establishing online dashboards or requiring that tallies be reported or updated at certain intervals or deadlines.

Early voting (in-person)

Early voting administration: Any bill concerning early voting administration.
Early voting duration: Any bill that sets or alters the duration of the early voting period, including early voting hours.
Early voting eligibility: Any bill that either expands or restricts early voting eligibility, including any excuse requirement to vote early.

Election dates and deadlines

Administrative deadlines: Any bill that changes an administrative deadline.
Alignment of elections: Any bill that moves or allows jurisdictions to move elections to coincide with existing state and/or federal election dates, such as moving an election from odd- to even-year cycles or from spring dates to November.
Ballot access deadlines: Any bill that changes a candidate or ballot measure ballot access deadline.
Election dates: Any bill that changes an election date.
Voter participation deadlines: Any bill that changes a voter participation deadline (e.g., registration, absentee/mail-in ballot request, etc.).

Election Day voting

Electioneering: Any bill that addresses attempts to influence voters, such as providing food or things of value to voters at polling places.
In-person voting and polling places: Any bill that concerns the administration of in-person voting on Election Day.
Law enforcement presence: Any bill requiring, prohibiting, or otherwise regulating the presence of law enforcement officers at polling places.
Provisional ballots: Any bill regarding provisional voting.
Voter pictures of ballots: Any bill concerning whether voters may photograph their ballot or share ballot selfies.

Election funding

Federal funding: Any bill that regulates how election officials may use grant funding provided by the federal government.
Private funding: Any bill that deals directly with whether private funding can be used for election administration.
Redistricting funding: Any bill that provides funding for redistricting.
State appropriations: Any bill that appropriates tax dollars for election administration.

Election law disputes and voting rights

Conflicts between levels of government: Any bill that addresses conflicting election laws and procedures between one level of government and another.
Legal causes of action: Any bill that regulates the filing of election-related or redistricting litigation.
Legislative authority: Any bill that establishes a legislative right to intervene in election litigation, or to approve of settlements or consent decrees in election-related cases.
Post-election challenges: Any bill affecting the process for bringing or resolving post-election challenges.
State voting rights act: Any bill described in its title as a voting rights act.
Vote dilution prohibition: Any bill that expressly prohibits vote dilution of minority groups or other protected classes.

Election officials and workers

Election officials: Any bill that sets requirements or regulations for state or local election officials.
Election workers/volunteers: Any bill that sets regulations, qualifications, or training requirements for election workers or volunteers.
Protections for election officials or workers: Any bill that concerns protections for election officials, workers, or volunteers, including bills that create penalties for intimidation, harassment, or other prohibited behavior.

Election types and stages

Municipal elections: Any bill containing provisions specifically related to the administration of municipal elections.
Presidential elections: Any bill containing provisions specifically related to presidential elections.
Primary elections: Any bill that concerns the administration of primaries.
Primary election types: Any bill modifying a state's primary election type or system, such as changes related to open, closed, or semi-closed primaries (including changing the date by which a voter must affiliate with a political party in order to participate in a primary) or changes related to plurality systems, majority systems, or top-two or top-four primaries.
Retention elections: Any bill that concerns retention elections.
Runoffs: Any bill that concerns runoff elections.
School board elections: Any bill containing provisions specifically related to school board elections.
Special elections: Any bill that concerns the administration of special elections.

Enforcement and election fraud

Enforcement against non-officials: Any bill concerning civil or criminal penalties associated with election fraud or other non-compliance on the part of a non-official.
Enforcement against officials: Any bill concerning civil or criminal penalties associated with election fraud or other non-compliance on the part of an official.

Offices

Elected official term length: Any bill that changes the term length of an elected public official, changing the frequency of elections for that office.
Offices up for election: Any bill that creates or eliminates an elected public office or alters the number of seats in an elected governing body, changing the types or number of offices up for election. This includes bills that change a previously elected office to an appointed office, and vice-versa.
Vacancy procedures: Any bill that deals with how vacancies are filled.

Political parties and candidate nominations

Nominating caucuses or conventions: Any bill addressing local, state, or federal political party nominating caucuses or conventions.
Party labels: Any bill that changes whether an office is elected on a partisan or nonpartisan basis, or otherwise changes whether or how party labels appear on the ballot, including cross-endorsement or fusion voting.

Redistricting

Redistricting maps: Any bill that creates or alters district boundaries.
Redistricting commissions: Any bill that creates, alters, or establishes a commission for reapportionment.
Redistricting criteria/requirements: Any bill that creates or alters criteria for redistricting, such as contiguity, compactness, communities of interest, etc.
Redistricting process: Any bill that alters the process by which district boundaries are drawn.

Voter assistance

Absentee/mail-in voter assistance: Any bill that regulates the types of assistance available to individuals voting by mail.
In-person voter assistance: Any bill that regulates the types of assistance available to individuals voting in person.

Voters and voter qualifications

Mandatory voting: Any bill that establishes or modifies a mandatory/universal voting regime.
Military/UOCAVA voting: Any bill addressing issues specifically arising from military or overseas voting.
Noncitizen voting: Any bill addressing whether noncitizens may vote in elections within a state.
Time off for voting: Any bill that addresses time off work for voting, or creates or eliminates a public holiday.
Voter qualifications: Any bill concerning voter eligibility requirements, such as duration of residency, age, or mental status.
Voting by people with felony convictions or incarcerated people: Any bill that concerns voting rights for people with felony convictions or incarcerated people.
Youth voting: Any bill that lowers the voting age, or that permits minors to vote in primary or municipal elections so long as they are 18 by the next general election.

Voter registration and list maintenance

Automatic voter registration: Any bill addressing the automatic registration of voters.
Availability of state voter files: Any bill addressing the availability or cost of state voter files.
Proof of citizenship: Any bill concerning a requirement for individuals to provide documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote or to remain registered to vote.
Same-day/Election Day registration: Any bill addressing the ability of voters to register and vote on the same day.
Voter ID for registration: Any bill concerning identification requirements for voter registration.
Voter list maintenance: Any bill that establishes or modifies processes for maintaining voter roll accuracy, addresses membership in an interstate program such as the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), etc.
Voter registration: Any bill that deals with the voter registration process, including registration deadlines.

Voting equipment

Digital/electronic voting: Any bill that regulates the use of digital/electronic voting.
Testing and certification: Any bill that addresses pre- and post-election testing and certification of voting equipment.
Voting equipment: Any bill that deals directly with voting equipment.

Voting security

Ballot collection: Any bill that regulates, limits, or bans the collection of ballots by third parties.
Chain of custody: Any bill that establishes or alters requirements for maintaining chain of custody for ballots.
Cybersecurity: Any bill that establishes or alters requirements for cybersecurity of electronic election-related systems.
Drop-box security: Any bill that sets or alters requirements for the physical security of drop boxes, such as requiring security cameras or in-person staffing.
Physical security: Any bill affecting physical security requirements for facilities, equipment, or ballots, such as requiring escort of ballots during transport.
Video surveillance: Any bill establishing video surveillance requirements for facilities, equipment, or ballots, including the installation of security cameras or the streaming of live feeds.

Footnotes