Proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration by state

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All 49 states with voter registration systems (North Dakota does not have a voter registration system) require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. One state, Tennessee, requires proof of citizenship for some registrants if there are questions about a person's citizenship status. Court decisions invalidated Kansas' proof of citizenship law, and Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana have not implemented the requirements of their proof of citizenship laws.

In 1996, the U.S. Congress passed a law prohibiting noncitizens from voting in federal elections, including elections for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and presidential elections. This law does not apply to elections for state and local offices. Click here for more information about laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States.

HIGHLIGHTS

As of February 2026:

Eight states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Wyoming — require proof of citizenship to register to vote in at least some cases.

While laws in seven of those states require new registrants to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote, in one state — Wyoming — the law requires both new registrants and those updating their voter registration to provide proof of citizenship.

A federal court blocked Kansas' proof of citizenship law in 2018, and Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana have not implemented their proof of citizenship requirements.

The other 42 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens to register to vote in state and federal elections.

• Proof of citizenship requirements in the United States

  Proof of citizenship requirements nationally
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• State laws requiring proof of citizenship

  State laws on the issue
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• State legislation related to proof of citizenship requirements

  Proposed legislation on the issue
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• Federal law on voting and citizenship

  Federal laws on the issue
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Proof of citizenship requirements in the United States

The map below indicates which U.S. states have laws requiring proof of citizenship to vote, including those in effect as of February 2026.

State laws requiring proof of citizenship

Alabama

An Alabama state law, passed in 2011, requires people to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. However, as of February 2026, the law had not been implemented.

An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

Arizona

Arizona requires voters to submit proof of citizenship with their voter registration application to vote in state and local elections. According to the Arizona Secretary of State's website: "A registrant who attests to being a citizen but fails to provide proof of citizenship and whose citizenship is not otherwise verified will be eligible to vote only in federal elections (known as being a "federal only" voter)." Accepted proof of citizenship include:

• An Arizona Driver's License/Identification Number
• Indian Census Number, Bureau of Indian Affairs Card Number, Tribal Treaty Card Number, or Tribal Enrollment Number
• A photocopy of U.S. naturalization documents
• A photocopy of a birth certificate and supporting legal documentation (i.e., marriage certificate) if the name on the birth certificate is not the same as your current legal name.
• A photocopy of a U.S. passport.
• A photocopy of a Tribal Certificate of Indian Blood or Bureau of Indian Affairs Affidavit of Birth.

Georgia

A Georgia state law, passed in 2009, required voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. However, as of February 2026, the law had not been implemented. Instead, the state compares an individual's driver's license number or Social Security number against state records to see if a person has provided proof of citizenship. If they have not, an individual will be notified that they must provide proof of citizenship to vote.

In Georgia, an individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who provides false information on a voter registration application is guilty of a felony.

Kansas

In 2013, Kansas enacted a law requiring voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. However, the provision was challenged in court and on June 18, 2018, Judge Julie Robinson, of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, struck down the proof of citizenship requirement and ordered Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) to stop enforcing the rule. On June 20, 2018, Kobach’s office advised county clerks to comply with Robinson’s order. Kobach appealed the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which heard oral arguments on March 18, 2019. On April 29, 2020, a Tenth Circuit panel affirmed the district court's ruling. In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by Kansas in the case, allowing Robinson's ruling to stand.

Louisiana

Louisiana state law requires a voter registration applicant to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote. As of February 2026, the state had not implemented the requirement.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire requires voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Gov. Chris Sununu (R) signed HB 1569 into law on September 17, 2024. The legislation required voter registration applicants to provide one of the following at the time of registration: "birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers if the applicant is a naturalized citizen, or any other reasonable documentation which indicates the applicant is a United States citizen."

Ohio

Ohio requires those registering to vote or updating their voter registration information at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility to provide proof of citizenship before being allowed to do so. Individuals registering to vote in other settings do not have to provide proof of citizenship but must attest to their citizenship in a sworn statement.

Tennessee

Tennessee law requires election officials to compare the statewide voter registration database with data from the state Department of Safety & Homeland Security, as well as other state and federal records, "to ensure non-United States citizens are not registered to vote in this state." If election officials believe a registered voter may not be a citizen, the county election commission must notify the person. If the voter does not provide proof of citizenship within 30 days, they are removed from the voter rolls. Documents that can be used as proof of citizenship include a birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization records, or any "document or method of proof of citizenship established by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986."

Wyoming

Wyoming requires voters to provide proof of citizenship. Eligible documents are state and tribal IDs that do not indicate the individual is not a U.S. citizen, valid IDs from other states that were issued in accordance with the REAL ID Act and do not indicate the individual is not a U.S. citizen, passports, certificates of citizenship or naturalization, a selective service registration acknowledgement card, documentation of a birth abroad issued by the State Department, or an original or certified copy of a birth certificate.

State legislation related to proof of citizenship requirements

The table below lists bills related to proof of citizenship requirements introduced during (or carried over to) each state's regular legislative session this year. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official bill name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Sponsor party
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by state and then by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

Federal law on voting and citizenship

Federal law states that it is unlawful for a noncitizen to vote in federal elections and establishes the punishment of a fine, one year in prison, or both for violation of the law. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 states the following:

“

(a) It shall be unlawful for any alien to vote in any election held solely or in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, unless— (1) the election is held partly for some other purpose; (2) aliens are authorized to vote for such other purpose under a State constitution or statute or a local ordinance; and (3) voting for such other purpose is conducted independently of voting for a candidate for such Federal offices, in such a manner that an alien has the opportunity to vote for such other purpose, but not an opportunity to vote for a candidate for any one or more of such Federal offices. (b) Any person who violates this section shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

”

The law includes the following exceptions:

“

(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to an alien if— (1) each natural parent of the alien (or, in the case of an adopted alien, each adoptive parent of the alien) is or was a citizen (whether by birth or naturalization); (2) the alien permanently resided in the United States prior to attaining the age of 16; and (3) the alien reasonably believed at the time of voting in violation of such subsection that he or she was a citizen of the United States.

”

Federal law also states that noncitizens who violate the law are inadmissible (ineligible to receive visas and ineligible to be admitted to the U.S.) and deportable.

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See also

• Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States
• Arguments for and against laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States
• Debate over the prevalence of noncitizens voting
• Immigration in the United States
• Immigration Policy

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