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Democracy 101: Understanding Voter ID Laws

Overview

Voter ID laws have been a central issue in election and voting policy for over two decades and continue to be a focus for policymakers today. These laws require that voters present specific forms of identification when casting their ballot in person.

Voter ID requirements differ significantly across states, ranging from strict photo ID mandates to more flexible alternatives which allow voters to prove their identities in a variety of ways and provide fail-safes for those who may not possess the necessary documents.

>> Click through the embedded brief below to read more, or download a PDF version here.


Additional Resources

To view a static PDF version of this brief, click here or below.

To learn more about all of the 50+ voting and election policies we track in real time, visit the Democracy Maps.


Additional Resources

To view a static PDF version of this brief, click here or below.

To learn more about all of the 50+ voting and election policies we track in real time, visit the Democracy Maps.

ABOUT THIS SERIES


With new legislative sessions underway in states across the country, MAP’s Democracy 101 series focuses on educating communities about emerging trends in election and voting-related legislation, including proof of citizenship requirements and Voting Rights Acts.
The policies detailed in this series are among the 50+ laws we track in real time with our Democracy Maps

Author

Recommended citation


Movement Advancement Project. April 2025.
Democracy 101: Understanding Voter ID Laws.  www.mapresearch.org/2025-democracy-101-voter-id-laws.

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Sexual Orientation Policy Tally

The term “sexual orientation” is loosely defined as a person’s pattern of romantic or sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or more than one sex or gender. Laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation primarily protect or harm lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. That said, transgender people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual can be affected by laws that explicitly mention sexual orientation.

Gender Identity Policy Tally

“Gender identity” is a person’s deeply-felt inner sense of being male, female, or something else or in-between. “Gender expression” refers to a person’s characteristics and behaviors such as appearance, dress, mannerisms and speech patterns that can be described as masculine, feminine, or something else. Gender identity and expression are independent of sexual orientation, and transgender people may identify as heterosexual, lesbian, gay or bisexual. Laws that explicitly mention “gender identity” or “gender identity and expression” primarily protect or harm transgender people. These laws also can apply to people who are not transgender, but whose sense of gender or manner of dress does not adhere to gender stereotypes.

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