States That Make Voting Super Simple–or Stupidly Hard
By Chloe Whiteaker, Laurie Meisler, and Yvette Romero | October 20, 2014
Voting is the most basic act of citizenship, but you wouldn't know it from the hodgepodge of conflicting, hard-to-decipher state election laws that can make casting a ballot a pleasure for some Americans and a hassle for others. A guide to the best and worst places to vote.
ID laws
Early voting
Absentee policy
Alabama
Among the most restrictive states. Votes can only be cast in person on Election Day, unless you have an approved excuse to vote absentee. Don't forget your photo ID!
Really Hard
Arkansas
On Oct. 15, its Supreme Court struck down the state's voter ID law for disenfranchising citizens. Officials had tossed more than 1,000 primary ballots that lacked ID.
California
Among the states where it's easiest to vote, with no ID required, more than 4 weeks of early voting, and no excuse needed to cast an absentee ballot.
Really Easy
Colorado
One of just three states that sends every registered voter a mail-in ballot. Nice! You can still vote the old-fashioned way, in person, but nonphoto ID is required.
Iowa
Though there’s no official early voting, you can cast your ballot early by voting absentee in person or by mail, and no ID is necessary at the polls.
Minnesota
Allows voters to register online and provides more than six weeks for voting absentee in person or by mail.
North Carolina
State lawmakers barred same-day registration and out-of-precinct voting in this election, and beginning in 2016 voters will be required to present a photo ID.
Oregon
Mail-in ballots for all registered voters and no ID requirement to cast your vote make Oregon and its neighbor, Washington state, the most hassle- free places to vote.
Texas
A federal judge struck down the state's photo ID law on Oct. 9, but an appeals court reinstated it Oct. 14. On Oct. 18, the Supreme Court OK'd the photo requirement.
Washington
Tied with Oregon for the easiest place to cast your vote. Mail-in ballots mean there’s no need to leave the house, and the state doesn’t require an ID when voting.
Wisconsin
Its voter ID law was one of the nation's strictest – until the Supreme Court blocked it on Oct. 9.
