Key Changes to Voting Rules Ahead of the 2026 Midterm Elections

By Ginika Igboke 

As the primary season for the 2026 midterm elections begins, voters across the United States will face a range of new voting rules that have changed since 2024.

Many states have passed laws that either tighten or expand election procedures, including adjustments to mail-in voting, early voting, voter identification requirements, and processes for resolving ballot issues.

Nearly 200 election-related bills were enacted by state legislatures during 2025 and early 2026. The following overview highlights some of the most significant changes expected to affect the 2026 midterms, based on a review by the Voting Rights Lab.

Alabama

Alabama enacted a law stating that driver’s licenses issued to noncitizens are no longer valid forms of voter identification.

Another law requires more frequent voter roll maintenance and prohibits the use of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) to determine address changes. Some Republicans have raised concerns about the privacy and confidentiality of voter information used by the system.

Arizona

Arizona moved its primary elections from August to July and expanded access for poll watchers and party-designated challengers.

The state also passed a law limiting mail-in ballots to voters on the permanent mail voting list.

Local government offices must now remain open on Fridays and weekends immediately before and after elections so voters can resolve issues such as signature mismatches or identification problems on their ballots.

Arkansas

Voters in Arkansas will see a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would explicitly state that only U.S. citizens may vote in state elections.

The state also enacted several other election laws:

• Courts must provide lists of individuals disqualified from jury duty for reasons such as noncitizenship so officials can remove them from voter rolls.
• Cities with populations above 15,000 must have early voting locations even if another site exists in the county.
• Absentee voters must sign an oath confirming their eligibility and stating they received no unauthorized help completing their ballot. Their signature must also be witnessed by someone at least 18 years old.
• New rules apply to staff assisting residents in long-term care facilities with voting.
• Election boards may close early-voting sites during severe weather if at least one site remains open.
• Individuals assisting disabled voters at polling locations must be at least 18 and present photo identification.

California

California approved multiple election reforms, including one aimed at speeding up ballot counting. Counties must now finish counting ballots within two weeks of Election Day or request an extension from the secretary of state.

Additional measures include:

• Allowing observers to watch signature verification and ballot cure processes.
• Shortening the deadline for returning ballot curing statements from 28 days after the election to 22 days.
• Allowing voters to work with nongovernment organizations to complete signature verification statements.
• Extending the deadline to receive mail-in ballots in all-mail elections from three days to seven days after Election Day.
• Requiring counties to run voter registration programs.
• Making it a felony to knowingly offer anything of value to encourage someone to vote or register to vote, with exceptions such as transportation to the polls or time off from work to vote.

Colorado

Colorado passed a law allowing candidates to choose their own election watchers instead of having them selected by political parties.

Other changes include:

• Allowing first responders and their spouses to keep their addresses confidential in voter records.
• Making intimidation of election officials or voters a civil infraction, including situations where visible firearms create a presumption of intimidation.
• Establishing a legal avenue to challenge voter suppression or vote dilution based on race or language and expanding access to multilingual ballots.

Florida

Florida created a felony offense for voting as a noncitizen and made it a crime to knowingly encourage a noncitizen to vote.

The law states that believing one is a citizen or not knowing one’s status is not a legal defense.

Georgia

Georgia passed legislation prohibiting the use of electronic versions of driver’s licenses as voter identification.

Idaho

Idaho shortened its voter registration deadline to 11 days before Election Day, compared with the previous 24-day requirement.

Early voting has also been expanded from two weeks to three weeks.

Another law directs officials to gather additional information from sources such as the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to identify and remove ineligible voters from the voter rolls.

Indiana

Indiana now allows voters to request replacement mail-in ballots by email and permits voters at certain polling places to photograph their ballots and share them on social media.

Other provisions require more frequent checks of voter rolls and mandate proof of citizenship for individuals who registered with IDs issued to noncitizens. The law also bans student IDs as voter identification and disallows the use of post office boxes as voter registration addresses.

Additional State Changes

Many other states also enacted election law updates:

• Iowa expanded data collection to identify noncitizens and banned ranked-choice voting.
• Kansas now requires mail-in ballots to be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
• Kentucky created a new election investigations unit within the attorney general’s office.
• Minnesota tightened identification requirements for mail-in ballot requests.
• Mississippi restricted last-minute polling location changes.
• Montana narrowed acceptable voter IDs and changed same-day registration rules.
• Nebraska added stricter signature verification requirements for mail-in ballots.
• New Hampshire requires proof of citizenship, age, and residency for mailed voter registrations.
• New Jersey expanded early voting and allowed larger electioneering buffer zones around polling places.
• New Mexico opened primary elections to unaffiliated voters.
• Ohio shortened the deadline for receiving mail-in ballots to Election Day.
• Texas increased penalties for voter fraud and added new rules for poll watchers and curbside voting.
• Virginia allows voter registration up to 10 days before elections.
• Wisconsin approved a constitutional amendment formalizing voter ID requirements.
• Wyoming now requires proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Preparing for the 2026 Midterms

With hundreds of election law changes enacted since 2024, voters are encouraged to review their state’s updated requirements before participating in the 2026 midterm elections.

The changes affect many aspects of voting—from identification rules and registration deadlines to mail-in ballot procedures—making it especially important for voters to verify their eligibility and understand the updated process well before Election Day.