State Election Integrity Scorecard – Concerned Women for America

Introduction

We all have a stake in protecting election integrity at every level in our nation. Our constitutional rights and liberties depend on the zealous protection of free and fair elections. Without that, the American experiment will soon die at the hands of those who would exploit our electoral systems to gain power and destroy our freedoms. Republicans and Democrats alike should work together to ensure our fundamental right to vote is protected.

Voter fraud is real. For more information about voter fraud, see the Heritage Foundation’s voter fraud explainer, which includes A Sampling of Recent Election Fraud Cases from Across the United States.

To that end, we set out to provide you some guidance on how well your state is doing in that effort. This scorecard ranks each state by looking at the way they handle three important areas: (1) voter identification, (2) absentee/mail-in ballots, and (3) absentee ballot verification. Their combined performance in these areas is used to give us an overall Election Integrity Rating (EIR) for the state.

Hover over this map to see your state’s EIR. Only one state (Alabama) obtained an “A” rating with a 90% or more score. Most states fell below the 50% rating, equivalent to an “F.” Needless to say, there is a lot of work to be done to strengthen our state election laws in order to increase voter confidence and participation in our election system.

Let us know if there are changes in your state’s election laws. Click here to contact us.

Areas of Focus

Voter Identification – A voter ID is a most reasonable way to protect election integrity. All states should require a photo ID to vote, whether in person or via an absentee ballot. We rate states in this section in four categories:

States with strict photo ID requirements (voters without proper ID will have to vote on a provisional ballot and take further steps for their vote to be counted).

States with non-strict photo ID requirements (some voters will have the opportunity to have their votes counted even without the necessary ID).

States that accept non-photo ID

States where there is no specific identification requirement

Ballot Harvesting – Most states allow a third party to return a voter’s mail ballot. This opens the door for partisan organizations to put considerable efforts into collecting or harvesting multiple ballots in order to affect the outcome of the election. The process, as we have seen in real life, is rife with potential for fraud. States should not allow it. We rate states in this area based on who is able to return ballots:

States where only the voter can return it.

States where specific people pre-identified can return it.

States where someone chosen by the voter can return it.

States where it is unspecified.

Absentee Ballots – Though absentee voting is necessary and proper for many reasons, states should encourage in-person voting (which is the gold standard). To that end, states should not send absentee ballot without a voter request, and they should require an excuse or explanation from each voter seeking to vote by absentee ballot. We rate states in this section in these four categories:

States where ballots sent upon request with a required explanation.

States where ballots sent upon request, but no excuse is required.

States where ballots are sent automatically.

States with all-mail elections, voters do not need to request a ballot.

Absentee Ballot Verification – Mail-in ballots being more susceptible to exploitation and interference by third parties; it is important that states have strong laws to verify that the voter’s true intentions are being carried out, instead of being manipulated. Copy of a voter ID, once again, is the best way to prevent fraud and error, but multiple layers of confirmation are most beneficial. We rank states in this area in this way:

Requires copy of voter ID and witness signature on return envelope.

Requires a copy of the voter ID only.

Requires a witness signature on return envelope only.

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.

State Scorecards

Alabama – 94 %EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[1]

Only the voter may return the ballot.[2]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[3]

Copy of ID required; two witnesses or a notary public must sign envelope.[4]

Alaska – 56% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[5]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[6]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[7]

No copy of ID required, but a witness signature or official needed.[8]

Arizona – 44% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[9]

Only a family member, household member, or caregiver.[10]

State with all-mail elections, voters do not need to request a ballot.[11]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[12]

Arkansas – 81% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[13]

Specific agents may return the ballot.[14]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[15]

Copy of ID required, but no witness necessary.[16]

California – 31% EIR

No identification (in most cases).[17]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[18]

All-mail election option, voters do not need to request a ballot.[19]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[20]

Colorado – 44% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[21]

Any person chosen by the voter may return the ballot. Only an official can turn in more than 10.[22]

Absentee ballots automatically sent out.[23]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[24]

Connecticut – 63% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[25]

A designee who obtained an absentee ballot due to illness or disability or immediate family member for students may return
the ballot.[26]

Ballot sent upon request, excuse required.[27]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[28]

Delaware – 50% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[29]

Unspecified.[30]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[31]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[32]

District of Columbia – 31% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[33]

Someone selected by the voter may return the ballot.[34]

All-mail elections, voters do not need to request a ballot.[35]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[36]

Florida – 56% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[37]

Someone selected by the voter may return the ballot.[38]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[39]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[40]

Georgia – 69% EIR

Strict Photo ID required.[41]

Family or household member.[42]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[43]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[44]

Hawaii – 44% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[45]

Unspecified.[46]

Absentee ballots automatically sent out.[47]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[48]

Idaho – 50% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[49]

Unspecified.[50]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[51]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[52]

Illinois – 44% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[53]

Someone selected by the voter may return the ballot.[54]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[55]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[56]

Indiana – 75% EIR

Strict Photo ID required.[57]

Specific people (household member or attorney in fact) may return the ballot.[58]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[59]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[60]

Iowa – 50% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[61]

Someone selected by the voter may return the ballot.[62]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[63]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[64]

Kansas – 75% EIR

Strict Photo ID required.[65]

Someone selected by the voter may return the ballot.[66]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[67]

Copy of driver’s license or other ID needed, no witness required.[68]

Kentucky – 56% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[69]

Someone selected by the voter may return the ballot.[70]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[71]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[72]

Louisiana – 69% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[73]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[74]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[75]

No copy of ID required, but witness signature needed.[76]

Maine – 44% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[77]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[78]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[79]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[80]

Maryland – 56% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[81]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[82]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[83]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[84]

Massachusetts – 69% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[85]

Specific people may return the ballot.[86]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[87]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[88]

Michigan – 62% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[89]

Specific people may return the ballot.[90]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[91]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[92]

Minnesota – 44% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[93]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[94]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[95]

Voter confirmed by information comparison.[96]

Mississippi – 69% EIR

Strict Photo ID required.[97]

Unspecified.[98]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[99]

No copy of ID required, but witness signature needed.[100]

Missouri – 69% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[101]

Specific people may request an absentee ballot.[102]

Absentee ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[103]

No copy of ID required when returning absentee ballot, but election official signature needed.[104]

Montana – 50% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[105]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[106]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[107]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[108]

Nebraska – 44% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[109]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[110]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[111]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[112]

Nevada – 50% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[113]

Specific people may return may return the ballot.[114]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[115]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[116]

New Hampshire – 62% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[117]

Specific people may return the ballot.[118]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[119]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[120]

New Jersey – 31% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[121]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[122]

All-mail elections, voters do not need to request a ballot.[123]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[124]

New Mexico – 50% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[125]

Specific people may return the ballot.[126]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[127]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[128]

New York – 44% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[129]

Unspecified.[130]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[131]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[132]

North Carolina – 69% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[133]

Specific people may return the ballot.[134]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[135]

No copy of ID required, but two witnesses or notary signature needed.[136]

North Dakota – 50% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[137]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[138]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[139]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[140]

Ohio – 56% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[141]

Specific people may return.[142]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[143]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[144]

Oklahoma – 50% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[145]

Unspecified.[146]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[147]

No copy of ID required, but notary signature needed.[148]

Oregon – 44% EIR

No identification required (vote by mail state).[149]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[150]

Absentee ballots automatically sent out.[151]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[152]

Pennsylvania – 31% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[153]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[154]

All-mail elections, voters do not need to request a ballot.[155]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[156]

Rhode Island – 63% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[157]

Unspecified.[158]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[159]

No copy of ID required; two witnesses or notary signature needed.[160]

South Carolina – 63% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[161]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[162]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[163]

No copy of ID required; witnesses signature needed.[164]

South Dakota – 69% EIR

Non-Strict Photo ID required.[165]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[166]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[167]

Copy of ID or notary signature required.[168]

Tennessee – 81% EIR

Strict Photo ID required.[169]

Only the voter may return the ballot.[170]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[171]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[172]

Texas – 75% EIR

Strict Photo ID required.[173]

Specific People may return the ballot.[174]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[175]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[176]

Utah – 38% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[177]

Unspecified.[178]

Absentee ballots automatically sent out.[179]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[180]

Vermont – 38% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[181]

Unspecified.[182]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[183]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[184]

Virginia – 56% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[185]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[186]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[187]

No copy of ID required; witnesses signature needed.[188]

Washington – 38% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted (most vote by mail).[189]

Unspecified.[190]

Absentee ballots automatically sent out.[191]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[192]

West Virginia – 50% EIR

Non-Photo ID accepted.[193]

Someone chosen by the voter may return the ballot.[194]

Ballot sent upon request; excuse required.[195]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[196]

Wisconsin – 69% EIR

Strict Photo ID required.[197]

Unspecified.[198]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[199]

Copy of ID must be sent on application; witness required.[200]

Wyoming – 38% EIR

No identification required (in most cases).[201]

Unspecified.[202]

Ballot sent upon request, but no excuse required.[203]

Voter confirmed by signature comparison.[204]

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