State Election Law Overview

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the primary election calendar and will continue to impact elections throughout the 2020 election season.  The ongoing public health emergency has the potential to exacerbate confusion around election procedures and to increase the burden of restrictive voting requirements. All eligible voters need to know they can safely and securely cast their ballot without compromising their health. State officials and election authorities have a responsibility to review and revise existing laws, regulations and rules to ensure this will happen.

The Voting Rights Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has developed a resource that allows users to locate information on each state’s election laws. The two tables below — State Election Laws Overview – By Issue Area and State Election Laws Overview – By State  — provide information relating to state election calendars, voter registration timetables, the absentee/mail-in balloting process, and in-person early voting.

This resource is designed to help voters navigate those laws and to aid advocates as they work to encourage states and localities to adopt more accessible procedures for the 2020 election cycle.

Use the buttons above each State Election Law table to sort by Issue Area or by State, and scroll sideways to see all of the information. The tables will be updated throughout the 2020 election cycle to address any postponements and changes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.