Many states have passed laws that go beyond the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and require additional, unnecessary identification either at registration or voting. These restrictions hinder American citizens’ efforts to exercise their responsibility to participate in elections. These laws include requirements such as proof of citizenship, government-issued photo ID’s, any kind of photo ID, or a broad range of ID’s not necessarily including a photo.

Several of these ID laws have prompted lawsuits from voting rights advocates, because they disproportionately impact the elderly, students, women, people with disabilities, low-income people, and people of color. The resources on this page address the current state of legislation around the country regarding additional identification at voting, summarize recent litigation, and discuss the reasons why additional voter identification is an unnecessary burden designed to address a problem – voter impersonation - that is remarkably rare.