New ballot-box obstacles: Mapping the states with recent laws that make it harder to vote

In the wake of former President Donald Trump’s lies about a stolen election in 2020, many state legislatures implemented new laws restricting voter accessibility in key parts of the voting process.

Passed in more than half of U.S. states, the laws are often part of sweeping bills that targeted multiple parts of the process, including absentee voting, early voting, and Election Day voting. They mostly come from Republican-led legislatures.

Supporters of the laws say they help improve the integrity of elections, sometimes by standardizing elections and often using a common tagline, “hard to cheat.” Opponents have accused lawmakers all over the country of disenfranchising voters − especially Democratic-leaning groups such as voters of color and low-income voters − and they often sue to try to block new laws from going into effect, with mixed success.

While some states, especially ones led by Democrats, are making it easier to vote, in many U.S. states, it will be harder to vote in the 2024 election than it was in 2020. Here are some of the new laws.

10 states passed laws shortening window to apply for mail-in or absentee ballots

Ten states passed laws since the 2020 presidential election shortening the window to apply for absentee, or mail-in, ballots, creating a new administrative hurdle for voters. These include the swing state of Georgia, and states with competitive downballot races including New York, New Mexico, Iowa and Ohio.

Learn more : 10 states made it trickier to apply for an absentee ballot. In Iowa, it came with a cost

5 states shortened the window to deliver mail-in or absentee ballots

Five states passed laws since the 2020 presidential election shortening the window to return an absentee, or mail-in, ballot. These include the swing state of North Carolina and states with competitive downballot races such as Iowa and Ohio.

12 states have passed laws impacting in-person voter ID requirements

Fifteen states have new voter ID requirements since the 2020 election. Twelve state legislatures passed new laws stiffening in-person voter ID rules. Some of these laws, such as the one in Georgia, also affect identification for absentee, or mail-in, ballots.

Another state, North Carolina, saw a 2018 law go into effect thanks to a 2023 state court decision. Indiana and South Carolina both implemented laws that only tightened required identification for absentee, or mail-in, ballots.

13 passed laws that expanded voter purges  or risk faulty ones

Thirteen states passed laws expanding voter purges or risking faulty ones. That includes the swing state of Georgia, where one law let people file unlimited voter challenges, and a second codified new guidelines on those challenges. Other swing states with these types of laws include Arizona and New Hampshire.

8 states passed laws that limit the number, location, or availability of ballot drop boxes

Eight states passed new laws limiting the availability of ballot drop boxes for returning absentee ballots. These include the swing states of Georgia and North Carolina, along with states with competitive downballot races including Iowa, Ohio, and Florida .

Read more about voting rights:

• How SB 189 cleared the way for mass challenges in Georgia
• Iowa made it trickier to apply for an absentee ballot. It came with a cost

Sources: The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law , USA TODAY research .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New ballot-box obstacles: Mapping the states with recent laws that make it harder to vote