Michigan, Minnesota, and Colorado receive A+ Grades, While North Carolina Earns the Only F Grade of All 50 States

WASHINGTON — The Institute for Responsive Government released its annual Election Policy Progress Reports, evaluating election policies enacted and/or implemented in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. in 2024. Amidst a rapidly evolving election law landscape, policymakers across a number of states managed to advance significant pro-voter measures with bipartisan support.

At the same time, some states stalled on much-needed progress or pursued anti-voter reforms – highlighting a growing divide between those states taking common sense steps to strengthen U.S. elections and states taking steps that undermine trust and access to the polls.

“2024 was a powerful reminder that year after year, state lawmakers have opportunities big and small to advance common sense reforms that make our elections more professional, accessible, and secure,” said Sam Oliker-Friedland, executive director of the Institute for Responsive Government. “Expanding early voting opportunities for hardworking Americans and rural voters, extending preregistration for young voters, implementing automatic voter registration systems, and simply increasing funding for election administration – these are just a few of the smart and substantive policy changes that make a significant, tangible impact and alleviate larger challenges facing our democracy.”

The Election Policy Progress Reports are distinct from other voter scorecards. Rather than a total state-to-state comparison of election law, Responsive Gov’s report first categorizes states across three tiers based on the overall existing climate for pro-voter policy. States are graded against other states in their tier, providing a benchmark for progress or backsliding. Each state receives a grade specifically based on any legislative improvements or regressions made towards building more secure elections; helping election administrators do their jobs; and creating an efficient process for eligible voters. Relevant executive and administrative actions are also considered.

Some of the major takeaways from this year’s report include:

• Three states received the top rating of A+: Michigan, Minnesota, and Colorado. Colorado advanced first-in-the-nation legislation extending voter preregistration to 15-year-olds as well as increasing voter access for qualified incarcerated individuals. Minnesota enacted a statewide voting rights act, while implementing numerous pro-voter policies. And Michigan continued successfully implementing sweeping pro-voter reforms passed in 2023.
• One state received a failing grade: North Carolina. The North Carolina Legislature passed SB 382 in the lame duck session, a hurricane relief bill with power-grab provisions that restructure state and county election boards by taking appointment power away from the governor, placing it instead under the separately-elected office of the state auditor, which has no connection to elections. The legislation also shortens various election-related deadlines, such as the deadline for voters to cure errors on their ballots.
• A number of states received grades that highlight just how nuanced the policy landscape is, and how often results buck traditional assumptions about red and blue states. For instance:
• California, a top-tier state, received a C+ this year. While the Legislature finally passed legislation to improve its automatic voter registration system, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill, leaving more than 4.6 million eligible voters unregistered to vote in the state. California also failed to join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which would have helped keep the state’s voter rolls accurate and up-to-date.
• Arizona, a middle-tier state, received a B+ this year. Governor Hobbs served as an important backstop by vetoing many anti-voter bills spurred by false narratives around voter fraud. Meanwhile, the Legislature united behind an important bipartisan solution to correct a potentially serious issue with the election recount calendar that could have led to the state missing key certification deadlines.
• Ohio, a bottom tier state, received a B+ this year. The Ohio General Assembly passed a piece of election legislation that will significantly streamline the accuracy of voter rolls and the efficiency of the voter registration process. At the same time, the secretary of state took state election law a step backward by issuing a directive limiting the use of drop boxes in the run up to the 2024 election.

All of the Election Policy Progress Reports are accessible on the Institute for Responsive Government’s website. To speak with Sam Oliker-Friedland or other Responsive Government experts about the report, please contact dan@responsivegov.org.

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The Institute for Responsive Government is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to ensuring state and federal governments work effectively for the very people they serve. The Institute for Responsive Government provides data, research, and expertise to elected officials in order to find practical policy solutions that make government systems more efficient, accessible, and responsive.