Which U.S. states require a photo ID specifically (list by name) as of January 2026?

1. What the major trackers say about photo‑ID states

Ballotpedia’s January 2026 summary reports that 21 states require voters to present photo identification when voting in person before Election Day, while another set of states accept non‑photo IDs or have less stringent requirements ^[1], and the Movement Advancement Project and VoteRiders maintain interactive maps that map these requirements state‑by‑state ^{[3] [4]}. WorldPopulationReview’s 2026 compilation calls out a group of states it classifies as “strict” photo‑ID states and lists nine by name — Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin — while also distinguishing strict non‑photo ID states such as Arizona, North Dakota and Ohio ^[2].

2. Why lists differ: categories, “strictness,” and legal nuance

Different organizations use different taxonomies: some label laws “strict photo ID” only when a voter is turned away without an acceptable photo credential, while others count any state that requests photo identification at the polling place ^{[2] [5]}. The National Conference of State Legislatures (summarized in reporting) frames the landscape with categories that produce differing counts — for example, one widely cited NCSL breakdown calls out nine states as “strict photo ID” and three as “strict non‑photo ID” as of late 2024 reporting ^[5] — which helps explain why Ballotpedia’s 21‑state photo‑ID figure does not match every other tracker’s shorter lists ^{[1] [5]}.

3. The named states with explicit “strict photo‑ID” language in the reporting

The reporting provided explicitly names these states as requiring photo identification under the strict classification used by WorldPopulationReview: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin ^[2]. Those nine states can be cited confidently from the supplied excerpts as examples of jurisdictions that, according to that tracker, demand a photo ID to vote in person without routinely accepting non‑photo alternatives ^[2].

4. Broader context, competing claims, and limitations of this report

Advocates and opponents disagree about effects and motives: opponents argue voter fraud is extremely rare and that ID laws create barriers for minorities and low‑income voters, while proponents (and some conservative organizations) argue for the popularity and utility of such laws ^[2]. The supplied sources also note judicial and legislative change is frequent (for example, past Pennsylvania litigation and ongoing federal proposals), so any list can change quickly ^{[6] [7]}. This analysis is limited to claims and state names present in the provided reporting; Ballotpedia’s full state list (which it says totals 21 photo‑ID states) is cited but not reproduced in full in the excerpts available here, so a definitive, complete roster beyond the nine named states above should be confirmed by consulting Ballotpedia or NCSL directly ^{[1] [8]}.

5. Bottom line for readers tracking policy

As of January 2026, say multiple trackers, a sizable group of states legally require photo identification at the polling place, and at least nine states are repeatedly identified in reporting as having “strict” photo‑ID mandates: Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin ^[2]. For an authoritative, up‑to‑date full list of all 21 states Ballotpedia counts as photo‑ID states and to see how each jurisdiction handles alternatives, provisional ballots, or curing procedures, consult Ballotpedia’s state page and the National Conference of State Legislatures’ voter‑ID tracker ^{[1] [8]}.