Only a small number of states retain the electric chair as a legally authorized execution method. If you are wondering how many states still use the electric chair, the answer is fewer than you might think. As of 2025, only eight states have laws that allow electrocution as a form of capital punishment, but actual use is extremely rare. Most of these states have not performed an electrocution in decades, and many consider it a backup method when lethal injection drugs are unavailable.
How Many States Still Use The Electric Chair
To be precise, the eight states that still authorize the electric chair are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. However, Virginia abolished the death penalty in 2021, so while its law still lists the electric chair, it no longer carries out executions. The remaining seven states have it on the books, but only a few have actually used it in recent years.
Let’s break down the current status of the electric chair in each state. This will give you a clearer picture of where this method remains legal and how often it is used.
States Where The Electric Chair Is Still Used
Only a handful of states have carried out an electrocution in the last decade. Here is a quick list:
- Tennessee – Used the electric chair in 2020 for the first time since 2013. The state allows inmates to choose between lethal injection and electrocution.
- South Carolina – Passed a law in 2021 making electrocution the default method if lethal injection drugs are unavailable. It has not performed an electrocution since 2008.
- Kentucky – Has the electric chair as a backup method, but no executions have occurred since 2008.
- Arkansas – Authorizes electrocution if lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional. No recent use.
- Oklahoma – Allows the electric chair only if lethal injection is found unconstitutional. No recent electrocutions.
- Florida – Inmates could choose the electric chair until 2000, but now lethal injection is standard. The electric chair remains legal but unused.
- Alabama – Offers electrocution as an alternative to lethal injection. Last used in 2018.
As you can see, the electric chair is mostly a relic of the past. The vast majority of executions today use lethal injection.
Why Do Some States Still Keep The Electric Chair
States retain the electric chair for a few key reasons. First, it serves as a backup method when lethal injection drugs become scarce. Many pharmaceutical companies refuse to sell drugs for executions, leading to shortages. Second, some states argue that electrocution is a constitutional method, even if it is rarely used. Third, in states like South Carolina, lawmakers passed laws to force inmates to choose between electrocution and firing squad, rather than facing an indefinite wait for lethal injection.
However, the electric chair is highly controversial. Critics point to botched executions, such as the 2018 electrocution of Edmund Zagorski in Tennessee, which took several minutes and caused visible suffering. Supporters argue it is a reliable method that has been used for over a century.
How Many Executions Have Used The Electric Chair Recently
Since 2000, only a handful of executions have been carried out using the electric chair. Here is a breakdown by state:
- Tennessee – 2 executions (2018 and 2020)
- Virginia – 1 execution (2013) before abolition
- South Carolina – 1 execution (2008)
- Alabama – 1 execution (2018)
- Florida – 0 executions since 2000
- Kentucky – 0 executions since 2000
- Arkansas – 0 executions since 2000
- Oklahoma – 0 executions since 2000
In total, only 5 electrocutions have occured in the United States since 2000. Compare that to over 1,400 lethal injection executions during the same period. The electric chair is clearly a fading method.
Legal Challenges And The Future Of The Electric Chair
The electric chair faces ongoing legal challenges. In 2019, a federal judge ruled that electrocution in Tennessee was “cruel and unusual punishment” under the state constitution, but the ruling was later overturned. Similar lawsuits have been filed in South Carolina and Alabama. Critics argue that the method causes unnecessary pain and violates the Eighth Amendment.
Despite these challenges, the electric chair remains legal in eight states. However, its use will likely continue to decline. Lethal injection is still the preferred method, and states that cannot obtain drugs may turn to other methods like nitrogen hypoxia or firing squads. The electric chair may eventually be abolished entirely, but for now, it lingers as a grim option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Electric Chair Still Used In 2025
Yes, but very rarely. Only Tennessee has used it since 2020. Other states have it as a backup but have not used it in years.
Which States Still Have The Electric Chair As An Option
Eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia (though Virginia no longer carries out executions).
Why Don’t More States Use The Electric Chair
Most states have moved to lethal injection because it is considered more humane. The electric chair is seen as outdated and cruel.
Can Inmates Choose The Electric Chair Over Lethal Injection
In some states, yes. Tennessee and South Carolina allow inmates to choose. In others, it is only used if lethal injection is unavailable.
How Many People Have Been Executed By Electric Chair In The US
Over 4,000 people have been electrocuted since the method was introduced in 1890. However, only about 5 have been executed this way since 2000.
So, to answer your question directly: how many states still use the electric chair? Eight states have it on the books, but only a few actually use it. The method is nearly extinct, with lethal injection dominating modern executions. If you are curious about the future, expect the electric chair to fade further as legal challenges and drug shortages push states toward newer methods. For now, it remains a small but controversial part of America’s capital punishment system.
