Sulfated polymers, imageable elements containing these polymers, and methods for preparing images useful as lithographic printing plates from these imageable elements are disclosed. The sulfate groups are attached either to aryl groups that are pendent to the polymer backbone, and/or to alkyl groups that are either pendant to the polymer backbone and/or part of the polymer backbone. The elements can be thermally imaged and developed in water or in fountain solution so that an alkaline developer is not required. They can be imaged and developed on press using fountain solution so that it is unnecessary to mount them in a separate exposure device.