As state legislators continue their work across the country, let’s take a look at some data from our State of Election Administration Policy 2026 Spring Report.
Lawmakers consider thousands of bills and resolutions each year, but our election policy reports dive into noteworthy pieces of legislation that impact how democracy works in each of the 50 states.
This report covers election-related legislative activity in the 2026 state legislative sessions. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are current as of April 24. Click here to read the full report.
So far, the number of bills enacted and introduced in 2026 is ahead of 2024, the last even-numbered session year.
As of April 24, 236 bills had been enacted in 34 states across the country. Of those enacted bills, 37.7% were enacted in states with Democratic trifectas, 53.4% were enacted in states with Republican trifectas, and 8.9% were enacted in states with divided governments.
At this same point in the 2024 session, states had enacted 142 election-related bills. In 2022, there were 96 enacted election bills at this same point.
Ballotpedia had tracked 4,427 election-related bills and resolutions as of April 24 — nearly as many as were introduced in all of 2025. Of those bills, 42.8% were introduced in states with Democratic trifectas, 36.6% were introduced in states with Republican trifectas, and 20.6% were introduced in states with divided governments.
At this same point in the 2024 session, states had introduced 2,149 election-related bills. In 2022, legislators had introduced 1,434 election bills at this same point.
Lawmakers across the country have considered election-related bills related to each of the 127 election policy areas Ballotpedia tracks. Of those issues, we identified seven noteworthy policy topics that drew significant attention from lawmakers nationwide.
Click on the link associated with each topic to learn more about relevant legislative activity.
The administration of absentee/mail-in voting
Lawmakers in 40 states have introduced 330 bills and resolutions related to absentee/mail in-voting. These bills address different elements of the absentee/mail-in voting process, including how and when voters can request and return an absentee/mail-in ballot, when election officials must mail ballots, and deadlines and procedures for curing problems with an absentee/mail-in ballot.
Notable bills enacted include Mississippi HB 908 and Virginia SB 58 and HB 82.
Regulations governing law enforcement presence near polling places
Ten states introduced or advanced 22 bills or resolutions concerning the presence of law enforcement, National Guard members, or immigration authorities at or near election sites.
The majority of the bills would prohibit law enforcement personnel from being within a set distance of polling places, tabulation sites, or election offices.
The sole bill enacted on this issue to date was New Mexico SB 264. Click here to see Daily Brew coverage of that bill.
Changes to how primary elections are run
Legislators introduced 167 bills related to primary elections in 2026. This includes bills that would change how primaries are administered, alter whether unaffiliated voters are allowed to participate in primaries, and move the date of primary elections.
Notable bills enacted include Arizona HB 2022 and Rhode Island S 2147.
Policies prohibiting or authorizing the use of ranked-choice voting
In 2026, two states with Republican trifectas, Indiana and Ohio, enacted legislation prohibiting the use of ranked-choice voting (RCV).
Virginia, meanwhile, became the first state since 2023 to approve legislation, SB 176, that allows or requires the statewide use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) for state or local elections.
All in all, lawmakers have introduced 67 bills related to RCV. Forty-seven of those bills would authorize or require the use of RCV in at least some elections, while 20 bills would prohibit or repeal RCV.
Mid-decade redistricting
Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia considered mid-decade redistricting in their 2026 regular sessions, with Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Tennessee meeting in special session to consider redistricting.
Changes to voter ID requirements
Legislators have introduced 196 bills related to voter ID in 2026. That is fewer than the 279 introduced in 2025 but more than 2024, 2023, or 2022.
Notable enacted bills to modify voter ID requirements include Florida HB 991 and New Hampshire HB 323. Oklahoma SJR 47 would place the state’s existing voter ID requirement in the state constitution.
Policies related to voter registration
Legislators in 44 states introduced 602 bills related to voter registration, which accounts for 13% of all bills introduced in 2026.
These bills change various aspects of the voter registration process, including creating documentary proof of citizenship requirements, changing the data sources election officials are required to use when carrying out voter list maintenance, expanding automatic voter registration systems, and other topics.
Notable bills enacted include Florida HB 991, Mississippi SB 2588, South Dakota SB 175, and Utah HB 209. Click here to read Daily Brew coverage of these bills.
Ballotpedia publishes three long-form reports a year that provide ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election administration. Click here to see past reports.