A closer look at state-level voting rights acts
Since Congress passed the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA), prohibiting racial discrimination in voting nationwide, 10 states have passed state-level voting rights acts. The provisions of these laws vary, but they generally include policies that mirror or expand on the federal VRA.
All states with VRAs had a Democratic trifecta when those laws were approved. California was the first state to enact its own VRA, doing so in 2002. Maryland became the most recent state to pass a VRA on April 28, 2026.
Common provisions in these states' VRAs include:
- pre-clearance requirements that require local governments to get state approval before changing voting policies),
- prohibitions on policies that dilute the votes of covered communities and groups,
- private causes of action allowing citizens to challenge discriminatory election policies, and
- language assistance requirements for municipalities with significant non-English-speaking populations.
Twelve states have introduced 20 state voting rights act bills this year. Click here to see a list of bills.
The Utah Supreme Court undergoes another change in structure with the resignation of Justice Diana Hagen
On May 8, Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen resigned, marking another structural change within the Court.
Hagan’s resignation comes after Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed a bill on Jan. 31 to increase the number of justices on the Court from five to seven — making Utah the first state since 2016 to expand its state supreme court. Utah is now one of 29 states to have a state supreme court with seven justices. Among all states, seven is the most common number of justices for a state supreme court.
The bill and Hagen's resignation give Cox the opportunity to appoint three justices to the Court. Utah uses an assisted appointment process to select justices. During this process, the governor selects a nominee from a list of recommended candidates from a judicial nominating commission. The Utah Senate then votes whether to confirm the nominee. New appointees serve for at least three years, after which they must run for retention.
No Utah Supreme Court Justice has ever lost a retention, and in our data going back to 1990, Utah Supreme Court Justices have received an average of 80.6% of support across 17 elections.
Missouri General Assembly puts two constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot
On May 15, the Missouri General Assembly placed two constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Creation of Show-Me Prosperity Investment Fund for State Tax Reduction and Elimination Amendment
If approved, this amendment would create a permanent public endowment fund managed by the state to generate revenue, and using the earnings to eliminate state-imposed taxes when sufficient to replace them. The state treasurer would be required to invest it in exchange-traded funds tied to the S&P 500.
No money could be appropriated from the fund until its annual investment earnings are sufficient to replace revenue from all the state taxes listed in the amendment, which include the individual income tax, the state sales and use tax, the state corporate income tax, and all other state-imposed taxes.
Require Election of County Sheriffs Amendment
If approved, this amendment would require the election of county sheriffs to four-year terms in most counties. It would also make sheriffs the chief law enforcement officers in those counties and limit the removal of sheriffs from office. The amendment also states that the attorney general can bring a quo warranto petition to remove the sheriff from office.
In Missouri, most sheriffs are already elected. However, this amendment would make the requirement part of the state constitution.