Author: Andrew Bahl
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U.S. Supreme Court case could affect absentee/mail-in ballot return deadlines
On Nov. 10, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Watson v. Republican National Committee, a case challenging the legality of a Mississippi law permitting absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they are received up to five business days after the election. Mississippi is one of 15 states that allow…
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A look at how provisional voting works in each state
In most states, voters who arrive at a polling place without their required identification or who aren't listed in the pollbook still have the option to cast a ballot. That’s because of a system called provisional voting. A provisional ballot is a type of ballot that is not immediately counted. Election officials instead set these…
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Twenty-three states have amended their absentee/mail-in voting laws so far this year
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Maine voters defeated Question 1, which would have changed the state's absentee voting laws, limited ballot drop boxes, and required voter ID for individuals voting both in person and by absentee ballot. As of 12 p.m. EST on Nov. 5, the vote was 63.5%-36.5%, with 89% of votes in. While Mainers…
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Greenbelt, Maryland, could be the next municipality to adopt ranked-choice voting
On Nov. 4, 2025, voters in Greenbelt, Maryland, passed a non-binding referendum in favor of adopting ranked-choice voting (RCV) for city council elections. If the Greenbelt City Council adopts an RCV system, it would be the 52nd locality in the United States that uses or is scheduled to use RCV in at least some elections.…
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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signs legislation changing the state's spring election dates
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) signed two pieces of legislation on Oct. 30 to move back the state’s 2026 spring election dates, a move the bills' supporters have said is necessary to give lawmakers more time to potentially redraw the state’s congressional maps if the U.S. Supreme Court rules in the state’s favor in Louisiana…
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10 states have amended their voter ID laws so far this year
Ten states have amended their voter ID laws so far in 2025. One state, West Virginia, moved from requiring non-photo identification to vote to requiring photo identification. Across the U.S., 36 states require voters to present identification to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of those states, 24 require voters to present photo identification,…
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U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether candidates can sue over election law
On Oct. 8, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections, a case over whether a candidate, U.S. Rep. Michael Bost (R), has the legal standing to challenge an Illinois law allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted up to 14 days after Election Day. …
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Nine states have changed their recount laws in 2025
In the 2026 midterms, some elections could be decided by thin margins. In 2024, three U.S. Senate races and six U.S. House races were decided by less than one percentage point. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the states that have been updating their recount laws this year. State recount laws differ…
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Most states allow teenagers to pre-register to vote before turning 18
While the minimum voting age in the United States is 18, every state with voter registration allows teenagers to pre-register to vote before they blow out the candles on their 18th birthday. North Dakota is the only state that does not have voter registration. The age at which individuals can pre-register varies from state to…
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A look at voter registration forms by state
Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia require prospective voters to register to vote before casting a ballot. North Dakota, which abolished voter registration in 1951, is the only state that does not require voter registration. While 42 states and the District of Columbia have online voter registration systems, all states (except North Dakota) have…