Author: Andrew Bahl
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Three states have changed election canvassing deadlines in 2026
Idaho, Nebraska, and Wisconsin passed laws this year to change deadlines related to compiling, reviewing, and certifying election results, a process called canvassing. The laws in Idaho and Nebraska will be in effect for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, and the law in Wisconsin will be in effect for the 2028 presidential election. Idaho H…
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Federal judge temporarily blocks Ohio documentary proof of citizenship requirement
On Aug. 25, a federal judge temporarily blocked an Ohio law that requires individuals registering to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to provide documentary proof of citizenship. Ohio is one of 12 states with laws requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration, though it is the only one where the requirement applies…
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Delaware enacts eight election-related bills and advances five amendments in 2026 session
The Delaware General Assembly adjourned on June 30 after enacting eight election-related bills and advancing five constitutional amendments. Gov. Matt Meyer (D) signed all eight bills in June, July, and August. Among those bills was HB 444, which established a state-level voting rights act. Delaware is one of three states, along with Maryland and New…
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Federal judge temporarily blocks USPS rules implementing absentee/mail-in voting executive order
On Aug. 27, a U.S. district court judge blocked the implementation of federal rules that would carry out an executive order President Donald Trump (R) issued earlier this year prohibiting the delivery of absentee/mail-in ballots to anyone who is not enrolled by state election officials with the U.S. Postal Service. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani's…
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States enact more than 400 election-related bills in first seven months of 2026
States have enacted 419 election-related bills so far this year — the most of any even-numbered session year since Ballotpedia launched its Election Policy Legislation Tracker in 2022. These figures come from Ballotpedia's State of Election Policy Legislation 2026 Mid-Year Report, which covers election-related legislative activity captured in our legislation tracker through Aug. 14 of…
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North Carolina Gov. Stein vetoes election omnibus bill
On Aug. 17, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D) vetoed House Bill 958, an omnibus elections bill that would have made a variety of changes to North Carolina's election laws, including shortening the early voting period for primary elections. The bill would have required early voting for regular, non-municipal primary or runoff elections to take…
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Missouri enacts omnibus election bill, three others in 2026 session
The Missouri General Assembly adjourned its 2026 legislative session on May 15 after passing four election-related bills and a constitutional amendment. Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed all four bills in July. Among those bills was HB 1871, an omnibus bill that makes several changes to Missouri election law. Those changes include: The Missouri Senate passed…
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Minnesota enacts omnibus elections and campaign finance bills in 2026 session
The Minnesota Legislature adjourned its 2026 legislative session on May 17 after passing two election-related bills, both of which Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed into law. HF 4240 is an omnibus bill making changes to numerous areas of election law, including: The Minnesota Senate passed the final version of the bill 36-28 on May 13,…
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Massachusetts enacts budget bill allowing election grants in 2026 session
On July 31, the Massachusetts General Court adjourned its formal legislative session after passing one election-related bill, which Gov. Maura Healey (D) signed into law. H5555, the state budget bill, allows the secretary of state to award grants for voter registration and education. Those grants may be awarded to community-based voter registration and education organizations.…
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Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed 48% of election bills passed in 2026 session
On June 13, the Arizona Legislature adjourned its 2026 session after passing 21 election-related bills and one constitutional amendment. Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed 11 of the bills and vetoed 10. Among the bills Hobbs vetoed was HB 4115, which would have required a paid petition circulator to disclose to a potential petition signer their…