Author: Andrew Bahl
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Spanberger restores voting rights to thousands of individuals with felony convictions in return to previous governors' processes
On July 31, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) announced that since taking office on Jan. 17, she has restored the voting rights of 66,085 Virginia residents with felony convictions. Virginia is one of three states, along with Iowa and Kentucky, where individuals convicted of any felony never regain the right to vote without some form…
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Rhode Island legislators restrict immigration enforcement near polling places, enact 18 other election bills in 2026 session
The Rhode Island General Assembly adjourned its 2026 regular session on June 11 after passing 20 election-related bills. Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed all 20 bills between March and June. Among those bills were H7434 and S3339, which prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees, agents, or officials from entering or remaining within 200…
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Maine secretary of state's office says it will not make determination on whether Troy Jackson's candidacy violates sore loser law
On July 31, CBS13 reported that the Maine secretary of state's office would not make a determination in response to a July 24 letter from state Rep. James White (R) questioning whether Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, was eligible to run under the state’s sore loser law. Deputy Secretary of State Kate…
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Illinois lawmakers require school districts to provide voter registration opportunities and move RCV task force dates in 2026 session
The Illinois General Assembly adjourned its 2026 regular session on June 1 after passing two election-related bills and one resolution. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the two bills in June and July. One of those bills was HB 4339, which requires school districts to provide all eligible graduating high school students with the opportunity to…
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Hawaii enacts seven election bills in 2026 session, including prohibition on corporate political activity
The Hawaii Legislature adjourned its 2026 regular session on May 8 after passing seven election-related bills and one resolution. Governor Josh Green (D) signed all seven bills between April and July. Among those bills was SB 2471, which amends state law to modify the powers granted to corporations. The bill establishes that corporations have artificial-person…
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U.S. House passes bill banning foreign contributions to state and local ballot measure campaigns
On July 13, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation banning foreign nationals from contributing to state or local ballot measure campaigns. Federal law prohibits federal, state, and local candidates from soliciting, directing, or receiving contributions from individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. The law also bans contributions from…
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Federal district judges issue conflicting rulings on states' use of expanded SAVE system for voting purposes
Federal district judges in two jurisdictions have issued conflicting rulings in recent weeks on whether the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may give states access to an expanded version of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system — which provides information about individuals' immigration and citizenship status — for voter registration and list maintenance…
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President Trump removes three remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission
On July 9, President Donald Trump (R) removed the three remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), leaving the four-seat commission without any members. The EAC is a federal commission responsible for developing election administration guidance and helping states comply with federal voting law. The commission comprises four members, with two from each of…
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Louisiana enacts 20 election bills during 2026 session, including new congressional maps and voter ID changes
The Louisiana Legislature adjourned its regular session on June 1 after passing 20 election-related bills, one resolution, and one proposed constitutional amendment. Gov. Jeff Landry (R) signed 19 of the bills in May and June and allowed one bill to become law without his signature. Among those bills was SB 121, which redraws the state’s…
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Colorado lawmakers enact omnibus elections bill, seven other election-related laws in 2026 session
The Colorado General Assembly adjourned its 2026 regular session on May 13 after passing eight election-related bills. Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed all eight bills between April and June. Among those bills was HB 1113, an omnibus bill making a number of changes to Colorado’s election laws. Those changes included: The Senate approved the final…