Author: Andrew Bahl
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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…
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New Jersey becomes the 11th state to enact a state-level voting rights act
On July 2, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) signed legislation making New Jersey the 11th state to enact a state-level voting rights act. Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting nationwide, some states have enacted state-level voting rights acts. The provisions of these laws vary,…
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Ohio governor vetoes bill requiring photo ID for absentee voting
On June 24, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) vetoed legislation that would have required most voters to provide photo identification when either requesting or returning an absentee ballot. Currently, Ohio voters must provide either a copy of their state or federal photo ID or their driver's license number, state identification card number, or the last…
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U.S. Supreme Court agrees to review Arizona's documentary proof of citizenship and noncitizen voter removal laws
On June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would hear Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, a case disputing whether two Arizona laws requiring documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) to register to vote in federal elections and requiring election officials to remove noncitizens from voter rolls violate the National Voter Registration Act…
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U.S. Supreme Court strikes down campaign finance restrictions on candidate coordination with parties
On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission that federal limits on the amount of money that a political party could spend in coordination with candidates were unconstitutional. The court previously held that political parties, as well as candidates and private groups, may make…
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Georgia enacts legislation extending voting machine deadline, establishing automatic hand recounts
On June 25, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed legislation delaying the implementation of a state law banning the use of QR codes and other machine coding in ballot tabulation. In 2024, lawmakers enacted a bill prohibiting the use of QR codes, bar codes, or other machine coding in ballot tabulation, starting on July 1,…