Author: Joseph Greaney
-
More states banned ranked-choice voting in 2024 than any other year
Five states–Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma–passed laws banning the use of RCV in 2024, more than in any other year. No state had a law prohibiting the use of RCV before 2022 when Florida and Tennessee became the first states to adopt bans. Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota joined them in 2023. Republicans controlled the legislature in all…
-
Eighteen states considered legislation to open or close primaries in the first half of 2024
Lawmakers in 18 states considered bills this year that change who may vote in at least some statewide primaries or caucuses. Only one of these bills, Louisiana’s HB 17, was adopted. That bill changes Louisiana’s unique primary system and creates closed primaries for elections for Congress and several state offices, including the state supreme court, beginning…
-
Two states with Republican trifectas adopted new requirements for voter registration drives
Tennessee and Louisiana joined a group of six other states with Republican trifectas that have adopted laws related to voter registration drives or third-party assistance for voter registration applications since 2020. In Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed HB 1955 / SB 2586 on May 1, prohibiting the pre-filling of information on a voter registration…
-
Six states passed laws related to the restoration of voting rights for felons or voting by incarcerated individuals
Six states adopted new laws related to voting by individuals convicted of a felony or voting by incarcerated individuals, including two states with Republican trifectas that passed bills to restore voting rights to certain individuals convicted of a felony more quickly. In Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed HB 1629 on May 13, restoring voting rights to people convicted…
-
Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed most election bills of any governor in the first half of 2024
Thirty-eight bills related to elections passed both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly in the first half of 2024. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed 13 of these, the most vetoes of election-related legislation by any governor during the period. Despite the vetoes, the 25 new laws related to elections adopted this year are the most of any state with a divided…
-
Nine states approved bills related to noncitizen voting, voters in eight states will consider ballot measures this November
Nine states, including seven with Republican trifectas, have enacted legislation this year related to the eligibility of noncitizens to vote. In total, voters in eight states will consider ballot measures related to noncitizen voting at the November general election. In Louisiana, SB 436 requires proof of citizenship for voter registration applications. In 2022, Louisiana voters approved a ballot…
-
New rules for ballot return in three states with Republican trifectas among changes to absentee/mail-in voting
Three states with Republican trifectas added new definitions of who may return another voter’s ballot in 2024. Idaho adopted H 599, which stipulates that only election officials, postal workers, common carrier employees, a person paid by the voter, a relative of the voter, a member of their household, or a caregiver may collect or deliver another…
-
House passes bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote for federal elections
On July 10, the U.S. House passed HR 8281, a bill that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in elections for Federal office. The bill, titled the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, was introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and ultimately gathered 104 cosponsors in the House, all Republicans. The bill passed…
-
Tennessee has adopted the most new election laws in 2024
Tennessee lawmakers have adopted 36 election-related bills so far in 2024, the most of any state. Among the new election laws are changes to state voter roll maintenance procedures, an earlier absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline, and new rules for voter registration drives. Tennessee legislators also adopted the Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act which requires presidential…
-
Hawaii Governor Josh Green signs bill requiring application to ERIC
On July 5, 2024, Hawaii Governor Josh Green (D) signed Senate Bill 2240, requiring the state’s Office of Elections to apply to join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). The bill passed the Hawaii House of Representatives and State Senate unanimously on April 24. As of July 2024, 24 states and the District of Columbia were members of ERIC, a multi-state voter list maintenance…