Author: Joseph Greaney
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Changes to voter registration and absentee/mail-in ballot counting are among new election laws in Georgia
Legislators in Georgia adopted 33 new election laws related to elections this year, including changes to voter registration challenges and a new deadline for counting absentee/mail-in ballots. They also established new requirements for poll workers, rules for poll observers, and a new system for posting images of voted ballots: SB 189 is an omnibus elections bill…
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Maryland was the most active Democratic state in terms of new election laws in the first half of 2024
Maryland adopted 10 election-related bills in the first half of 2024, making it the most active state with a Democratic trifecta in terms of new election laws. Lawmakers adopted bills expanding protections for election officials, and created a portal intended to address election misinformation. They also adopted a new law modifying post-election canvassing procedures, including a process…
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Colorado Governor Polis (D) signs election omnibus legislation including amendment related to ranked-choice voting
Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) signed SB 210 into law on June 6, 2024. The omnibus elections bill makes changes to several areas of election law, including adding provisions to state law that would make it more difficult to adopt ranked-choice voting (RCV) in statewide elections. The bill lowers the age for voter preregistration from…