Category: State
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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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Idaho voters will decide on a ballot initiative for top-four primary and ranked-choice voting system in November
The Idaho Secretary of State announced on July 10 that a ballot initiative to establish top-four primaries and ranked-choice voting for general elections for congressional, statewide, and county elected offices qualified for the Nov. 2024 ballot. Currently, Idaho state law stipulates that political parties can determine for themselves who may participate in their primary elections. …
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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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54.97% of state legislators are Republican, 44.35% Democratic
At the end of June 2024, 54.97% of all state legislators in the United States are Republican while 44.35% are Democratic. There are 7,386 state legislative seats in the country. Republicans held a majority in 56 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 40 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under…
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Scott Baugh (R) and Dave Min (D) are running in the CA-47 general election
Scott Baugh (R) and Dave Min (D) are running in the general election for California’s 47th Congressional District on November 5, 2024. Incumbent Katie Porter (D) ran for the U.S. Senate. Porter was re-elected in 2022 after defeating Baugh 52%-48% in the general election. She was first elected in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Mimi Walters 52%-48%. Politico said this race “could very well determine…
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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…