State-Level Voting Rights Actions (Expansions and Rollbacks)
Key Questions
What state voting rights measures have advanced recently?
Michigan's Senate passed a four-bill state VRA package. California, Michigan, Connecticut, and Virginia have advanced new protections, while New Jersey enacted the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act.
Which states have seen setbacks in voting rights protections?
New York and Rhode Island have experienced rollbacks. Nevada's new primary laws allow candidates to win with less than 10% turnout.
What barriers does the ACLU Kansas report highlight?
The report details local obstacles including polling place density, language access issues, cuts to early voting, and repeal of mail processing windows. Colorado Springs is testing its new state VRA through an election challenge.
New Hampshire sued for banning student IDs to vote (26th Amendment challenge). Minnesota counties ban federal election observers. RAZE in Arizona expands voting centers. Delaware enacts state-level VRA (12th state) with bipartisan support. Virginia Gov. Spanberger restores voting rights to 66,085 former felons and signs election security bills. Illinois signs Civil Rights Safeguard Act. Oklahoma Gov. Stitt calls federalization 'treason'. NC Senate advances HB 834 and HB 958 (ballot curing extension but cuts early voting); bills head to Gov. Stein. Alaska ballot measure to repeal ranked choice voting. California blocks Shasta County Measure B. Texas confirms SAVE inaccuracies. New Jersey investigates 4,500+ noncitizen registrations; Gov. Sherrill signals openness to voter ID. Tarrant County, TX activists rally against polling site cuts. Pennsylvania election chief challenges DHS claims. VRA anniversary marked with warnings. NVRA 90-day quiet period reminder. Fifth Circuit upholds Texas SB1's discriminatory mail voting restrictions, a major setback for voters with disabilities; new ruling allows stricter mail-in ID requirements. Community-based voting rights tool article emphasizes grassroots action.