The Markup: January 21, 2025

by Voting Rights Lab

January 21, 2025

Welcome to The Markup, our weekly insights and analysis of the latest in election law and policy. 


We are tracking 439 bills prefiled or introduced this session across 31 states. Our analysis finds that 100 bills restrict voter access or election administration while 205 bills improve voter access or election administration. 

Legislative sessions are kicking off in 4 states this week: Alaska, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah.

President Trump revokes executive order on voter registration.

President Donald Trump revoked an executive order issued by the Biden administration that directed federal agencies to promote voter registration. The order had instructed agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide voter guides, distribute voter registration forms, and assist voter registration applicants in a nonpartisan manner.

Wisconsin voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution to require photo ID.

The Wisconsin legislature passed S.J.R. 2, which would enshrine photo ID requirements in the state constitution. Voters will decide whether to approve the amendment in April. While state law already requires that voters present ID, this amendment would make it harder for future legislatures or the courts to change or eliminate the requirement. Wisconsin is one of 19 states that requires ID in order to vote and have your ballot counted.

Virginia House approves proposed constitutional amendment to establish automatic voting rights restoration for citizens with past felony convictions.

The Virginia House passed H.J.R.  2, a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically restore voting rights upon release from incarceration. Virginia remains one of only a handful of states without automatic restoration – the state requires citizens with felony convictions to obtain the governor’s approval to regain their voting rights. The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration. To become law, it must be approved by both legislative chambers in successive legislative sessions and then by the voters in an election.

New York Senate advances bills establishing vote centers, improving voter list accuracy, and prohibiting voter suppression.

The New York Senate advanced a package of election-related bills. S.B. 569 would authorize local election boards to establish county-wide voting centers in addition to precinct-based polling places. S.B. 1356 would require the state to join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), an interstate compact that helps states keep voter rolls accurate. S.B. 1085 would criminalize intentional voter suppression and the spread of election-related disinformation. The bills now move to the Assembly for consideration.

U.S. Virgin Islands launches online voter registration.

Last week, the U.S. Virgin Islands launched a new online voter registration portal. The territory joins 42 states and D.C. that offer online voter registration. 

Arizona proposes changes to early voting processes.

An Arizona committee passed S.B. 1011, which includes several election-related changes. The bill would prohibit voters from returning mail ballots in person to early voting locations after 7 p.m. on the Friday before an election; establish optional days of early voting on the Saturday and Monday before an election, replacing the emergency voting system; require voters returning mail ballots to a polling place on Election Day to show ID; and allow on-site tabulation of some mail ballots at early voting sites, if counties opt in.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear case on undated or misdated mail ballots.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear another case, challenging the rejection of undated or misdated mail ballots received by the close of polls on Election Day. This policy has been the subject of legal disputes since 2020.

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This update is powered by VRL’s State Voting Rights Tracker. To receive in-depth analysis each month, subscribe to The Lever.