Welcome to The Markup, our weekly insights and analysis of the latest in election law and policy.
We are tracking 1,333 bills this session across 49 states. Our analysis finds that 559 bills improve voter access or election administration and 349 bills restrict voter access or election administration.1
IMPROVING VOTER ACCESS OR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
New Hampshire Senate passes bill allowing earlier verification and processing of mail ballots.
The New Hampshire Senate passed S.B. 218, which would permit local officials to begin opening mail ballot outer envelopes and verifying voter information on the inner envelopes as early as the Friday before Election Day. Under current law, officials cannot start processing ballots until the morning of Election Day, slowing down reporting of election results.
Maryland advances state Voting Rights Act.
The Maryland Senate passed the Voting Rights Act of 2025, which aims to safeguard voting access for members of protected classes. The bill would allow these individuals to file claims against counties or municipalities that adopt voting systems or practices that hinder their ability to elect their chosen candidates or influence elections. Additionally, the Senate passed a bill to establish a pilot program for curbside voting.
New Mexico House passes bill expanding voter registration opportunities.
The New Mexico House approved H.B. 208, a bill designating the Department of Game and Fish as a voter registration agency. This would allow individuals applying for hunting and fishing licenses to register to vote or update their registration information with the agency. Current registration agencies include the MVD and those providing public assistance for people with disabilities. The bill now heads to the Senate.
RESTRICTING VOTER ACCESS OR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
New Hampshire Senate passes bill imposing new burdens on mail voters.
The New Hampshire Senate passed S.B. 213, which would require voters applying for mail ballots to provide documentary proof of identity, citizenship, domicile, and age. These requirements are already part of the voter registration process. The bill now moves to the House.
Texas Senate Republicans unanimously back documentary proof of citizenship bill.
S.B. 16 was introduced in Texas, with all 20 Senate Republicans listed as co-authors. The bill would mandate documentary proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, for voting in most state elections. Unlike many similar bills or enacted laws, there are no exceptions for currently registered voters.
Michigan House advances documentary proof of citizenship constitutional amendment.
A Michigan House committee approved a resolution to amend the state constitution, requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, among other changes. The resolution now moves to the full House for consideration. In order to go before voters in 2026, the proposal needs approval from two-thirds majorities in both legislative chambers – which appears unlikely.
Federal judge allows Georgia’s early mail ballot request deadline to remain in place.
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Georgia’s mail ballot request deadline on procedural grounds. Currently, voters may request mail ballots up to 11 days before Election Day. Federal law allows applications up to seven days before an election.
Wisconsin court rules against email ballots for voters with disabilities; Assembly passes bill restricting voting rights restoration.
A state appeals court ruled last week that voters with disabilities cannot receive mail ballots via email, reversing a lower state court’s decision. The ruling, just weeks before the April 1 state Supreme Court election, will affect voters with disabilities who rely on screen readers to read and mark their ballots. Additionally, the Wisconsin Assembly passed A.B. 87, which would require citizens with past felony convictions to pay all fines, costs, fees, surcharges, and restitution before their voting rights are restored. Under current law, these individuals become eligible to vote again upon completion of incarceration and probation. Only five states expressly condition voting rights on payment of financial obligations.
ON OUR RADAR
Federal: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) cut $10 million in funding for an organization that state and local officials across the country rely upon for information on cybersecurity and election threats. CISA officials working on election security were put on administrative leave last month.
Missouri: A House committee held a hearing on H.B. 617, which would restore voting rights to citizens on probation or parole who lost their right to vote due to past felony convictions.
New York: The Senate is expected to vote today on bills that would direct the state to join ERIC; allow counties to establish mobile early voting stations; expand poll worker eligibility and increase pay; and allow election workers to keep their addresses confidential. If approved, the bills would go to the Assembly for consideration.
North Carolina: On Thursday, a Court of Appeals panel will hear arguments over the still-uncertified Supreme Court race from November 2024. A candidate who lost by just over 700 votes is seeking to toss out over 65,000 votes.
Oklahoma: A proposed addition to the state’s social studies curriculum for public schools calls for students to be instructed on false theories about purported “discrepancies” during the 2020 presidential election. The proposal now heads to the legislature for approval.
Wyoming: A bill that would require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship as part of the registration process will become law unless vetoed by Gov. Mark Gordon this week. If enacted, this bill would be the first of its kind to become law this year.
To receive in-depth analysis each month, subscribe to The Lever.
- Our State Voting Rights Tracker is people-powered – our team of election lawyers read and analyze election-related bills across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. We strive to provide immediate analysis of all pending and current legislation; however, during periods of high volume – i.e. when legislatures are first convening for the year and introducing hundreds of new bills each day – we prioritize those that are advancing through legislatures over newly introduced legislation. For questions about our methodology or analysis, email tracker@votingrightslab.org. ↩︎