Several times a year, the Brennan Center publishes a roundup of state voting legislation around the country. Since the 2020 election, this legislation has taken on new importance in state legislatures, with lawmakers aggressively attempting to limit voting access and roll back gains in turnout.
Thus far in 2024, at least 9 states have enacted 18 restrictive laws. Overall, at least 301 restrictive bills have been considered in 40 states. Since the last presidential election, at least 30 states enacted 78 restrictive laws, at least 63 of which are set to be in effect in 29 states this fall. Restrictive legislation makes it harder for eligible Americans to cast their ballots.
Since 2022, the Brennan Center has been tracking another category of legislation that subverts democracy: election interference legislation. These measures allow for partisan interference in elections or threaten the people and processes that make elections work. They stand to not only harm existing election administration, but they also undermine voters’ faith in the security of elections. So far this year, at least 2 states, South Dakota and Louisiana, have each enacted an election interference law. Overall, at least 60 election interference bills have been considered in 21 states. Since 2020, at least 15 states passed 33 election interference laws, with at least 31 interference laws in 14 states set to be in effect for a presidential election for the first time.
On the other hand, pro-voter legislators are seeking to expand access to the vote. Expansive laws have outpaced the number of restrictive laws passed. In 2024, at least 19 states have enacted 28 expansive laws. Overall, at least 641 expansive voting bills have been considered in 44 states. At least 41 states plus Washington, DC, have enacted 168 expansive laws since January 2021, and at least 156 of these laws across all 41 of those states and DC are set to be in effect this fall.
