We’ve finally reached the end of a very long week and the first (?!) month of 2026. Happy January 31st! It’s time for your Democracy in the States: Weekly Roundup.
At the national level, the week’s flashpoints included an FBI raid on a Fulton County elections warehouse and a Director of National Intelligence appearance tied to a 2020 election investigation, per Politico. (Politico)
In Missouri, a canceled “state of the judiciary” speech became a procedural fight over what the Missouri Constitution actually requires (Missouri Independent). And in Utah, lawmakers sent a court-expansion bill to the governor - a reminder that “structure” is policy too (Utah News Dispatch). Meanwhile, bills tackling ICE, changing ballot access, and much more are flying through our state Legislatures.
Keeping elections running
As a The Renovator reader, you probably don’t need much convincing that election administration is the plumbing of constitutional democracy. This week’s stories show the plumbing is getting reworked, argued over, and stress-tested.
When federal power meets state election offices
GEORGIA: FBI raids Fulton County elections warehouse seeking 2020 ballots.
MAINE: Sec. of State Bellows: DOJ demand for Minnesota voter data shows ICE raids tied to elections.
Access fights and eligibility lines
IDAHO: Idaho senator proposes bill eliminating voter affidavit as acceptable ID at polls
KANSAS: Kansas election committee uncloaks main goal: Shoving more hardcore Republicans into office
MICHIGAN: Benson says flawed review risks disenfranchising eligible Michigan voters
NORTH CAROLINA: NC college students sue over lack of campus early voting sites
UTAH: Utah bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote advances
TENNESSEE: Tennessee Republican bill would limit federal office to natural-born citizens
Changing the machinery
MISSOURI: House committee kills plan to reinstate Missouri presidential primary
NORTH CAROLINA: NC elections board to review all administrative rules for absentee ballots
SOUTH CAROLINA: Freedom votes: Don’t close South Carolina’s primary elections
TENNESSEE: Tennessee senator proposes local election move to state, federal date
MARYLAND: Redistricting bill heads for final House vote as Democrats easily rebuff GOP amendments
Ballots and initiatives
Election day systems aren’t the only piece of the democracy puzzle undergoing changes. The initiative process itself is also getting rewritten, litigated, and re-scoped.
Rewriting the initiative rulebook
OHIO: The challenges of bringing a ballot initiative to Ohio voters, and why it’s harder than ever
SOUTH DAKOTA: Paying ballot-question petition circulators would be banned by bill advancing to SD House
UTAH: Utah is undermining popular sovereignty through ballot initiative restrictions
WASHINGTON: Democrats’ plan to revamp WA’s initiative process stirs backlash
ARKANSAS: Arkansas Explained: How to propose a ballot measure
Courts as referees
MISSOURI: Missouri Supreme Court strikes down law on ballot title cases, special appeal power for AG
NORTH DAKOTA: Lawsuit accuses North Dakota lawmakers of violating constitution with term limits ballot measure
ALASKA: New lawsuit claims Alaska’s description of a proposed elections ballot measure is biased
What’s up next
COLORADO: Ballot measure would require notice from Colorado law enforcement to immigration authorities
MICHIGAN: Affordability concerns could earn two petitions a spot on Michigan’s 2026 ballot
OKLAHOMA: Open primary supporters deliver signatures to Oklahoma Secretary of State
SOUTH DAKOTA: Voters could consider tighter legislative term limits under measure approved by state Senate
WASHINGTON: Rivian pledges $4.6M for ballot initiative to allow direct EV sales in WA
UTAH: As deadline looms, Trump looks to boost effort to repeal Utah independent redistricting law
ICE crackdown meets statehouse backlash
Backlash to ICE tactics is also driving policy and politics across the country. A Stateline round-up captures the split: some lawmakers are drafting bills to help ICE move faster, while others are trying to slow cooperation or add guardrails. (Stateline)
Bills, budgets, and legislative push back
ALASKA: ‘Our government is out of control,’ Alaska legislator says, calling for end to state aid for ICE
KANSAS: Kansas Democrats tout bill requiring ICE to display IDs, shed masks and forego warrantless searches
MAINE: Public overwhelmingly backs bill to restrict ICE access to schools, hospitals, child cares
MICHIGAN: Michigan House Republicans threaten judicial funding over proposed court rule on ICE arrests
MONTANA: Helena City Commission grapples with immigration resolution
MARYLAND: House committee advances bill to ban sheriffs’ agreements with ICE, a day after Senate panel OK
MICHIGAN: Michigan Senate hearing on ICE accountability bills features emotional testimony, fiery debate
PENNSYLVANIA: What is the fate of some two dozen ICE bills before Pa. state lawmakers?
NEW MEXICO: Gov supports NM ban on local law enforcement agreements with ICE
VIRGINIA: Democrats push restrictions on federal immigration enforcement in Virginia
WASHINGTON: WA Senate passes ban on police face coverings
GEORGIA: Shooting death of U.S. citizen in Minnesota echoes under Georgia’s Gold Dome
MARYLAND: Senate gives preliminary OK to bills banning 287(g) agreements, masks for law enforcement
Citizen protests and calls for action
COLORADO: Some Colorado businesses plan to close for national shutdown to protest ICE
KANSAS: Lawrence high school students and residents march against immigration enforcement abuses
MAINE: Mainers ‘refuse to look away’ with thousands rallying against ICE operation
OHIO: Central Ohio high schools students protest ICE, teacher unions condemn ICE activity near schools
RHODE ISLAND: RI organizations to take part in national shutdown calling on officials to abolish ICE
NEW MEXICO: Hundreds rally against immigrant detention in New Mexico
WISCONSIN: Advocates say they’re ready if feds bring anti-immigrant surge to Wisconsin
ARIZONA: Student protesters shut down Arizona Senate with anti-ICE demonstration at Capitol
MINNESOTA: The anti-ICE movement isn’t just about politics — it’s a caregiving social movement
NEW JERSEY: Activists want NJ pension fund to drop tech firm over ICE ties
NORTH CAROLINA: Hundreds take to the streets of Raleigh and Durham to demand ‘ICE out’
OHIO: Fear, faith and preparation as ICE closes in on an Ohio community
NEW MEXICO: ‘We remember you’: Leger Fernández and New Mexico faith leaders lead vigil against ICE
Officials and candidates pick a lane
ALASKA: Murkowski condemns Noem and ICE actions: ‘I think it is probably time for her to step down’
COLORADO: Colorado Democrats in Congress call on Noem to resign after ICE shootings
FLORIDA: Killing of anti-ICE protester exposes rare GOP rift on immigration — even in Florida
VIRGINIA: Virginia AG Jones joins 21 attorneys general condemning DOJ pressure on Minnesota
MAINE: Sen. Collins says Homeland Security ended enhanced ICE operation in Maine
MAINE: Mills rebukes ICE, pivots to affordability agenda in final state of the state address
MICHIGAN: Four Michigan Democrats among lawmakers heading to Minnesota in show of solidarity
MINNESOTA: Chris Madel drops out of race for GOP nomination for governor, blasts immigration crackdown
NORTH CAROLINA: Roy Cooper backs conditions on Homeland Security funding after Minnesota shootings
OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma governor calls for ‘reset’ in immigration enforcement following third ICE shooting
WISCONSIN: Wisconsin joins filing to support Minnesota lawsuit against ICE deployment
ARIZONA: Arizona Democrats rail against ICE violence: ‘What the hell is wrong with us?’
MICHIGAN: Nessel won’t rule out legal action in case of ICE surge, calls current actions ‘deeply concerning’
In the courts
MINNESOTA: Federal judge — a Scalia protege — again rips ICE for ignoring court orders in Minnesota
MINNESOTA: Lawsuit: DHS blocking lawyers from meeting with detainees
MINNESOTA: ICE releases detainee following slapdown from federal judge
OKLAHOMA: Lawmakers sue to prevent sharing of Oklahoma driver’s license information
IOWA: Judge: ICE used a ‘legal fiction’ to illegally detain man in Iowa jail
IOWA: Federal judge slams Iowa ICE agents for unlawful arrest, ‘misleading’ actions
Where state and local governments are leaning in
NEW MEXICO: NM GOP senator asks feds to intervene and help stop immigration detention ban
ALABAMA: House committee approves bill to allow local agencies to enforce immigration laws
INDIANA: Immigration enforcement bill clears Indiana Senate amid national ICE controversy
WEST VIRGINIA: WV Senate passes law enforcement safety bill; Democrat says it could ban filming immigration agents
ARIZONA: GOP bill would let police seize big rigs owned by companies hiring undocumented drivers
ARIZONA: Republicans push citizenship questions at hospitals as ICE enters medical facilities
ARIZONA: Pinal County Attorney ignores board’s order to end ICE partnership
Counting homelessness in a tougher winter
And something else to note ... the disruption and dangers caused by ICE tactics will make this year’s Point-in-Time Count harder in some places, on top of what unsheltered people, advocates, and providers are already facing from federal cuts. The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is “a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January,” planned and carried out locally under HUD requirements. (HUD Exchange)
NEVADA: As counties prepare to count unhoused population, HUD guidelines assure an undercount
PENNSYLVANIA: ‘Code Blue’: homeless shelters brace for massive winter storm and frigid cold
RHODE ISLAND: Rhode Island’s annual homelessness census set for Tuesday night
NEW MEXICO: HUD homelessness funding still uncertain amid lawsuits, shutdown threat, NM official says
UTAH: ‘Housing not handcuffs’: National advocacy groups take aim at Utah’s homeless campus
Taxing debates
Lastly, amidst pressing needs, state legislators are considering a variety of approaches to fund their preferred programs and policies.
ALASKA: Alaska governor debuts fiscal plan, including statewide sales tax and guaranteed PFD
GEORGIA: Georgia House GOP unveils plan to end property taxes for homeowners
IDAHO: Idaho lawmakers unveil new tax conformity bill with estimated $155 million price tag
INDIANA: State tax cut for overtime and tips clears Senate; House sends other tax breaks to Braun
INDIANA: Indiana’s property tax cut will shrink local government — and economic growth
IOWA: Local government officials raise concerns about revenue cap in property tax bills
MISSOURI: New Missouri income tax cut plan could allow first-ever sales tax on gas and diesel
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Who really pays for business tax cuts in New Hampshire?
RHODE ISLAND: McKee finally endorsed a millionaire’s tax. Progressives and business groups aren’t happy.
ALASKA: Raising oil, corporate taxes is least-painful option for reducing Alaska deficits, ISER concludes
WEST VIRGINIA: New study finds WV to be only state worse off than it was 50 years ago — more tax cuts won’t help
In Case You Missed It …
“Democracy and the Media: Make the Vessel Visible,” by Michael Larabee, Jan. 29, 2026
“Pretti, Good, and Liberty,” by Danielle Allen, Jan. 26, 2026
“Why Should I Care About the Semiquincentennial?” by Caroline Klibanoff, Jan. 25, 2026
“Civic Education News Roundup,” by Joanna Kenty, Jan. 27, 2026