Democracy in the States: Weekly Roundup

Updates on campaigns, policy changes, obstacles and successes for democracy renovation at the state level.

• MULTI-STATE: Some Republican states resist DOJ demand for private voter data | Jonathan Shorman, Stateline, Sept. 18, 2025
  Several GOP-led states are refusing to comply with DOJ requests for voter roll data. Critics fear the federal request politicizes election administration and could lead to data misuse.

• DELAWARE: Delaware rebuffs Trump admin requests for voter data | Jacob Owens, Spotlight Delaware, Sept. 18, 2025
  State officials rejected federal demands to hand over full voter registration lists, citing privacy and constitutional concerns. Delaware’s refusal reflects broader state pushback against federal attempts to assert more control over election administration.

• VIRGINIA: Free speech, social media, and legal consequences for Virginia teachers | Shantel Davis, WWBT, Sept. 17, 2025
  Virginia’s top education official is warning that teachers could lose their licenses if they praise political violence on social media, creating a debate over how far free speech protections extend when teachers post political opinions on social media.

• INDIANA: Indiana governor threatens licenses of teachers who ‘celebrate’ political violence online | Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle, Sept. 19, 2025
  Gov. Eric Holcomb warned that teachers posting online support for political violence could lose their licenses. The announcement raises questions about free expression and professional discipline.

• NEVADA: Nevadans dismissed, disciplined amid political firestorm following Kirk’s death | April Corbin Girnus, Nevada Current, Sept. 16, 2025
  Public employees and officials in Nevada are facing backlash and job consequences tied to their comments after activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The fallout highlights tensions around political speech and accountability.

• NEW MEXICO & UTAH: After Kirk’s killing, NM and Utah governors discuss disagreeing without violence | Patrick Lohmann, Source NM, Sept. 19, 2025
  Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, governors from New Mexico and Utah urged residents to embrace civil disagreement and reject violence.

• WYOMING: Charlie Kirk killing fuels free speech disputes in Wyoming as newspapers come under attack | Maggie Mullen, WyoFile, Sept. 19, 2025
  The aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination has intensified free speech debates in Wyoming, where local newspapers have come under attack for their coverage. Observers warn the backlash could chill open civic discourse.

• INDIANA: Buttigieg headlines rally opposing redistricting: ‘Cheaters never win’ | Whitney Downard, Indiana Capital Chronicle, Sept. 18, 2025
  Former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg headlined an event opposing a mid-decade congressional redistricting push encouraged by former President Trump. Gov. Mike Braun has said a special session is likely in November to take up redistricting, and voting-rights groups have vowed to sue if new maps are adopted.

• MARYLAND: Maryland joins multistate coalition to buck Trump administration vaccine policies | Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters, Sept. 18, 2025
  Governor Wes Moore announced Maryland will join a coalition of states resisting new federal rules that restrict vaccine mandates. The move underscores state-level resistance to federal health policy.

• ARIZONA: Federal court blocks Arizona voter intimidation rule, affirms rule on results certification | Jen Fifield, Arizona Mirror/Votebeat, Sept. 18, 2025
  A Ninth Circuit panel struck down Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes’ election manual rule that broadly banned activity near polling places, saying it infringed on political speech.

• MISSOURI: Court battle looms over KC precinct listed twice in Missouri’s new congressional map | Missouri Independent, Sept. 18, 2025
  A duplicate precinct in Kansas City has opened Missouri’s new congressional map to fresh legal challenges. Critics say the error could disenfranchise voters and complicate upcoming elections.

• VIRGINIA: Virginia’s early voting season begins Friday, ushering in pivotal election | Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury, Sept. 18, 2025
  Virginia opened early voting for its November elections, with control of the legislature and governor’s mansion on the line. This year, there are new election rules, like an earlier registration deadline of October 24 and reporting of provisional ballots by each voting location.

• LOUISIANA: Landry supports Trump’s push to send National Guard to Louisiana’s ‘war zones’ | Wesley Muller, Louisiana Illuminator, Sept. 18, 2025
  Gov. Jeff Landry endorsed Trump’s call for a National Guard presence in Louisiana cities as a response to crime, increasing the likelihood troops will be deployed.

• WASHINGTON: (Commentary) Vote-at-home is the law in Washington — and it works | Lori Larsen & Marianne Nichols, Washington State Standard, Sept. 16, 2025
  Washington’s vote-at-home system continues to deliver high participation and secure results, according to these county auditors.

• UTAH: What’s next for Utah redistricting – and which lawmakers were picked to draw the new map | Katie McKellar, Utah News Dispatch, Sept. 18, 2025
  Utah’s Republican leadership named a slate of legislators to redraw the state’s congressional districts after a court struck down the last map. Reform advocates remain skeptical about the prospects for a fair outcome.

• ARIZONA: US Justice Dept orders Arizona to preserve election records from 2020, documents show | Sarah N. Lynch, Reuters, Sept. 18, 2025
  The Justice Department directed Arizona to preserve all election-related materials from 2020, citing concerns over compliance with federal voting laws. The order comes as the Justice Department considers a lawsuit against the state.

• MULTI-STATE: Election deniers now hold posts on local US election boards, raising concerns for midterms | George Chidi, The Guardian, Sept. 15, 2025
  A Guardian investigation found election deniers in official roles on local election boards across several battleground states. Analysts warn this could undermine public trust and complicate ballot administration in 2026.

• PENNSYLVANIA: Pennsylvania’s budget is nearly three months past due | Ian Karbal, Pennsylvania Capital-Star, Sept. 19, 2025
  Nearly three months have passed since state lawmakers in Harrisburg missed the deadline to pass a budget. Ongoing disagreements between parties are still delaying negotiations. Right now, only Pennsylvania and Michigan have not approved a budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

• CONNECTICUT: U.S. Justice Dept. pushes voter fraud complaints from CT group | Andrew Brown, CT Mirror, Sept. 19, 2025
  Federal prosecutors are reviewing voter fraud allegations submitted by a Connecticut-based organization. While complaints are rarely substantiated, the move has reignited debate.

• NORTH CAROLINA: Appeals court rules felony offenders can’t be prosecuted for voting unlawfully by mistake | Gary D. Robertson, AP News, Sept. 15, 2025
  The Fourth Circuit ruled that individuals with felony convictions cannot be criminally charged for mistakenly voting before their rights were restored. Advocates call the ruling a victory for fair treatment and due process.

• OHIO: Ohioans rally for fair, transparent congressional redistricting process | Susan Tebben, Ohio Capital Journal, Sept. 19, 2025
  Demonstrators gathered outside the Statehouse demanding openness in Ohio’s new congressional mapmaking process.

• CALIFORNIA: California unions are pouring more money than ever into CalPERS elections. Here’s why | Adam Ashton & Jeremia Kimelman, CalMatters, Sept. 19, 2025
  Unions are dramatically increasing spending in board elections for the state’s massive public pension system. The battle over CalPERS governance underscores how much power institutional boards wield over state finances.

• MULTI-STATE: State lawmakers ask Trump administration to end its review of state regs | Kevin Hardy, Stateline, Sept. 18, 2025
  Lawmakers from both parties are resisting a federal initiative to review state regulations for possible preemption. They argue the effort threatens state sovereignty and long-established norms.

• OKLAHOMA: Open primary ballot plan OK’d by Oklahoma Supreme Court | Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice, Sept. 16, 2025
  The Oklahoma Supreme Court cleared a proposed open-primary system to appear on the ballot.

---

Want more background on today’s big issues? Here are a few places to look.

• NATIONAL: DOJ is sharing state voter roll lists with Homeland Security | Jonathan Shorman, Stateline, Sept. 12, 2025
  Homeland Security will analyze voter rolls for “illegal aliens” after DOJ ordered states to provide full lists.

• UTAH: GOP legislative leaders begrudgingly say they’ll redraw Utah’s congressional map, as court ordered | Katie McKellar, Utah News Dispatch, Aug. 28, 2025
  Utah lawmakers conceded they will redraw the state’s maps following a court order striking down partisan gerrymanders.

  ---

  In case you missed it …

• “A Time To Build, Old And New,” By Anne-Marie Slaughter, The Renovator, Sept. 18, 2025

• “10 Reasons To Celebrate The U.S. Constitution,” The Renovator, Sept. 17, 2025

• “The First Principles Are Not Given,” By Adam Harper, The Renovator, Sept. 17, 2025

• “What It Means To Bet On Ourselves,” By Danielle Allen, The Renovator, Sept. 15, 2025

• “Massachusetts is Renovating Democracy,” By John Griffin, The Renovator, Sept. 14, 2025