It’s Saturday, March 14, 2026, and time for your Democracy in the States: Weekly Roundup. This week, we’re (mostly) covering escalating battles over election administration and voting rights.
Across the country, debates rage over ballot access, signature-gathering for initiatives, and controversial changes to primary systems, while courts weigh in on ex-felon voting rights and redistricting battles. At the same time, the administration is pushing to “nationalize” election rules, focusing on proof-of-citizenship requirements and increased ID verification, which could create hurdles for overseas voters.
All of this comes as new polling shows threats to democracy” rivaling inflation as a top concern for voters, underscoring just how high the stakes have become.
Before we jump in, here’s a bright spot — a creative solution to address poll worker shortages is emerging in Idaho, where lawmakers are eyeing jury pools as a new recruitment source.
Federal ballot seizures, investigations, and threats
NATIONAL: The DOJ, which has sued 29 states for refusing to hand over unredacted voter rolls, is linking the data demand to election security in ways that critics say could undermine trust in the 2026 midterm results.
ARIZONA: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) opened a probe into the 2020 results, while the state Senate received a grand jury subpoena regarding its 2021 partisan election “audit”.
GEORGIA: U.S. Senators are calling for an Inspector General probe into the FBI’s seizure of 2020 records in Fulton County , alleging the raid was politically motivated.
WISCONSIN: Gov. Tony Evers will resist any attempts by federal agents to seize Milwaukee ballots , citing concerns that documents could reveal how individuals voted.
OHIO: Secretary of State Frank LaRose shared private data for 8 million voters with the DOJ.
MAINE: Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and officials from eight other states are demanding written assurances that ICE agents will not be deployed to polling locations.
NATIONAL: The Democratic National Committee sued federal agencies to release records relating to potential plans to deploy troops or armed agents to the polls during the 2026 midterms.
Voter eligibility and access challenges
FLORIDA: Lawmakers approved a state version of the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship for new registrants and banning student IDs at the polls.
SOUTH DAKOTA: A new law authorizes voters and election officials to challenge the citizenship of other registered voters based on “documented evidence”.
INDIANA: The Attorney General is defending a ban on student IDs in court, arguing that “voter motivation” is the decisive factor in participation.
NORTH CAROLINA: The State Board of Elections stopped bulk distribution of voter registration forms, a move critics say disenfranchises those without DMV IDs or internet access.
VIRGINIA: A federal court reaffirmed that Virginia cannot automatically disenfranchise all ex-felons.
Ballot initiatives and direct democracy
ARIZONA: The Senate passed a bill requiring paid circulators to follow a specific script and wear badges, which critics call an attempt to weaken the process.
UTAH: Legislative leaders are eyeing a special session to pass an amendment allowing them to alter or repeal voter-approved laws.
MASSACHUSETTS: The Senate asked the state’s highest court for an advisory opinion on whether ballot questions regarding public records and stipends are unconstitutional.
MONTANA: A statutory initiative to prohibit corporate political spending was cleared for signature gathering after a constitutional version was rejected on legal grounds.
System shifts and rule changes
ALABAMA: A House committee is considering closing state primaries, while another bill aims to end straight-ticket voting despite opposition from party leadership.
IDAHO: The House passed a bill to restore the presidential primary election.
KENTUCKY: Bipartisan bills would allow political parties to open their primaries to independent voters, aimed at pulling candidates toward the middle.
LOUISIANA: Lawmakers proposed exempting school board seats from new closed primary rules.
MAINE: The Attorney General broke with Democratic leaders to oppose the expansion of ranked-choice voting.
OREGON: Sen. Ron Wyden warned that USPS changes to mail collection and postmarking could disenfranchise voters relying on timely mail-in delivery.
Rights, oversight, and power
FLORIDA: The House approved a ban on local DEI initiatives, while the Attorney General threatened to remove Tampa’s mayor over an immigration enforcement dispute.
IOWA: Senators passed a bill preventing local governments from granting broader civil rights protections than state law, specifically targeting transgender rights.
TENNESSEE: A Nashville journalist arrested by ICE filed a lawsuit alleging the agency retaliated against her for critical reporting on enforcement activities.
ARIZONA: Republicans advanced a bill lowering the legal bar for politicians to sue critics for defamation, which experts say violates First Amendment law.
KENTUCKY: The House passed a bill allowing public agencies to require photo IDs for open records requests to verify residency.
Redistricting and representation
MISSOURI: A judge upheld a Republican-drawn congressional map that splits Kansas City, finding it met constitutional requirements for compactness.
VIRGINIA: Democrats are focusing on redistricting as early voting begins.
INDIANA: Trump allies are funding a $5 million “retribution campaign” against Republican state senators who voted down the administration’s preferred redistricting plan.
Budget troubles and session drama
ALASKA: The House postponed a vote on a supplemental budget bill after failing to secure enough votes to draw from state savings.
FLORIDA: The regular session ended without a budget due to ‘dysfunction between chambers’.
GEORGIA: The House approved a $38.5 billion budget with significant funding for literacy coaches and pay supplements for teachers.
IDAHO: A new report shows the state facing a $44.1 million deficit.
MAINE: Gov. Janet Mills proposed new spending to address federal shortfalls, despite forecasters predicting a bleaker long-term fiscal forecast.
MARYLAND: Revenue projections improved due to estate taxes, but officials warned of $13 billion in looming shortfalls over the next four years.
NEBRASKA: Lawmakers are moving toward closing a $646 million deficit through spending cuts and transfers from the state’s rainy day fund.
NEW MEXICO: Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an $11.1 billion budget that includes historic investments in universal child care and housing.
SOUTH CAROLINA: The House passed a $15.4 billion spending plan alongside income tax cuts that critics say will actually increase taxes for many.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Lawmakers adopted a $7.5 billion budget that includes 1.4% funding increases for education, health care, and state employees.
VIRGINIA: A dispute over whether to end a massive tax break for the data-center industry is threatening to delay the state budget.
WASHINGTON: The session ended with the passage of a $79.4 billion operating plan and a new tax on household income over $1 million.
Thank you, Beth. I appreciate these state-by-state roundups.