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A quick glance at attempts to change voting laws
(Status as of July 14, 2026)
- Mail-In Voting Executive Order: Trump signed an executive order targeting mail-in ballots and directing the Postal Service to strictly enforce how and to whom ballots are mailed. Civil rights groups and coalitions of state attorneys general have filed lawsuits to block it, arguing that only states and Congress hold the authority to set election rules. https://campaignlegal.org/update/campaign-legal-center-sues-trump-administration-over-another-unconstitutional-voting
- Changes to State Laws: Since the 2020 election, many states have turbocharged their efforts to restrict voting access. 2021 saw unprecedented action: At least 19 states enacted 32 laws that make it harder to vote. In 2025, states matched that total as at least 17 states enacted 32 restrictive laws, and so far in 2026 at least 9 states have passed 12 restrictive laws. The January 2025 through April 2026 total of 44 restrictive laws has already surpassed the previous two-year high of 43 set in 2021–22, and the year is not yet over. Here is a roundup of restrictive and expansive voting laws states have enacted: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/state-voting-laws-roundup-may-2026
- SAVE Act: The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE Act or SAVE America Act, stated purpose is to make sure only American citizens can vote. However, that is already law and is being enforced. While the SAVE act failed in the Senate, it could still be resubmitted to the House and Senate later. Rather than safeguarding our elections, the SAVE act is going to make it harder for millions of qualified American citizens to register to vote. Everything you need to know about the SAVE Act: https://www.vote.org/save-act/
- Data Collection: The DOJ and DHS have begun large-scale collection of state voter rolls, 19 states have complied: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/tracker-justice-department-requests-voter-information
- Pardons: Trump issued pardons for individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6th attack, which civil rights groups like the Brennan Center view as an endorsement of efforts to undermine democratic outcomes. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/timeline-trump-administrations-efforts-undermine-elections
- Heritage Center Fraud Database: An Assessment: The Brennan Center for Justice did an analysis of the Heritage Foundation’s Fraud Database and found that voter fraud is very rare.https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/heritage-fraud-database-assessment
- Executive Orders: A March 2025 executive order sought to require proof of citizenship for voter registration and threatened to withhold federal funding from states that accept mail-in ballots after Election Day. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/preserving-and-protecting-the-integrity-of-american-elections/
- Personnel Changes: At least 75 career officials involved in election security at the DHS and DOJ have been replaced by appointees, some of whom were previously active in the “election-denial” movement. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-midterm-elections-takeover-takeaways
