Author

Zachary Roth

Zachary Roth

Zachary Roth is the National Democracy Reporter for States Newsroom.

Anti-democratic moves by state lawmakers raise fears for 2024 election

By: - September 24, 2023

In Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers are threatening to impeach both the state’s election administrator, who is highly regarded nationally, and a state Supreme Court justice despite a ruling by the state’s judicial commission that the justice had done nothing wrong — effectively nullifying a recent statewide election she won, Democrats say. In North Carolina, a bill […]

Not just Ohio: Biased language is the hot new tactic to thwart ballot measures

By: - September 1, 2023

Abortion-rights supporters filed a lawsuit Monday against what they call “deceptive” ballot language produced by Ohio officials for the state’s closely-watched upcoming referendum on the issue. But it isn’t just the Buckeye State that’s lately seeing fierce battles over the once-obscure topic of ballot language. In recent weeks, officials in Missouri — where another abortion-rights […]

Americans are worried about democracy. You wouldn’t know it from the GOP debate.

By: - August 25, 2023

There’s a growing feeling, among both experts and ordinary Americans, that our democracy isn’t functioning well — and even that it’s under threat. “American democracy is cracking,” the Washington Post reported August 18. “I’m terrified,” one democracy expert told the paper. “I think we are in bad shape, and I don’t know a way out.” […]

Ohio voters are deciding if it’s too easy to pass ballot measures. Other states are watching.

By: and - August 5, 2023

CLEVELAND — Ohioans over the last century have used the state’s ballot initiative process to pass constitutional amendments that raised the minimum wage, integrated the National Guard and removed the phrase “white male” from the constitution’s list of voter eligibility requirements. Now, lawmakers want to make it much tougher for an initiative to be approved. […]

a sign that reads "vote" behind an american flag

Changes in state election laws have little impact on results, new study finds

By: - July 17, 2023

'I would like the public discussion of these issues to be less partisan. It’s the only way forward beyond the voting wars,' a Penn prof said.

The jump comes after Massachusetts implemented an automatic voter registration system that includes Medicaid applicants. Any eligible voter in the state who applies for Medicaid is automatically added to the rolls, unless they opt out. (Getty Images)

As states hunt for new voters, Massachusetts adds thousands via Medicaid applications

By: - July 7, 2023

During the 2021-22 election cycle, 166,539 people in Massachusetts applied to be registered to vote through social service agencies.

A group of U.S. Senate Democrats is pressing the Biden administration to make it easier for the millions of Americans who sign up each year for health insurance through a federal website to register to vote. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images).

Federal health insurance website lags in voter registration assistance, Democrats charge

By: - July 4, 2023

The government has made progress -- but can do more, Democratic senators, led by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. argue

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 21 bills that restrict voting or interfere with election administration were either signed into law, or await the governor’s signature, as of May 29 (Photo via the New Jersey Monitor).

Red and blue state divide grows even wider in 2023’s top voting and election laws

By: - June 26, 2023

Red states and blue states 'are moving in opposite directions in the regulation of election administration,' one expert said.

An analysis by States Newsroom found that eight states had voter turnout rates of below 50 percent when averaged between the last two national elections, and several of those states have since imposed new restrictions that are likely to make voting harder. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

States with low election turnout did little in 2023 to expand voting access

By: - June 18, 2023

Eight states had turnout rates of below 50% when they were averaged between the last two national elections.

The Guardian, or Authority of Law, created by sculptor James Earle Fraser, rests on the side of the U.S. Supreme Court on September 28, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Al Drago/Getty Images).

Ruling in Alabama case could boost suits increasing Black voters’ power in other states

By: - June 12, 2023

The ruling could give a boost to more than two dozen other ongoing efforts to challenge political maps as racial gerrymanders.

A week out from Election Day, outside groups have reported spending $7.7 million on behalf of Democratic and Republican candidates. (Photo by Daniella Heminghaus for the New Jersey Monitor)

GOP-led states plan new voter data systems to replace one they rejected. Good luck with that

By: - May 30, 2023

Some states, including Texas and Virginia, have said they plan to create their own data-sharing networks to replace ERIC

Students walking together

A top GOP lawyer wants to crack down on the college vote. States already are

By: - April 30, 2023

Efforts to make it difficult for students and other young people to vote are almost as old as the 26th Amendment.