Hundreds of bills to improve access to the polls have been introduced leading up to the 2014 election, in sharp contrast to the spate of restrictive laws introduced before 2012, according to a new analysis issued today by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law.
In 2014, 190 bills to expand voting access have been introduced in 31 states, compared to 49 restrictive measures in 19 states, the new analysis found. This builds on momentum from 2013, when 46 states introduced 237 bills to improve voting, compared to 33 states introducing 92 restrictive measures. Ten states ultimately passed 13 bills to expand access, compared to eight states passing nine restrictive laws.
The trend marks an abrupt reversal from before the 2012 election, when 41 states introduced 180 restrictive voting bills. Overall, 19 states passed 27 measures making it harder to vote.