Proof of citizenship for voter registration, AI deepfake legislation, redistricting
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Here are the top stories from the week of July 21 - July 25.
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A look at state laws requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration
In 1996, the U.S. Congress passed a law prohibiting noncitizens from voting in federal elections. However, it does not apply to state and local offices. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot require proof of citizenship with federal registration forms. That meant states needed to create a separate registration system for state elections to require proof of citizenship.
As a result, the 49 states with voter registration systems (North Dakota does not have a voter registration system) have taken different approaches toward voter registration.
In all 49 states, applicants registering to vote must declare they are U.S. citizens by signing a declaration under penalty of perjury or other punishment. In seven of those 49 states, applicants must also provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration by providing official documentation such as a birth certificate or passport.
In six of those seven states, proof of citizenship is required only for new registrants. In Wyoming, however, new registrants and those updating their voter registration must provide proof of citizenship.
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Forty-seven states have enacted deepfake legislation since 2019
As artificial intelligence (AI) has become more advanced, one topic that has become a growing political and social issue is the use of deepfakes. Deepfakes are AI-generated or manipulated videos, images, or audio files that realistically portray something that did not actually occur.
Since 2019, 47 states have enacted laws addressing deepfakes. The three states without such legislation are Alaska, Missouri, and Ohio. Some states have also enacted multiple laws addressing deepfakes. The states that have enacted the most deepfake laws since 2019 are California (18), Texas (10), New York (8), and Utah (8).
Read our full mid-year deepfake legislation report at the link below, and take a look at our AI Deepfake Legislation Tracker.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom is considering redistricting as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calls a special session
On July 21, Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) called a special legislative session to address multiple topics, including redrawing the state's congressional districts.
On Pod Save America, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) responded, saying, "I'm talking to members of my Legislature... I could call for [a special session] today, if I chose to. We could then put something on the ballot, and I could call a special election."
In Wednesday’s Daily Brew, we explained how redistricting in between Census surveys might work in California.
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Supreme Court changes agency power in 13 administrative state rulings
The U.S. Supreme Court ended its October 2024 term on June 27, 2025. The Court issued 13 decisions related to the administrative state, affecting federal agency operations and oversight.
The most notable decisions included:
Narrowing the use of nationwide injunctions
Limiting where companies can file lawsuits to challenge regulations
Making it easier for third parties to challenge agency actions
The court also clarified constitutional boundaries on agency appointments, declined to revive broad nondelegation challenges, and raised the bar for regulatory authority under ambiguous statutes.
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