The consequential state elections to watch in 2025.

[link removed]

Thursday, December 12
For $120/year, upgrade to our premium membership ([link removed]) and support a pro-democracy news outlet committed to keeping you informed on voting and elections in the courts. Stay updated while helping us fight for a stronger democracy!

Congress passes bill to add more federal judgeships, Biden plans to veto it
* Congress passed ([link removed]) the bipartisan JUDGES Act to create 60+ new federal district court judges. President Joe Biden said he plans to veto the bill, saying that concerns over case backlogs are not the "true motivating force" behind the legislation as GOP proponents claim.
* The Senate unanimously passed ([link removed]) the legislation in August, and the House passed the bill today. Democrats have accused Republicans of holding the bill to give President-elect Donald Trump, and not Biden, the chance to fill the seats. The bill has received support from current judges and court reform groups.

Pennsylvania top election official tells SCOTUS to hear mail-in voting case
* Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt (R) urged ([link removed]) the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a mail-in voting case brought by the state conference of the NAACP.
* In his brief to the justices, Schmidt said he agreed with the plaintiffs that the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrongly decided that undated or misdated mail-in ballots shouldn’t be counted.

Consequential state elections to watch in 2025
* Every year is an election year. Read here ([link removed]) to learn about the state and local races to watch in 2025. The gubernatorial race in Virginia, the mayoral race in New York and the Supreme Court race in Wisconsin are just a few.

Voter ID amendment will be on North Carolina’s ballot in 2026
* North Carolina legislators voted ([link removed]) yesterday to put an amendment on the ballot in 2026 that would enshrine the state’s voter ID requirements into the constitution.
* The state passed ([link removed]) a law in 2018 requiring voters to provide photo IDs to cast ballots, and it has faced ([link removed]) multiple legal challenges since then.

Wisconsin judge dismisses GOP case involving Electoral College process
* A federal judge dismissed ([link removed]) a lawsuit today from the Wisconsin GOP over when the state's presidential electors must meet. Wisconsin's electors will meet on Dec. 17 — the date every other state follows.

NAACP ends lawsuit challenging two anti-democratic laws in Mississippi
* The NAACP voluntarily ended ([link removed]) its lawsuit challenging two power-grab laws that targeted Jackson, Mississippi. The claims were dismissed without prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs have the option to refile their claims in the future.

New York officials appeal decision blocking state’s even-year election law
* New York officials asked ([link removed]) the state's highest court to review a new law that moves some local elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered years. Lower courts agreed ([link removed]) with a group of counties that the law violates the New York Constitution.

[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

This is our free daily newsletter — help keep it that way and support ([link removed]) our work. You can upgrade ([link removed]) to our premium subscription to unlock exclusive insights, news and more. For questions about your subscription or general support, visit our FAQ page here ([link removed]) . You can ([link removed]) update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) .

View email in browser ([link removed]) .