WRDI Watch

Over the past few weeks, election news has picked up quickly.

Congress is still looking for a path to pass the SAVE America Act. States continue changing voting laws. Another round of redistricting has reshaped voting maps. And the federal government is becoming much more involved in state election administration.

I thought this would be a good time to step back and look at where things stand—and, more importantly, what seems most important for women to be watching as we head toward November.

That's also why this issue marks the start of WRDI's election-season coverage.

Over the next few months, we'll be following the developments that could affect how women vote, who represents them, and how those elections may shape women's rights after Election Day.

I hope you'll follow along.

— Julie

What We're Watching

Voting

For many women, proving eligibility isn't the challenge—it's navigating a much longer paper trail.

Marriage, divorce, remarriage, and other life events often leave birth certificates, driver's licenses, passports, and voter registration records reflecting different legal names. Most of the time, those differences don't matter. But proposals that place greater emphasis on documentary proof of citizenship—or matching records across multiple government databases—could make them much more important.

The SAVE America Act remains a priority for the administration and would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register or update a voter registration. An estimated 84% of women who marry change their surname, and as many as 69 million women may not have a birth certificate reflecting their current legal name. If legislation requiring new documentation moves forward shortly before the election, many eligible women would have very little time to obtain the documents they need before state registration deadlines.

State policy changes are moving ahead as well. Several states—including South Dakota, Utah, New Hampshire, and Wyoming—have enacted or expanded proof-of-citizenship requirements or voter verification procedures, while others continue considering similar proposals. As these laws are implemented, we'll be watching how they affect women whose legal documents span different names.

Federal voter verification efforts are also expanding. The Department of Justice continues to seek access to state voter registration records as part of its broader citizenship verification initiatives. While many of the legal battles are still unfolding, this highlights a broader trend toward matching identity records across multiple government databases—a process that could also create additional hurdles for women whose legal names have changed over time.

Civic Representation

In May, we dedicated an entire newsletter to the Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act decision and what it could mean for women's political influence.

Across several states, redistricting decisions made over the past year are reshaping the districts where candidates will compete this November. District boundaries determine which neighborhoods and communities vote together to elect a representative. When those boundaries change, the political makeup of a district can change as well, making it easier—or harder—for certain candidates to win.

For example, longtime Ohio Representative Marcy Kaptur is seeking reelection in a district that became more Republican following redistricting. In Texas, Representative Sylvia Garcia successfully defended her seat in a district whose political and demographic makeup changed after new maps were adopted.

Women currently hold about 28% of the seats in Congress and roughly one-third of state legislative seats nationwide. Because women remain underrepresented in elected office, even relatively small shifts in district boundaries can influence who serves—and which issues receive attention after the election.

But this isn't only about electing more women. District maps also affect whether communities are able to elect candidates—women or men—who prioritize issues affecting women's healthcare, education, workplace protections, public safety, and family policy.

👉 Read the full article: Election season is underway. Here's what we're watching—and why it matters for women.

👉 Related WRDI coverage:

Before November

Whether or not additional election changes are adopted before the midterms, now is a good time to prepare (I find VOTE411 to be a useful starting point):

Confirm your voter registration is current - now and again in the fall.
Review your state's voter registration and identification requirements.
If you've changed your name through marriage, divorce, or another legal process, consider checking that your voting records and identification documents are consistent.
Bookmark our 2026 Elections Hub. We'll continue updating it throughout the election season.

WRDI's 2026 Elections Coverage

Our 2026 Elections Hub brings together the resources we're using to follow this election season.

Today you'll find:

State Election Watch pages for the nine states we're watching most closely.
Election Resources, including questions to ask candidates and explainers on constitutional amendments.

Between now and November, we plan to add:

Candidate Guides for major statewide races.
Election Updates as important developments unfold.

Our focus will remain on the elections and policy changes most likely to affect women's rights.

Track What's Happening in Your State

Women’s rights don’t look the same across the country. Our state pages are updated monthly to help you understand what rights are currently in effect, what's changing, and how policy shifts may impact women where you live.

View State Map