WRDI Watch

Note from Julie

Hi — I’m Julie, founder of the Women’s Rights Data Initiative.

I started WRDI because I was struggling to understand what was actually happening to women’s rights across the country. The information was everywhere — headlines, court decisions, legislative proposals — yet it was surprisingly difficult to see the full picture.

WRDI exists to bring that picture into focus by tracking policy changes across the country and translating them into clear, plain-language explanations.

Each issue of WRDI Watch highlights developments I’m monitoring and explains why they matter.

For this inaugural issue, I’m focusing on changes to voting rules and election procedures ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Thanks for reading.

— Julie

In Brief

Across the United States, several developments are beginning to shape the landscape for the 2026 midterm elections.

At the federal level, lawmakers are debating proposals such as the SAVE Act, which could change documentation requirements for voter registration. At the same time, court rulings and legislative proposals in several states are influencing election procedures, district maps, and voter identification rules.

Many of these changes focus on how voters register, verify their identity, or access ballots. Because women are more likely to change their legal name, rely on absentee voting, and carry a larger share of caregiving responsibilities, shifts in documentation rules, deadlines, or procedures can affect how easily they are able to participate in elections.

What We're Watching