In 2024, New Yorkers adopted an Amendment that expanded the state constitution’s Equal Protection Clause to bar discrimination based on ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, pregnancy status, reproductive healthcare & more. Learn more at 50constitutions.org/ny

Mail voting is under unprecedented federal pressure ahead of the 2026 midterms. From the White House to the Supreme Court to Congress, the threats to this widely used form of voting are mounting. Our new Explainer explores what's happening and what states can do about it: go.wisc.edu/622s38

State courts are encountering a new type of “vote dilution” claim, which asserts that certain election practices are unconstitutional because they increase the hypothetical risk of voter fraud, and thus dilute the weight of “legal” ballots. Our latest Report unpacks these claims: go.wisc.edu/n9nk35

North Carolina's 2024 Supreme Court race took 6 months of litigation to resolve, while some worry that similar post-election challenges could affect control of Congress. But state supreme courts have tools to prevent this. Learn more in our new explainer: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/how...

For decades, ICE limited enforcement operations at locations like schools and hospitals. Both Trump Administrations rescinded those guidelines. @harrisonstark.bsky.social discusses states & localities’ ability to adopt their own policies in a new report: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/can...

🎓 Congratulations to the Class of 2026 @law.wisc.edu Graduates, especially those who worked with us here at SDRI. We look forward to staying in touch and can't wait to see where you all go next!

🚨SDRI is hiring!🚨 Learn more about our Staff Attorney and Fellowship opportunities here ➡️ statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/get-involved...

Join us for "The Work of State Supreme Courts" on May 29, from 9-10:30 am, featuring state supreme court justices from across the country! Register to join us in-person or online⬇️ go.wisc.edu/h2ef9d

State and local governments are increasingly using property law to push back on ICE operations. Our new report unpacks the viability of these efforts, from banning new detention centers to barring officers from staging operations on city property. statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/sta...

🚨Register now: go.wisc.edu/5sgx2j%F0%9F... A reminder to register for our event on the changing politics of Gen Z. Experts will discuss rising youth participation, attitudes toward parties and institutions, and what these shifts mean for the future of American politics.

📢🚀🚨 We just launched our new website! 🚨🚀📢 📍It's easier to navigate 🔍 Has improved search features 📌And allows users to filter our work by topic and type! Check it out at statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu 👉💻⬇️

Join us for the next installment in our Election Matters series, "The Battle Over Mid-Decade Redistricting" on March 6, 3-4:15 pm CT. Panelists will offer an update on mid-decade redistricting and how it may impact the 2026 midterms. Register here: go.wisc.edu/95y7s8

If you'd like to learn more about the power of states to prosecute federal officials, check out my colleague Bryna's explainer on the issue.

The federal government has been suing states to force them to hand over full voter registration lists, including personal details protected by state privacy law. Yesterday, DC, GA, IL, and WI became the latest to be sued. Our new explainer analyzes these legal disputes. go.wisc.edu/xb7m0v

As the federal government pulls back from policing public corruption, can states help to fill the void? This explainer by @bgodar.bsky.social explores the potential for states to use their own anticorruption laws and other tools to address federal-level corruption. go.wisc.edu/ive401

With some federal agents now wearing masks on the job, a growing number of states are considering mask bans. Can states apply such laws to federal actors without contravening the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause? We explore this question in a new Explainer: go.wisc.edu/bn0b1c

Join us for “Judging in State Appellate Courts” on Thursday, October 30, from 12:00-1:00 pm CT. This event will take place in-person in Lubar Commons (room 7200) of the UW Law School, with the option to attend virtually. Lunch will be provided. go.wisc.edu/zame95

Join us for the next installment in our Election Matters panel series on "Money, Politics, and the First Amendment." This event will explore the impacts of increasingly expensive elections and the tension between campaign finance regulation and free speech. Register here: go.wisc.edu/190re6

📢Call for papers for a Scholarship Roundtable on State and Local Governance, organized by @uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social and Professors Alexandra Klass, Nina Mendelson, and @chrisjwalker.bsky.social and taking place at @umichlaw.bsky.social, 4/10/26 in Ann Arbor! Details here: go.wisc.edu/rx53ph

Join us for “Education Rights and State Constitutions” on Friday, September 12 from 3:00-4:15pm Central Time, with a reception to follow. This event will take place in-person in Room 2260 in the UW Law School, with the option to attend virtually. go.wisc.edu/7ig7qx

Can states criminally prosecute wrongdoing by federal officials? Can states authorize people to bring civil damages actions against federal officials who act unconstitutionally? We explore these questions in two new explainers. 1/ go.wisc.edu/yb8t55

🚨50 Constitutions Update🚨 Our latest update to 50constitutions.org adds tracking constitutional change features to 4 additional states! These tools allow users to explore a state's full amendment history. 50constitutions.org

📣 UW Law School's State Democracy Research Initiative is hiring! We’re searching for a program coordinator to support SDRI in all aspects of its work, from events to communications and research support. Apply here: go.wisc.edu/6p0b3n

New: The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that an 1849 law on abortion was impliedly repealed by later abortion legislation, so it no longer operates as a ban on abortion. Read the opinion here: www.wicourts.gov/sc/opinion/D...

Join us for “Year in Review: Democracy Litigation in SCOTUS and the States” Thursday, July 10 at 3pm CT, at the Madison Public Library or online. The panel will highlight the past year’s significant democracy-related decisions at both the state and federal levels. Register here: go.wisc.edu/bl85id

Thank you to the Gargoyle for highlighting Liz Gracie and John Miller’s generosity in contributing $50,000 to establish a matching gift for SDRI. We are so grateful to them and the other donors! gargoyle.law.wisc.edu/2025/06/supp...

Join us for "The Work of State Supreme Courts" on May 30, from 9-10:30am, featuring state supreme court justices from across the country! Register for in-person or online⬇️ go.wisc.edu/p12jci

Our fantastic program coordinator is off to law school, so we're looking for someone to replace him this summer. Please share the listing!

Elon Musk is holding a rally where he will pay $1 million to two people who have voted in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. This almost certainly violates Wisconsin's election bribery law, which prohibits giving or offering anything of value to induce someone to vote. apnews.com/article/wisc...

All eyes are on Wisconsin’s high-stakes April 1 Supreme Court election. But two days later, the court will hear a major legal battle over $50 million for childhood literacy between legislators and the Department of Public Instruction. Our latest breaks down the issues and stakes: go.wisc.edu/10pr00

In case you're getting postcards with the wrong date, a reminder that Wisconsin's election, including the WI Supreme Court race, is April FIRST (April 1). www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/p...

In an effort to counter the myopic and distorted campaign ads, we've published an explainer on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court candidates. Please check it out and share!

Join us for “Local Perspectives: Mayors in American Governance” on Tuesday, April 1, from 12-1pm CT, at the UW Law School. Panelists include Mayors Julia Arata-Fratta, David Holt, Kim Norton, Steve Patterson, and Sangeetha Rayapati. Miriam Seifter is moderating. Register here: go.wisc.edu/x8j35p

We're hiring! There's still time to apply for our open positions! Deadline is March 16.

On April 1, Wisconsinites will vote on a proposal from the legislature to add a voter ID requirement to the state constitution. If approved, the amendment would make it harder to change the state's existing voter ID laws. Check out our explainer to learn more: go.wisc.edu/d78ch0

Come work with us! Check out these two job postings and please share!

Join us for “Understanding State Supreme Court Elections: Wisconsin and Beyond” Friday, March 7 at 3pm CT, at the UW Law School or online. Panelists include @bcburden.bsky.social, Michael Kang, and @yeargain.bsky.social, with @miriamseifter.bsky.social moderating. Register here: go.wisc.edu/96y654

Fresh this new year, we're continuing to highlight state constitutions -- please check out New Mexico's at 50constitutions.org.

The outcome of November's NC Supreme Court election is being litigated, with more than 60,000 votes being challenged. This explainer from SDRI’s @ewlau.bsky.social offers background on the dispute and how it made its way to court: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/featured/202...

Although convention delegates eventually compromised on the substance of Minnesota’s first constitution, delegates from opposing political parties refused to sign the same document. So, they created two copies to sign and present to Congress. Learn more at 50constitutions.org/mn

In 1976, Alaska voters amended their constitution to create the Alaska Permanent Fund. This fund invests a portion of natural resource development revenue and pays out an annual dividend to Alaskan residents. Learn more about the Alaska Constitution at: 50constitutions.org/ak

Before the 19th amendment extended voting rights to women nationwide, advocates had successfully been advancing women's suffrage through state constitutional amendments. Learn more about the Idaho constitution at 50constitutions.org/id

Breaking: The North Carolina Legislature overrode Gov. Cooper’s veto of SB 382, a controversial power grab tied to hurricane relief. Here’s an explainer from SDRI's @derekclinger.bsky.social analyzing the bill and situating it within similar efforts in NC and beyond: go.wisc.edu/7x7qdf 1/

🚨50 Constitutions Update🚨 Our latest update to 50constitutions.org adds tracking constitutional change features to 9 states! These tools allow users to explore a state's full amendment history. (Additional states coming in 2025!)

The annual Wisconsin Law Review issue on public law in the states is live! Great essays by @oldfatherc.bsky.social, @kmtani.bsky.social, @slwashington.bsky.social, @chrisjwalker.bsky.social, @robyablon.bsky.social and @derekclinger.bsky.social, and more. Wlr.law.wisc.edu/volume-2024-no-5/

Join us on Nov 21 at 12pm Central Time for a free webinar approved for 1 WI Ethics CLE credit. This virtual panel, "Understanding Judicial Ethics Enforcement," will provide an overview of recent judicial ethics disputes and developments. Register here: go.wisc.edu/l057vv

Our latest report, Direct Democracy in the States: A 50-State Survey of the Journey to the Ballot, reviews states’ varied laws affecting direct democracy. You can read our summary and state-by-state findings here: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/direct-democ...

Our latest report, Unpacking State Legislative Vetoes, explores a little-known governance tool that can have a big impact on state policy. SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social & Derek Clinger detail how state legislative vetoes work and analyze their constitutionality. go.wisc.edu/3jt034

Check out our cool new tool for state constitutional research: 50constitutions.org. Access the full text of all 50 state constitutions and search across states. For WI (and other states soon), track constitutional change across time. More features to come—feedback welcome!