Civil rights and voting
Voting access, redistricting, discrimination, and how government answers to people.
Elections in the United States are run by states and administered by counties. Congress can set national standards and enforce the Voting Rights Act, but registration, polling places, mail ballots and district lines are decided at the state and county level.
Who decides this
- Congress
- The Voting Rights Act, federal election standards, campaign finance law, and federal civil rights statutes.
- Your state
- Voter registration and ID rules, early and mail voting, redistricting, and ballot measure procedures.
- Your city or county
- Polling place locations and hours, election administration, and local ballot questions.
In Congress Senate Rules and Administration · Senate Judiciary · House Administration · House Judiciary
10 open questions
S. 1318 (House substitute)
Should Congress revive the lapsed Section 702 foreign surveillance program?
Section 702 of FISA lets intelligence agencies collect the communications of non-Americans abroad from U.S. providers without individual warrants — and Americans' messages swept in alongside them can be searched by the FBI. The House passed a three-year reauthorization in April (as an amendment to S. 1318), without the warrant requirement privacy advocates sought; the Senate declined to take it up, and the authority lapsed in June — an unprecedented gap for a program officials call the government's most valuable intelligence tool. Existing court certifications keep some collection running temporarily while negotiations continue this fall. Where do you stand?
H.R. 1074
Should Supreme Court justices serve 18-year terms instead of life?
The Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act (H.R. 1074) would establish 18-year active terms for Supreme Court justices, with a new appointment every two years; senior justices would rotate to a limited role rather than leave the bench, which sponsors argue makes the change possible by statute rather than constitutional amendment. The bill is sponsored only by Democrats - Senate Democrats reintroduced a companion in July 2026 - and has drawn no Republican support. Supporters say staggered terms would lower the stakes of each confirmation; opponents say the Constitution's grant of tenure "during good Behaviour" means life tenure that only a constitutional amendment can change. Where do you stand?
Question 7 · NV
Should Nevada require photo ID to vote? (Question 7)
Question 7 on Nevada's November 3, 2026 ballot would amend the state constitution to require photo identification to vote in person and the last four digits of a driver's license or Social Security number to vote by mail. Nevada constitutional initiatives must pass twice: voters approved it 73-27 in 2024, and this is the second, final vote. Supporters say verifying identity builds confidence in elections; opponents say it burdens eligible voters to address fraud that is extremely rare. Where do you stand?
S. 3991
Should Political Groups Have to Disclose Their Large Donors and Ad Spending?
The bill would require groups to publicly report large political spending and top donors. Supporters cite transparency; opponents cite privacy and free-speech concerns. Where do you land?
H.R. 14
Should Congress Restore Federal Preclearance of State Voting-Law Changes?
The bill would restore federal review of voting changes in certain jurisdictions. Supporters cite protecting voters; opponents cite federal overreach and outdated criteria. Where do you land?
S. 2885
Should Congress Require Independent Commissions to End Partisan Gerrymandering?
The bill would require independent redistricting commissions and ban most mid-decade map changes. Supporters cite fairness; opponents cite states rights. Where do you land?
H.R. 2540
Should Congress Raise the SSI Savings Limit From $2,000 to $10,000?
The bill would raise SSI asset limits, unchanged for decades, and index them to inflation. Supporters cite letting recipients save; opponents cite added program cost. Where do you land?
H.R. 5361
Should Congress Set New Federal Standards for Police Accountability?
The bill would limit qualified immunity, restrict some use-of-force tactics, and create a misconduct registry. Supporters cite accountability; opponents cite officer recruitment and local control. Where do you land?
H.R. 22
Should voters have to prove citizenship to register and show ID to vote?
The SAVE Act (H.R. 22) would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote in federal elections, and direct states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls. The House passed it in April 2025, and it has stalled in the Senate since. Supporters say it protects election integrity; critics say it could burden millions of eligible citizens. Where do you stand?
Federal policy
Should Members of Congress Be Allowed to Trade Stocks?
Members of Congress vote on laws that move markets while trading individual stocks. Bipartisan majorities of voters back a ban, but Congress hasn't passed one. Where do you stand?
Common questions
- Who decides whether I need ID to vote?
- Your state. Voter ID requirements are state law, often set by the legislature and sometimes by ballot measure.
- Who draws congressional districts?
- Your state, usually the legislature and in some states an independent commission. Congress sets only broad requirements.