North Carolina’s Voter ID Law: Unpacking the Debate Over SB 824
Introduction In the United States, voter ID requirements vary widely by state law. Currently, thirty-eight states strictly require residents to present ID before they can cast a countable ballot. Voter ID laws fall into four types: strict photo, strict non-photo, non-strict photo, and non-strict non-photo. Strict photo ID laws require voters to present photo identification […]
Pros and Cons of New Hampshire’s SB 418: How the New Voter ID Law Affects First-Time Voters
What is SB 418? On June 16, 2022, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed a new piece of voting legislation: Senate Bill 418. Before SB 418, first-time voters who could not provide documents proving their identity at a polling place could still cast a ballot by signing a Qualified Voter Affidavit under oath. SB 418 […]
Pros and Cons of New York’s Regulation of Financial Institutions and Chatboxes
Chatbots, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), have become increasingly prevalent in the banking industry. The implementation of chatbots in banking increases customer satisfaction and loyalty through offering instant and round-the-clock support to handle a large volume of customer queries and address customer inquiries promptly. Around 37% of the U.S. population engaged with a bank’s chatbot […]
Understanding the AI in Healthcare Debate
Background What is Artificial Intelligence? Artificial intelligence, more commonly referred to as AI, encompasses many technologies that enable computers to simulate human intelligence and problem solving abilities. AI includes machine learning, which allows computers to imitate human learning, and deep learning, a subset of machine learning that simulates the decision making processes of the human […]
American Privacy Rights Act: Pros, Cons, and Impact on Consumer Data Protection
Introduction The American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) is a new bill introduced in Spring 2024 that seeks to implement a nationwide set of consumer privacy laws. Currently, no national framework exists. A previous bill with similar goals, the American Data Privacy Protection Act, failed to pass in 2022. The APRA would, among other things: Support […]
Understanding PADFA: The Pros and Cons of the Federal Government’s Approach to American Data Privacy
A new law addressing the national security risks of the data brokerage industry took effect on June 23, 2024, following bipartisan approval in January. The bill, known as the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act or PADFAA, seeks to limit the transfer of sensitive American data to firms owned or controlled by Russia, China, […]
Should Election Day Become a Federal Holiday? Weighing the Benefits and Drawbacks
Election Day is always held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November during an election year. Congress codified this tradition in 1845 to account for the nation’s largely agrarian labor force who needed most other days of the week to tend to their crops, travel, or worship. In modern times, many argue that […]
Freedom to Vote Act: Pros, Cons, and Impact on U.S. Elections
Background The Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA) is a bill under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives that would expand protections for voting rights in the United States. The bill was originally introduced in 2019 during the 116th U.S. Congress as the For the People Act (FTPA). After being blocked in the Senate, the […]
Automatic Voter Registration: A Closer Look at the Ongoing Debate
In all states except North Dakota, eligible voters must register to vote before casting a ballot in any election. Each state’s voter registration requirements vary, but most states retain voters’ name, date of birth, address, and party affiliation. While the 1993 Voter Registration Act (also known as the “Motor Voter” law) allowed eligible voters to […]
Showdown in New York: Tim Walz and JD Vance Face Off in a High-Stakes Vice Presidential Debate
Tuesday, October 1st marked the first and only Vice Presidental debate between Democratic candidate Governor Tim Walz and Republican candidate Senator JD Vance. Hosted by CBS, the debate took place a the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City. Like the Presidential debate, this debate had no audience. Additionally, candidates were not allowed to bring […]