The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration held a hearing March 12 on the controversial tactics states and the federal government have used and proposed in response to claims of voter fraud. Senators who testified were sharply divided along partisan lines. Democrats argued that voter fraud is a false pretence used to justify laws that disenfranchise poor, minority, and elderly voters, but Republicans asserted that the problem is real and needs to be addressed. Nonpartisan witnesses cautioned lawmakers against exaggerating the extent of any election fraud.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties held a hearing on Feb. 26 to examine the problems of voter suppression and poor enforcement of voting rights. The hearing largely focused on the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) lax enforcement of voting rights mandates in the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Evidence of tactics to prevent people from voting (voter suppression) was also presented.

On Feb. 11, a federal judge in Ohio issued a permanent injunction blocking enforcement of a state law restricting voter registration activities. The Ohio law in question in Project Vote v. Blackwell limited the ability of third parties such as nonprofits to register citizens to vote in the state. Voting rights advocates hailed the decision as a victory for minority, disabled, and low-income voters who often rely on nonprofits to help with registration.