By Wendy Underhill

I decided to read the State of the Union address last night.

I’d seen it last week, and I’d heard the commentary, but I wanted to read it for the fine points President Obama made relating to elections and redistricting in particular.  Here’s what he said:

Redistricting:  “I think we've got to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters, and not the other way around.”

Elections: “We’ve got to make it easier to vote, not harder.”

Campaign finance: “We have to reduce the influence of money in our politics, so that a handful of families or hidden interests can’t bankroll our elections. And if our existing approach to campaign finance reform can’t pass muster in the courts, we need to work together to find a real solution -- because it's a problem. And most of you don't like raising money. I know; I've done it.” (This got some chuckles, since he was in a room full of people who know a lot about filling campaign treasuries.)

We may or may not agree with his contention that the political system needs fixing but what we can agree on is that all three subjects are largely in the bailiwick of state legislatures.  

And that changes on these issues are not likely to come through Congress anytime soon. The states are where the action is.  

In 2015, according to NCSL’s resources, there were 2,355 bills and 241 enactments relating to elections policy, 788 bills and 94 enactments pertaining to campaign finance, 152 bills and six enactments relating to redistricting.

States may like that the President highlighted these issue areas—but now it is up to lawmakers to decide if action is warranted or not.

Wendy Underhill is in charge of NCSL’s Elections and Campaigns Program. Email Wendy