Year: 2021
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A look back at government responses to the coronavirus pandemic, Sept. 21-25, 2020
Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout the year, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, issued mask mandates, and changed election dates. Here are the policy changes that happened Sept. 21-25,…
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How Clallam County picks its governors
Clallam County, Wash., knows how to pick a winner— at least when it comes to presidential politics. Every four years, going back to 1980, it has voted for the winning presidential candidate, making it the county with the longest record of anticipating the country’s next commander-in-chief— whether Republican or Democrat. That puts Clallam County at…
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Ohio Redistricting Commission approves new state legislative maps along party lines
The Ohio Redistricting Commission approved new state legislative district maps by a 5-2 vote early in the morning on Sept. 16. The two Democratic members of the commission, state Rep. Emilia Sykes (D) and state Sen. Vernon Sykes (D), were the two dissenting votes. Since the map was approved along partisan lines, it will only…
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U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R) will not seek re-election in 2022
On Sept. 16, 2021, U.S. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R) announced he would not seek re-election in 2022. Gonzalez, who represents Ohio’s 16th Congressional District, said his choice to not seek re-election was a result of the current political environment: “Politically the environment is so toxic, especially in our own party right now,” he said. “You…
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2021 statewide ballot measures written at second-year graduate school reading level
The ballot language for the 39 ballot measures appearing on nine statewide ballots in 2021 is written at an average reading grade level of 18 (second-year graduate school), up from 15 in 2019. Ballotpedia’s annual readability analysis of ballot titles and summaries of ballot measures was conducted using two formulas, the Flesch Reading Ease (FRE)…
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Annapolis municipal primary election to be held on Sept. 21
The primary election for Annapolis in Maryland is on Sept. 21. Candidates are competing to advance to the general scheduled for Nov. 2. The filing deadline to run passed on July 26. Candidates filed for mayor and eight seats on the city council. The Democratic and Republican mayoral primaries have been canceled. Gavin Buckley (D)…
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U.S. Census Bureau releases easier-to-use format of 2020 census data on Sept. 16
The U.S. Census Bureau released data from the 2020 census in an easier-to-use format to both the states and the public at data.census.gov on Sept. 16. The Census Bureau also delivered DVDs and flash drives of the data to state legislatures and redistricting authorities. It had previously announced that it would release this summary data…
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Public-sector union responses to COVID-19 vaccine mandates
Exploring public-sector union responses to COVID-19 vaccine mandates Public-sector unions have issued a range of responses to federal and state mandates requiring government workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine. However, most unions state that they should have input on how such policies are implemented. Public-sector union responses to federal vaccine mandate On Sept. 9, President…
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Special elections to be held in Texas House districts
Special elections are being held on Sept. 28 for District 10 and District 118 of the Texas House of Representatives. The winner of these special elections will serve until January 2023. In District 10, Republicans Brian Harrison and John Wray are running in a general election runoff. Harrison and Wray advanced from the general election…