Year: 2022
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Austin initiative to decriminalize marijuana and prohibit no-knock warrants submitted over 20,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot
On Jan. 10, the Austin City Clerk announced that an initiative to decriminalize marijuana and prohibit no-knock warrants had qualified for the ballot. Proponents submitted over 20,000 valid signatures meeting the required number to appear on the local ballot. The clerk used a random sampling method of 25% of signatures submitted or 8,334 raw signatures…
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Michigan governor signs executive order establishing unemployment fraud response team
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on Dec. 29, 2021, signed Executive Order 2021-16, which established an unemployment fraud response team to recommend actions to the director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and the heads of other executive departments for reducing the number of fraudulent unemployment insurance claims the state pays. The…
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3 Nebraska school board members keep seats in Jan. 11 recall elections
The Waverly and Leyton school districts in Nebraska held recall elections on Jan. 11 against a total of three school board members. A majority of voters cast ballots against all three recalls, keeping the board members in office. Ward 4 representative Andy Grosshans was on the ballot in the Waverly School District 145. Recall supporters…
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Redistricting map updates: proposals, advancements, and enactments between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12
Between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, officials in at least five states either proposed, advanced, or enacted new redistricting maps. Proposed Hawaii: On Jan. 6, the Hawaii Reapportionment Commission approved a motion to modify the legislative maps it originally approved for consideration on Oct. 28, 2021. The deadline to finalize maps is Feb. 27. This…
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New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner retires
On Jan. 10, 2022, New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner (D) retired. Gardner is the longest-serving secretary of state, having been first elected secretary by the state legislature in 1976. Before serving as secretary, Gardner served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1973 to 1976. Deputy Secretary of State…
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Rhode Island Reapportionment Commission approves new guidelines for counting of incarcerated individuals
On Jan. 5, 2022, the Rhode Island Reapportionment Commission voted 15-1 to approve new guidelines concerning the counting of incarcerated individuals for the purpose of redistricting. Under the new rules, people incarcerated for less than two years will be counted as residents of their former residences in future General Assembly and Congressional map drafts. Previously,…