General election early voting started this week
Early voting kicked off on Sept. 23 for voters in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. On Sept. 24, it begins in Vermont and Virginia.
On Sept. 29, voters in Illinois, Michigan, and North Dakota can head to the polls. Pennsylvania voters might also have the ability to vote early this month depending on their county. The exact start date varies based on when counties finalize their November ballots.
Another 35 states begin early voting in October, and two—Kentucky and Oklahoma—begin early voting in November.
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Minority party in seven states is contesting more state legislative seats than majority party
In most states, the party that controls both legislative chambers is contesting more seats in November than the minority, or out-of-power, party. However, five states under Democratic control have more Republican candidates running in general elections. Two states under Republican control have more Democratic candidates.
Overall, Democrats are contesting more seats than Republicans in 14 states. And Republicans are contesting more seats than Democrats in 32.
Ballot measures on ballot measures—previewing five measures that could change the initiative process this year
Here’s a rundown of the five measures that would change statewide initiative procedures:
- Arkansas Issue 2: Would amend the Arkansas Constitution to require a 60% vote to adopt constitutional amendments (legislatively referred and citizen-initiated) and citizen-initiated state statutes. The measure would not affect veto referendums.
- Arizona Proposition 128: Would amend the Arizona Constitution to allow the Legislature to amend or repeal voter-approved ballot initiatives if either the Arizona Supreme Court or the U.S. Supreme Court has declared any portion invalid.
- Arizona Proposition 129: Would amend the Arizona Constitution to require that citizen-initiated ballot measures have a single subject.
- Arizona Proposition 132: Would amend the Arizona Constitution to require a 60% vote to pass ballot measures to approve taxes.
- Colorado Proposition GG: Would require the ballot titles and fiscal impact summaries for initiatives related to income taxes to include information on how the change would affect income taxes on different categories of income.