Year: 2025

  • Texas Education Agency takes control of 11th school district since 2000

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Texas Education Agency takes control of 11th school district since 2000 A version of this story appeared in Hall Pass, Ballotpedia’s newsletter dedicated to school board politics and education policy, on Nov. 5.…

  • Girmay Zahilay defeated Claudia Balducci in nonpartisan general election for King County, Washington, executive

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    Girmay Zahilay defeated Claudia Balducci in the nonpartisan general election for county executive of King County, Washington, on Nov. 4, 2025. The county executive leads county employees, manages the biennial budget, and delivers services to county residents. This was the first election since 2009 in which former incumbent Dow Constantine was not on the ballot.…

  • A look at voting under the age of 18 in the U.S.

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    On Sept. 30, 2025, the College Park City Council in Maryland voted to lower the minimum voting age in city elections to 16 years old. The change puts them among a small group of jurisdictions that allow 16-year-olds to participate in local elections. So what does youth voting look like nationwide? In 27 states and…

  • Robe & Gavel: Federal Judicial Vacancy Count released for November 2025

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    Welcome to the November edition of Robe & Gavel, Ballotpedia’s newsletter about the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and other judicial happenings around the U.S. Don’t talk to me of solemn days      In autumn’s time of splendor, Because the sun shows fewer rays,      And these grow slant and slender. Why, it’s the climax…

  • A look at voting under the age of 18 in the U.S.

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    Welcome to the Monday, Nov. 10, Brew. By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at voting under the age of 18 in the U.S. On Sept. 30, the College Park City Council in Maryland voted to lower the minimum voting age in city elections to 16…

  • Twenty-three states have amended their absentee/mail-in voting laws so far this year

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    On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Maine voters defeated Question 1, which would have changed the state's absentee voting laws, limited ballot drop boxes, and required voter ID for individuals voting both in person and by absentee ballot. As of 12 p.m. EST on Nov. 5, the vote was 63.5%-36.5%, with 89% of votes in. While Mainers…

  • Senate confirms largest number of Trump judicial nominees of his second term

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    In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from Oct. 2 through Nov. 4. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 47 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy rate of 5.4%, which is…

  • Weekly Brew: November 7, 2025

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    California is now the fifth state to redistrict ahead of the 2026 congressional elections California became the fifth state to redraw its congressional districts ahead of the 2026 elections after voters approved Proposition 50 on Nov. 4. The new map makes five districts more favorable to Democrats according to 2024 presidential results. That could lower…

  • Maine rejects Question 1 by the widest margin for a voter ID proposal since at least 2004

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    Voters rejected Maine Question 1 on Nov. 4. As of Nov. 7, 2025, the vote margins were 35.9% 'Yes' to 64.1% 'No.' Question 1 would have made several changes, including requiring photo identification for in-person and absentee voting; requiring voters to complete an identification envelope for absentee voting; allowing a person’s absentee ballot to be…