Year: 2025

  • English as the Official Language: Where it already is, and the impact of Trump’s Executive Order

    Posted on

    On this episode: In March 2025, Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring English the official language of the United States. Around the same time, Idaho lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment to do the same at the state level—setting the stage for a 2026 ballot measure. But this push for English-only laws has a much…

  • North Dakota could become the third state to require a 60% threshold for constitutional amendments

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Tuesday, April 15, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta and Joseph Brusgard Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: North Dakota could become the third state to require a 60% threshold for constitutional amendments North Dakota voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would change the threshold for a…

  • Idaho legislature adjourns, two referred constitutional amendments on the ballot in 2026

    Posted on

    The Idaho State Legislature adjourned sine die on April 10, 2025, with the next legislative session scheduled to begin on January 12, 2026. Two constitutional amendments were referred by the legislature during the 2025 session and will appear on the ballot in November 2026: HJR 4 and HJR 6. HJR 4 would provide that “only…

  • As the U.S. House votes to pass the SAVE Act, legislatures nationwide are addressing election administration in their states

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Monday, April 14, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: As the U.S. House votes to pass the SAVE Act, legislatures nationwide are addressing election administration in their states Today, we’ll tell you the latest news on election administration legislative activity nationwide. We’ll also…

  • U.S. House votes to adopt Senate-amended budget resolution

    Posted on

    On April 10, the House of Representatives voted to adopt the Senate-amended version of budget resolution HCon.Res.14, completing the budget resolution process. The House voted 216-214 in favor of the resolution, with 216 Republicans voting in favor and Reps. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) joining 212 Democrats in voting against the resolution. The…

  • Indiana joins Kansas, Kentucky, and Wyoming in enacting laws to restrict foreign contributions to ballot measure campaigns—the highest number passed in a single year

    Posted on

    So far, during the 2025 legislative sessions, four states—Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, and Wyoming—have enacted new laws restricting foreign contributions to ballot measure campaigns. With these additions, 13 now have laws prohibiting foreign nationals, governments, or other entities from contributing to ballot measure committees. The 13 states with such laws are California, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,…

  • State legislators face second-most recall efforts in Q1 2025

    Posted on

    State legislators were included in the second-highest number of recall efforts this year out of all office types as of April 11, 2025. Ballotpedia had tracked recall efforts against 30 state legislators, which was second only to city council members, who saw 75 officeholders included in recall efforts. All 30 state legislators included in recall…

  • ICYMI: Top stories of the week

    Posted on

    Four out of five elections were uncontested in Illinois and Wisconsin on April 1 Illinois and Wisconsin held a combined 18,641 elections on April 1, primarily local elections to school boards, city councils, and other special districts. But, in both states, it was clear who the winners would be in the majority of those elections…

  • The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia’s Weekly Digest on Election Administration, April 11, 2025

    Posted on

    Welcome to The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia’s Weekly Digest on Election Administration. Every Friday, we deliver the latest updates on election policy around the country, including nationwide trends and recent legislative activity.  In this week’s Ballot Bulletin, we cover 639 bills state legislatures acted on in the past week. Weekly highlights The big takeaways from the…

  • Eleven candidates are running in the general election for three seats on the Newark Public Schools board

    Posted on

    Eleven candidates are running in the nonpartisan general election for three at-large seats on the Newark Public Schools school board on April 15, 2025. The three candidates who receive the most votes will serve three-year terms on the board. Incumbent Kanileah Anderson is running for re-election, while incumbents Crystal Williams and Daniel Gonzalez are not seeking re-election. This election will be the first since January…