Year: 2025

  • SEC ends defense of climate reporting rules

    Posted on

    The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced last week that it voted to end its defense of the Biden-era corporate emissions reporting rules. The decision indicates the majority of current SEC commissioners do not support the implementation of the rules. Acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda said the commission wanted to end its “defense of the…

  • 39% of last March’s elections were uncontested

    Posted on

    Throughout March, Ballotpedia covered 194 elections in 22 states, 39% of which were uncontested. That’s up from February when 32% of the 345 covered were uncontested. Ballotpedia defines an uncontested election as one where the number of candidates running is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election. This analysis does…

  • Kentucky Legislature overrides veto on Medicaid work requirements bill

    Posted on

    On March 27th, the Kentucky Legislature voted to override Gov. Beshear’s (D) veto of House Bill 695, which requires the state to seek work requirements for able-bodied adult Medicaid recipients. Kentucky has a divided government with a Republican-controlled legislature and a Democratic governor. Kentucky is one of six states that require a simple majority vote…

  • President Trump has yet to appoint any federal judges 72 days into his first year of his second term

    Posted on

    President Donald Trump (R) had not nominated any Article III federal judges as of April 1, 2025, his first year of his second term in office. The average number of federal judges appointed by previous presidents through April 1 of his first year in office is also zero. By April 1 of his first term…

  • Maryland voters to decide on changes to vacancy procedures for Judicial Disabilities Commission in 2026

    Posted on

    The Maryland State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot that would change how vacancies are filled on the Judicial Disabilities Commission. The amendment would allow the chair of the Commission on Judicial Disabilities to appoint former members to temporarily fill vacancies or allow the governor to appoint a…

  • ICYMI: Top stories of the week

    Posted on

    Kansas voters will decide citizenship voting requirement amendment in 2026—voters in eight states approved similar measures in 2024 On Nov. 3, 2026, Kansas voters will decide on a constitutional amendment allowing only U.S. citizens to vote. Voters in eight states approved similar measures in 2024, and South Dakota voters will also be deciding on such…

  • 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. 

    Posted on

    In this week’s Ballot Bulletin, we cover 650 bills state legislatures acted on in the past week. Weekly highlights The big takeaways from the past week’s legislative actions.  Lawmakers in 44 states acted on 650 bills over the last week, 196 fewer than last week.  Note: In some states, legislators are able to file hundreds…

  • Bringing candidates and voters together to build a more vibrant democracy

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Friday, April 4, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Bringing candidates and voters together to build a more vibrant democracy Please join me here each Friday for my new column on what Ballotpedia is focused on building for you and for voters across…

  • Jonathan Curtis and Melinda Lemke won two Wrightstown School Board seats in Wisconsin

    Posted on

    Jonathan Curtis and Melinda Lemke defeated Amber Cox and Jeff Nelson for two seats on the seven-member Wrightstown Community School District Board of Education in Wisconsin on April 1, 2025. Lemke received 28.7% of the vote, Curtis received 25.4%, Cox received 23.3%, and Nelson received 22.7%. Curtis and Lemke, an incumbent, ran a joint campaign…

  • Wisconsin voters approve measure to add voter photo ID to state constitution

    Posted on

    On April 1, Wisconsin voters approved a constitutional amendment to add voter photo ID to the state constitution. As of April 2, the margin was 62.74% to 37.26%.  State law already requires photo ID to vote. By adding the requirement to the Wisconsin Constitution, Question 1 effectively raised the threshold to make changes to the…