Year: 2025

  • ICYMI: Top stories of the week

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    A comprehensive look at 178 years of ballot measures in Wisconsin  Ballotpedia’s Historical Ballot Measure Factbook will document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and the public on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they have covered, and…

  • Oregon voters have defeated more ballot measures than they have approved since 1900

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    Ballotpedia completed an inventory of all Oregon ballot measures since 1900. Oregon voters decided on 881 ballot measures between 1900 and 2024—defeating over 53% of them. Four hundred eleven (411) measures were approved, and four hundred seventy (470) measures were defeated. Of the 881 ballot measures, 14 were decided by less than a percentage point…

  • Voters to decide 15 ballot measures on March 4 Town Meeting Day in Montpelier, Vermont

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    Montpelier voters will decide on 15 measures on the Town Meeting Day ballot on March 4, including three measures relating to the Montpelier Roxbury School District. Town Meeting Day is held at Montpelier City Hall on the first Tuesday of March. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Vermont law makes Town Meeting…

  • The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia’s Weekly Digest on Election Administration, Feb. 14, 2025

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    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 501 bills state legislatures acted on in the past week. Weekly highlights The big takeaways from the…

  • Brooke Rollins confirmed as secretary of agriculture

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Brooke Rollins as secretary of agriculture on Feb. 13, 2025. The Senate voted 72-28 in favor of her nomination with 19 Democrats joining all 53 Republicans in supporting her nomination. This was the 16th member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential term.  Trump announced…

  • A comprehensive look at 113 years of ballot measures in Arizona

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    Welcome to the Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A comprehensive look at 113 years of ballot measures in Arizona  Ballotpedia’s Historical Ballot Measure Factbook will document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will…

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed as secretary of health and human services

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services on Feb. 13, 2025. The Senate voted 52-48 in favor of his nomination with one Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), joining all 45 Democrats, and both independent senators who caucus with Democrats, in opposing his nomination. This was…

  • Republican-led election policy bills advance in Kansas legislative session 

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    All but two state legislatures are currently convening their regular 2025 legislative sessions. Lawmakers in these states have already introduced more than 2,300 bills related to election administration this year. Among states where lawmakers have advanced election policy bills is Kansas.  Kansas has a divided government and is one of two states, along with Kentucky,…

  • Previewing the mayoral Democratic primary for the nation’s largest city

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    Welcome to the Thursday, Feb. 13, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Previewing the mayoral Democratic primary for the nation’s largest city Ten candidates are running in the Democratic primary on June 24 for New York City mayor. Six candidates—incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (D), Brad Lander…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #143

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving  school board governance, the politics surrounding it, and education policy.  In today’s edition, you’ll find: Reply to this email to share reactions or story ideas! On the issues: The debate over NAEP scores In this section, we curate reporting, analysis,…