Year: 2025

  • ICYMI: Top stories of the week

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    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. 

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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…

  • A look at election results from April 1

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    Welcome to the Thursday, April 3, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A look at election results from April 1 While 2025 is considered an off-year, several important elections are taking place—and some of the most closely watched races occurred on Tuesday, April 1. Here are…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #150

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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 Trump’s K-12 schooling order In this section, we curate…

  • President Donald Trump (R) issued thirty-three executive orders in March

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    Image of the south facade of the White House.

    President Donald Trump (R) issued thirty-three executive orders in March, bringing his total to 109. To view the titles and text of each order he issued in March, click here. Trump issued 46 executive orders in January 2025, more than any other month of his presidency. He issued 30 executive orders in February 2025, fewer…

  • Update on 2025 and 2026 ballot measure certifications: Five new measures in Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, and Kansas

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    The number of certified ballot measures for 2025 and 2026 is trending above the average as of April 1, 2025. For 2025, six statewide ballot measures have been certified in three states—Louisiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Six is one more than the average of five for this point in an odd-numbered-year election cycle since 2010. As…

  • As Utah bans water fluoridation, we’re looking back at four 1970s ballot measures on the issue

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, April 2, Brew. By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: As Utah bans water fluoridation, we’re looking back at four 1970s ballot measures on the issue On March 27, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed House Bill 81 (HB 81), which bans fluoride in…