Year: 2026
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With $798.9 million in contributions and counting, 2026 is the most expensive ballot measure election cycle in California
Voters in California will head to the polls to decide 14 ballot propositions on Nov. 3. According to the most recent campaign finance filings submitted Oct. 22, 44 committees reported $798.9 million in contributions — the most on record. The next most expensive year was 2020, which saw $763.7 million. Campaigns surrounding Proposition 40, the…
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Three states have write-in candidate filing deadlines between now and Election Day
Election Day is in 11 days! Between Oct. 24 and the Nov. 3 general election, three states have write-in candidate filing deadlines, early voting starts in six states, 24 states have voter registration deadlines, and 27 states have absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines. Candidates must meet various state-specific filing requirements and deadlines to appear on primary…
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IRS defines terms for the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit with implications for participation
On Oct. 2, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued temporary regulations and proposed final regulations to implement the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC). The program — also known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit — will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Both the temporary and proposed regulations will be effective in 2027, until…
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Six battleground districts could determine majority control of the Wisconsin Senate on Nov. 3
Seventeen seats in the Wisconsin Senate are up for election on Nov. 3. Heading into the election, Republicans have an 18-15 majority. Democrats need to win at least two Republican districts, while maintaining their own, to gain a majority in the Senate. Republicans can lose no more than one district to maintain their majority. Republicans…
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Candidates in 331 races this year share a last name; up from 206 such races in 2024
In 331 races on Nov. 3 across 28 states, 668 candidates share a last name with another candidate running in that race. This total includes races for one congressional race, 13 state contests, and 317 local races in Ballotpedia’s coverage scope. Two hundred fifty-six of these races are nonpartisan, and 75 are partisan. Nebraska has…
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Trifectas, supermajorities, and wave elections: What we're watching in 2026 state legislative races
On Nov. 3, elections are happening in 46 states for 88 of the 99 state legislative chambers. In total, 6,139 of the country's 7,386 state legislative seats are up for election in 2026. Republicans have majorities in 51 of the state legislative chambers whose members are up for election this year, and Democrats control 34.…
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Signature validity for 2026 initiatives was 78.0%, consistent with the ten-year average of 78.8%
A total of 53 citizen-initiated ballot measures were certified for the 2026 ballot in 15 states. Proponents of citizen-initiated ballot measures—including veto referendums, initiated state statutes, and initiated constitutional amendments—collect petition signatures from a certain minimum number of registered voters in a state. For 2026, the average signature validity rate (the number of signatures deemed…