Author: Ballotpedia staff

  • ICYMI: Top stories of the week

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    Senate Republicans invoke nuclear option to change nomination rules On Sept. 11, Senate Republicans voted to change chamber rules governing the nomination process for certain presidential nominees. The vote was 53-45, along party lines. This procedure, where a majority party changes a Senate rule or precedent through a simple majority vote, is often referred to…

  • The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia’s Weekly Digest on Election Administration, September 19, 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 41 bills state legislatures acted on in the past week. Weekly highlights The big takeaways from the…

  • Missouri could become the second state to redraw its congressional map before the 2026 elections

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    Welcome to the Friday, Sept. 19, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Missouri could become the second state to redraw its congressional map before the 2026 elections Missouri is expected to become the second state to officially redraw its congressional district boundaries before the 2026 elections.…

  • Tim Walz (D) is the second governor to run for a consecutive third term in 2026

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    On September 16, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced that he would seek a third consecutive term as governor in 2026. This makes him the second governor to do so after Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), who announced his plans back in June. In July, Ballotpedia covered the number of governors eligible to run for…

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #174

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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 President Donald Trump’s (R) school discipline executive order In…

  • EPA proposes ending emissions reporting

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: In Washington, D.C., and around the world EPA proposes ending emissions reporting What’s the story? On Sept. 13, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule that would eliminate the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), which requires fossil fuel producers to disclose carbon emissions. Administrator Lee…

  • Checks and Balances, September 2025

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    Highlights from this edition of Checks and Balances include the Trump Administration’s announcement that it is using a budgetary procedure called pocket rescission, and a dispute about rulemaking procedure between the Wisconsin governor and legislature. In Washington Trump Administration uses pocket rescission to withhold appropriated funds On Aug. 29, the White House announced that it…

  • Citizen initiatives have different signature deadlines in each state. Here’s what they are for 2026

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Citizen initiatives have different signature deadlines in each state. Here’s what they are for 2026  Twenty-six states permit citizen initiatives, with each state setting its own rules for signature collection and filing deadlines.…

  • Ballotpedia publishes 15th Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report

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    Ballotpedia’s 15th Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report shows state legislative contests this year are less competitive than the record high in 2021 but still the second-most competitive of any odd year since 2011. In 2025, the nationwide State Legislative Competitiveness Index is 38.1, down from 40.0 in 2021 but above the average of 31.6 since…

  • Senate Republicans invoke nuclear option to change nomination rules

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    Welcome to the Monday, Sept. 15, Brew. By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Senate Republicans invoke nuclear option to change nomination rules On Sept. 11, Senate Republicans voted to change chamber rules governing the nomination process for certain presidential nominees. The vote was 53-45, along party lines.…