Author: Ryan Byrne
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California ballot initiative campaigns are in the final weeks of their signature drives and face the effects of coronavirus
California is under a shelter-in-place order due to the coronavirus pandemic, but several ballot initiative campaigns are in the final days or weeks of their signature drives. As of March 23, four citizen-initiated measures have qualified to appear on the ballot in November. An additional nine ballot initiative could receive enough signatures to appear on…
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Maine voters will decide two bond measures, totaling $120 million, on June 9
The election on June 9, 2020, will feature two statewide bond measures in Maine. Legislators passed the bond measures on March 17, and Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed the legislation on March 18. A two-thirds vote was needed in each legislative chamber. The first bond measure would authorize $105 million in bonds for transportation infrastructure…
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California Proposition 13 is the first statewide school bond rejected by voters since 1994
On March 3, Californians voted on one statewide ballot measure, Proposition 13, which would have issued $15 billion in general obligation bonds for preschool, K-12, and higher education facilities. The ballot measure would have also made changes to the formula used to distribute state bond funds to schools, the rules governing local bond measures, and…
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Signatures verified for top-four ranked-choice voting ballot initiative in Alaska
Alaskans could vote on a first-of-its-kind electoral system in November. On March 9, Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer announced that the campaign Alaskans for Better Elections collected 36,006 valid signatures for its ballot initiative. The campaign filed 41,068 signatures, of which at least 28,501 needed to be valid. Next, the Alaska State Legislature has the option…
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Virginians to decide constitutional amendment transferring redistricting powers from legislature to commission
On March 5, the Virginia House of Delegates voted 54-46 to approve a resolution placing a redistricting-related constitutional amendment on the ballot for November 3, 2020. The ballot measure would transfer the power to draw the state’s congressional and legislative districts from the state legislature to a 16-member redistricting commission composed of eight state legislators…
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Signatures verified for Maine ballot initiative designed to void international hydroelectric transmission project
A citizen initiative to void a certificate needed for an international hydroelectric transmission project will go on the ballot unless the state legislature approves it. The campaign No CMP Corridor filed 75,253 signatures on February 3. Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap (D) reported that 69,714 signatures were valid. At least 63,067 signatures needed to…
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In November, Virginians will vote on constitutional amendment related to vehicle property taxes paid by disabled veterans
On March 3, 2020, the Virginia State Senate passed a constitutional amendment, which electors will vote on at the general election. The constitutional amendment would exempt one automobile or pickup truck from state and local property taxes for veterans who have a 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability. In Virginia, local governments can assess…
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Voters will decide a vaccination requirements referendum in Maine on March 3
On March 3, 2020, Maine voters will decide Question 1, a veto referendum that would repeal legislation related to vaccine requirements and have the effect of reinstating religious and philosophical exemptions from vaccination requirements. In 2019, the state legislature passed Legislative Document 798 (LD 798), which was designed to eliminate religious and philosophical exemptions for…
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Californians to vote on one statewide ballot measure, a $15 billion education facilities bond, on March 3, 2020
On March 3, 2020, Californians will decide one statewide ballot measure, Proposition 13. The measure is a $15-billion bond that would provide funds for school and college facilities. Proposition 13 would also make changes to the formula used to distribute state bond funds to schools, the rules governing local bond measures, and school districts’ abilities…
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Maine Republican Party files veto referendum to repeal ranked-choice voting for presidential elections
The Maine Republican Party has proposed a veto referendum to repeal legislation that would implement ranked-choice voting for the presidential election on November 3, 2020. On February 4, 2020, Demi Kouzounas, the party’s chairperson, filed the referendum. In 2019, the Maine State Legislature passed Legislative Document 1083 (LD 1083), which was designed to implement ranked-choice…