Author: Ryan Byrne
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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…
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California rent control initiative qualifies for the 2020 ballot
Californians will vote on a ballot initiative to expand the power of local governments to use rent control. Proponents have the option to withdraw the ballot initiative. In December, the campaign Homeowners and Tenants United filed 987,991 signatures for the ballot initiative. On February 3, a random sample of signatures projected that 75.9 percent of…
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Signatures filed for Maine ballot initiative to revoke certification of hydroelectric transmission project
Voters in Maine could decide a ballot initiative to revoke the certification of the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission corridor, which was designed to cross about 145 miles in Maine, from the state’s border with Quebec to Lewiston, Maine, and transmit around 1,200 megawatts from hydroelectric plants in Quebec to Massachusetts. On February…
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Pennsylvania Legislature passes constitutional amendment to end primaries for lieutenant governor
The Pennsylvania State Legislature approved a constitutional amendment that would change how candidates for lieutenant governor are selected. In Pennsylvania, a political party’s candidates for governor and lieutenant governor are elected on a joint ticket at the general election. As of 2020, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run in separate primaries for their party’s…