Category: State
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Six state executives retired in states where the filing deadline passed in January
The filing deadline for candidates seeking office in 2026 passed in three states in January: Alabama (Jan. 23), Kentucky (Jan. 9), and West Virginia (Jan. 31). Kentucky and West Virginia do not hold state executive elections in mid-term years. In Alabama, nine state executive offices are up for election. Of those offices, six current officeholders…
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State supreme court vacancy count for January 2026
In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from Dec. 31, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2026. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Justices sworn into office: During January 2026, five justices were sworn into office. Candidates nominated: During January…
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Kansas legislators hear from Ballotpedia as they weigh election dates change
On Jan. 20, legislators on the Kansas House Elections Committee heard from Ballotpedia as they consider a bill to move local and school board elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered election years. HB 2452 would apply to city and county races, as well as elections for school board, community college board, and public utility board. The…
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Nebraska voters have decided on almost four times the number of legislatively referred measures (296) as citizen initiatives (80) since 1860
Since 1860, Nebraska voters have decided on 296 legislatively referred measures—nearly four times the number of citizen initiatives (80). Additionally, Nebraskans also decided on 48 constitutional convention referrals. Of the 424 total measures, 266 (63%) were approved, and 158 (37%) were defeated. Nebraska adopted the initiative process in 1912, with Amendment 1 approved by a…
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Texas Democratic and Republican Parties place non-binding advisory questions on the March primary ballot
The Democratic Party of Texas and the Republican Party of Texas placed non-binding advisory questions on March 3, 2026, primary ballots. Democratic ballots will feature 13 questions. Republican ballots will feature 10 questions. The Democratic and Republican primaries are open, meaning all voters can participate regardless of party affiliation. An advisory question is a type…
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Governors in three states announce they've formally opted into U.S. school choice tax credit scholarship program
As of Jan. 21, 2026, three states have formally opted into the U.S. school choice tax credit scholarship program. States that have formally opted into the program are those that have submitted Form 15714, Advance Election to Participate Under Section 25F for 2027 to the U.S. Treasury. Virginia became the first state to do so…
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Over the past two weeks, four constitutional amendments were certified in Virginia, and signatures were submitted for an initiative in Alaska
As of Jan. 21, 62 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 31 states, eight more measures than the average number certified at this point in other even-numbered years over the past decade (2014 to 2024). Here’s an update on the latest ballot measure activity during the past two weeks: The next signature…
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Virginia General Assembly places constitutional amendments on same-sex marriage, abortion, voting rights following criminal convictions on the Nov. 2026 ballot
The Virginia General Assembly approved four constitutional amendments on Jan. 16 that will be placed on the 2026 ballot for voters to decide. The amendments address policies on abortion, voting rights for persons with criminal convictions, same-sex marriage, and congressional redistricting. This was the second time the amendments were approved by the Virginia General Assembly.…
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On Jan. 21, 1911, New Mexico ratified its state constitution
On this day, Jan. 21, 1911, New Mexico voters ratified the state constitution. One year later, on Jan. 6, 1912, New Mexico was admitted to the Union as the 47th state. This was the longest wait between territorial organization and statehood for any U.S. state. Congress established New Mexico as a U.S. territory in 1850,…
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2025 sees record number of state justice vacancies
2025 state supreme court vacancy count Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in 52 state supreme courts across all 50 states. Since 2024, Ballotpedia has published an annual state supreme court vacancy count outlining vacancies that occurred within the past year. Number of vacancies In 2025, a record 26 vacancies occurred in 20 state supreme courts nationwide.…