Category: State
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Mississippi legislators enact citizenship checks for voter list maintenance, seven other election-related bills
The Mississippi Legislature adjourned its regular session on April 15 after enacting eight election-related bills, all of which were signed by Gov. Tate Reeves (R). Among those bills was SB 2588, which requires the secretary of state to annually compare the state's voter rolls with the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program maintained by…
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Oklahoma voters to decide constitutional amendment changing Judicial Nominating Commission structure on Nov. 3, 2026
The Oklahoma State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment related to the nomination of judges within the state to the Nov. 3, 2026, statewide general election ballot. On April 9, 2026, legislators passed the amendment, which would change the structure of the state's Judicial Nominating Commission. The ballot measure would restructure the Judicial Nominating Commission, which…
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Oklahoma Supreme Court strikes down fossil fuel divestment law
On April 7, 2026, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the Oklahoma Energy Discrimination Elimination Act of 2022 is unconstitutional when applied to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). The court also issued a permanent injunction preventing state Treasurer Todd Russ (R) from enforcing the law against OPERS. The ruling upheld a 2024 Oklahoma…
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Mikie Sherrill to become first New Jersey governor in 20 years to live in the state's official governor's residence
On April 3, Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) announced she would be moving into Drumthwacket, the official residence of the governor of New Jersey. Sherrill will be only the third governor to live in the mansion since it was designated the official governor's residence in 1981. Only Governors James Florio (D-N.J.), who left office in 1994,…
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Maine voters to decide sports eligibility initiative based on sex on birth certificates after legislature adjourns without a vote
The Maine State Legislature adjourned on April 14, 2026, without a vote on the initiated measure that would require that public school sports teams designated for girls or boys be limited to students of the corresponding sex. Mainers will vote on the initiative on Nov. 3, 2026. Effect of the measure Under the measure, public…
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Virginia Gov. Spanberger signs bill to rejoin ERIC
On April 13, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed legislation requiring the state to rejoin the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Virginia was previously an ERIC member but withdrew from the organization in 2023, under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). Senate Bill 57 requires the state commissioner of elections to apply to rejoin ERIC and…
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Idaho governor signs Medicaid work requirements bill requiring three months of compliance before enrollment
A previous version of this story included an error stating that Idaho was the only state requiring three months of compliance with Medicaid work requirements prior to enrollment. Indiana also recently passed a bill that requires this. On April 10, 2026, Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) signed House Bill 913 establishing Medicaid work requirements in…
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Michigan officials face highest number of recall efforts in Q1 2026
Ballotpedia has tracked recall efforts against 57 officials in Michigan this year as of April 13, 2026, which was the most of any state and accounted for 30% of the 193 officials included in recall efforts. California had the second-most with 31 (16%), and Oregon ranked third with 30 (16%). Together, the three states accounted…
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Maryland State Legislature replaces an amendment related to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities with an updated version and sends changes to collective bargaining for state employees to voters in November
The Maryland State Legislature voted to refer two constitutional amendments to voters in November. The first amendment (Senate Bill 933) would repeal the amendment (House Bill 788) referred to the ballot during the 2025 legislative session. Both amendments were designed to allow the chair of the Commission on Judicial Disabilities to appoint former members to…
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Kansas and Wisconsin governors veto bills opting their states into federal school choice tax credit program
The Democratic governors of Kansas and Wisconsin both vetoed bills opting their states into the federal school choice tax credit scholarship program. They became the fourth and fifth Democratic governors to veto bills opting in to the program. At least 27 states have officially opted into the program, 23 of which have a Republican trifecta.…