Category: State

  • Wisconsin General Assembly passes resolution to preserve core of existing districts in redistricting process

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    On Sept. 28, the Wisconsin General Assembly voted to approve a resolution that called for keeping “as much as possible the core of existing districts, thus maintaining 11 existing communities of interest, and promoting the equal opportunity to vote by minimizing disenfranchisement.” The Senate approved the resolution in a 19-12 vote along party lines, and…

  • Ballot Bulletin: California becomes eighth state to implement universal, automatic mail-in voting

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    Welcome to The Ballot Bulletin, where we track developments in election policy at the federal, state, and local level. In this month’s issue: California becomes eighth state to implement universal, automatic mail-in voting Redistricting round-up: Oregon becomes the first state to enact congressional district maps after the 2020 census (and other news) Legislation update Have…

  • Matthew Dunlap vacates the office of Maine State Auditor

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    The office of the Maine State Auditor became vacant on Oct. 1 when former auditor Matthew Dunlap (D) stepped down.  The Maine Legislature elected Dunlap as state auditor on December 2, 2020, effective January 4, 2021. Under Maine law, he was required to have certification as a public accountant, internal auditor, or information systems auditor…

  • Fifteen states have issued a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers

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    Since August 2021, 15 states have announced vaccine requirements for healthcare workers. Thirteen states have a Democratic trifecta. In Maryland and Massachusetts, the governor is a Republican but the state legislature is controlled by Democrats. Eleven states do not allow healthcare workers to choose between getting a vaccine and getting regularly tested. Delaware, Maryland, and…

  • California becomes eighth state to implement universal, automatic mail-in voting

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    On Sept. 27, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed AB37 into law, making California the eighth state to provide for universal, automatic mail-in voting in all future elections. Under the law as enacted, local election officials must automatically deliver mail-in ballots to all registered voters. In addition, AB37 modified the mail-in ballot return deadline: ballots…

  • Redistricting timeline updates: Georgia, North Dakota, and Oklahoma announce special sessions to tackle redistricting

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    Image of several stickers with the words "I voted"

    Here’s a summary of recent redistricting timeline updates from Arkansas, Georgia, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and West Virginia. Arkansas: The Arkansas General Assembly reconvened at the start of a state legislative special session to consider congressional map proposals on Sept. 29. The state’s Board of Appropriation will begin work on redistricting…

  • Indiana adopts new congressional, legislative district boundaries

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    Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed new congressional and state legislative district maps into law on Oct. 4, 2021. The Indiana General Assembly approved the new maps on Oct. 1. The Indiana state Senate approved the final congressional and legislative district boundaries on Oct. 1 by a vote of 36-12, with all votes to approve…

  • Two of the five Virginia House districts with the lowest total donations this cycle are 2019 rematches

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    Elections for all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are taking place on November 2, 2021. Democrats hold 55 seats and Republicans hold 45 seats. There are 93 districts with both a Democratic and Republican candidate on the ballot. This is the first election cycle since 1999 with Democrats defending a majority in…

  • Three of the top five fundraisers to lose a Virginia House primary this cycle were incumbent Democrats

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    Elections for all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are taking place on November 2, 2021. Primaries were held on June 8, though party committees could also choose to hold conventions instead of primaries. Top fundraisers with unsuccessful primary campaigns The Democratic candidates who raised the most money and lost their primary were:…

  • Young Boozer (R) sworn in as Alabama state treasurer

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    Young Boozer (R) became the 41st Alabama state treasurer on Oct. 1. Governor Kay Ivey (R) appointed Boozer on Sept. 17, following the resignation of John McMillan (R), effective Sept. 30. McMillan had served as treasurer since 2019. Boozer previously served as state treasurer from 2011 to 2019. He is the fifth Alabama state treasurer…