Category: State
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New Hampshire legislators remove student IDs for voting, enact 24 other election bills in 2026 session
The New Hampshire General Court adjourned its 2026 regular session on June 4 after passing 25 election-related bills. Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) signed all 25 bills between March and July. Among those bills was HB 323, which removes student identification cards from the list of acceptable forms of identification for voting purposes. HB 323 passed…
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Spanberger restores voting rights to thousands of individuals with felony convictions in return to previous governors' processes
On July 31, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) announced that since taking office on Jan. 17, she has restored the voting rights of 66,085 Virginia residents with felony convictions. Virginia is one of three states, along with Iowa and Kentucky, where individuals convicted of any felony never regain the right to vote without some form…
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Connecticut treasurer race centers on ESG investing
Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing has emerged as a central issue in the Nov. 3 race for Connecticut treasurer. The Connecticut treasurer is responsible for overseeing the financial investment of state monies, including through the state's public pension funds. Connecticut law allows the state treasurer to consider the social, economic, and environmental implications…
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Rhode Island legislators restrict immigration enforcement near polling places, enact 18 other election bills in 2026 session
The Rhode Island General Assembly adjourned its 2026 regular session on June 11 after passing 20 election-related bills. Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed all 20 bills between March and June. Among those bills were H7434 and S3339, which prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees, agents, or officials from entering or remaining within 200…
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State supreme court vacancy count for July 2026
In this month's state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and swearings-in of justices from July 2 to July 30, 2026. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Justices sworn into office: In July 2026, one justice was sworn into office. Candidates nominated: No candidates were nominated…
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A total of 107 state executives are retiring in 2026; the most retirements in a year since 2018
In July, the filing deadline passed in one state, Delaware, on July 14. Delaware is the final state holding state executive elections in 2026 to have a filing deadline pass. There are six state executive offices in Delaware. Three, the governor, lieutenant governor, and insurance commissioner, were up for election in 2024. Three other offices…
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Illinois lawmakers require school districts to provide voter registration opportunities and move RCV task force dates in 2026 session
The Illinois General Assembly adjourned its 2026 regular session on June 1 after passing two election-related bills and one resolution. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the two bills in June and July. One of those bills was HB 4339, which requires school districts to provide all eligible graduating high school students with the opportunity to…
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Mandela Barnes suspends campaign for Democratic nomination for governor of Wisconsin
Mandela Barnes (D) suspended his campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor of Wisconsin on July 30, 2026. Barnes was the fourth Democrat of the seven appearing on the ballot to suspend his campaign, following Missy Hughes (D) on June 22, David Crowley (D) on July 8, and Sara Rodriguez (D) on July 17. Crowley…
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Missouri voters will decide four amendments on Aug. 4. Here's what to know.
Missouri voters will be deciding four statewide ballot measures on Aug. 4, 2026. Three measures were referred to the ballot by the state legislature, while one was automatically referred to the ballot. All four measures are constitutional amendments. Later this year, Missouri voters will decide three constitutional amendments on Nov. 3, 2026. Here are the…
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Kansas three-day grace period for mail ballots temporarily reinstated ahead of primary
On July 16, a Kansas district judge ordered the temporary reinstatement of a policy allowing advance mail ballots to be accepted if the ballots are postmarked by election day and are received within three days of the election, blocking a 2025 law that changed the deadline for ballots to be received to 7:00 p.m. on…