Category: State

  • Voters in South Dakota to decide on legalizing sports betting in Deadwood this fall

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    South Dakota legislators passed Senate Joint Resolution 501 on March 3, certifying it for the November 2020 ballot. The amendment would legalize sports betting (wagering on the outcome of athletic sporting events) within the city limits of Deadwood, South Dakota. Currently, in Deadwood— a resort and gaming town— blackjack, craps, keno, poker, roulette, and slot…

  • Congressional primaries in Mississippi on Tuesday

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    One of Mississippi's U.S. Senate seats and all four of the state's U.S. House seats are up for election this year, and the congressional primary is scheduled for March 10, 2020. All five races include the incumbent running for re-election, and four of the races feature a contested primary between one or both major parties.…

  • Signatures verified for Maine ballot initiative designed to void international hydroelectric transmission project

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    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…

  • Idaho voters to decide whether to require state legislature to consist of 35 districts

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    The Idaho State Legislature passed House Joint Resolution 4 by a vote of 65-3 in the House and 31-4 in the Senate. The amendment would remove language in the state constitution that allows the legislature to have between 30 and 35 districts and, instead, require the state to have 35 state legislative districts. Currently, the…

  • Maine Question 1 Vaccine Referendum defeated

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    Maine voters defeat Question 1, the Religious and Philosophical Vaccination Exemptions Referendum, on Tuesday with 72.5 percent of voters against it. Maine Question 1 would have repealed Legislative Document 798 (LD 798), which was designed to eliminate religious and philosophical exemptions from vaccination requirements for students to attend schools and colleges and for employees of…

  • Alabama Amendment 1 defeated

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    Alabama voters defeated Amendment 1, the Appointed Education Board Amendment, which would have renamed the Board and changed it from an elected body to an appointed body. According to election night results, 75 percent of voters opposed the amendment, and 25 percent voted in favor of it. The measure would have amended the Alabama Constitution…

  • Proponents submit signatures for a Colorado initiative to ban abortion after 22 weeks gestation

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    Due Date Too Late, sponsors of Colorado Initiative 120, reported submitting more than 137,000 signatures on Wednesday to qualify the measure for the November ballot. To qualify, 124,632 valid signatures are required. The initiative would prohibit abortions after a fetus reaches 22 weeks gestational age. Colorado is one of seven states (and Washington, D.C.) that…

  • In November, Virginians will vote on constitutional amendment related to vehicle property taxes paid by disabled veterans

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    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…

  • Medical marijuana legal for two-thirds of Americans, recreational marijuana legal for one quarter

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    Though the cultivation, distribution, and use of marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, a majority of states have passed laws over the past 25 years legalizing marijuana usage for either medical or recreational purposes. Americans in 33 states and the District of Columbia have access to medical marijuana. This represents 67.5 percent of the…

  • Democratic primary for North Carolina lieutenant governor may head to runoff

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    Six candidates ran in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor of North Carolina on March 3, 2020. A primary runoff was set to occur if no candidate won more than 30% of the vote and the second-place finisher called for a runoff. With all precincts reporting, Yvonne Lewis Holley received 26.6% of the vote and…