Each day, we:
Want to know what happened Friday? Click here. The next 24 hoursWhat is changing in the next 24 hours?
Since our last editionWhat is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.
Tracking industries: Face coveringsAll 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: in which states must you wear a face covering in public? We last looked at face coverings in the Aug. 10th edition of the newsletter. Since then, no new states have adopted a mask mandate or let a mask mandate expire. On Aug. 15, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed an executive order allowing local governments to enact mask mandates. |
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This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan for 2020-21On July 30, Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced the state’s guidelines for school reopening, the Safe Learning Plan for 2020-21. Walz stated, “As a classroom teacher for more than 20 years and a parent of a child in public schools, I am committed to providing a world-class education to our students while keeping them and their teachers safe. With this approach, we are pairing the knowledge and data from our Departments of Health and Education with the expertise of our local school districts to make the best decisions for our students across the state.” Minnesota does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen—individual districts that meet the state’s requirements can set their own timelines, depending on the virus’ effect on their community. According to EdWeek, public schools in Minnesota traditionally start the academic year after Labor Day, with the exact start date varying by district. On March 15, Walz announced the closing of all K-12 schools in the state from March 18 to March 27. On March 25, Walz extended the closures until May 1. Walz closed schools for the remainder of the academic year on April 23. ContextMinnesota has a divided government. The governor is a Democrat, and Democrats have a majority in the state House while Republicans have a majority in the state Senate. The state has had a divided government since 2015. The following tables show public education statistics in Minnesota, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans Districts are responsible for developing their own reopening plans in coordination with local health departments. The guidance does not say whether the plans must be posted publicly. In-person, hybrid, and online learning Local school districts determine the specific model for learning. That decision must be based on health data and made in coordination with state guidelines. School districts are given the base model for the type of instruction from the state based on the county’s health data for the previous two weeks. The guidance document specifies which model is required based on the data:
Schools are then required to consult with local public health officials and choose a model for the start of the year. Individual districts can decline or limit in-person instruction at their own discretion, even if the state’s guidelines permit it. After the year begins, schools are to monitor the local health data to determine if a change in learning model is required. All students also have the option to attend virtually. According to the Minnesota Department of Education, “Regardless of which learning model is being implemented at the school building, all school districts and charter schools must offer an equitable distance learning model to all families who choose not to attend in-person learning due to medical risks or other safety concerns.” Mask requirements All faculty, staff, and students are required to wear face coverings, with exceptions for children under the age of five and those with documented disabilities that make wearing a face covering unreasonable. The state will provide one cloth mask for every teacher, staff member, and student in public schools. In-person health recommendations and requirements When learning is done in person, all schools are required to have a preparedness plan that addresses health and safety practices. The state’s guidance document does not provide specific requirements, but it does say each school’s preparedness plan should address the following:
The state’s planning guide encourages the use of playground equipment if six feet of physical distancing is possible. The state also requires markers on the floor in high traffic areas to encourage distancing and requires that schools discontinue self-service of food in cafeterias. If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 or comes in close contact with someone who has tested positive, they must quarantine for 14 days. School districts are required to develop a testing and response strategy with local public health officials to determine the best practices for responding to positive cases and symptomatic students. Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions The plan requires all students and staff to wear face coverings while on school transportation. If a school is operating under a hybrid model with social distancing requirements, buses are limited to 50% capacity, according to the state’s planning guide for schools. ResponsesAfter the plan was unveiled, Deb Henton, executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, said, “I do believe that our educators in the state are going to be happy with the decision. Some school districts are going to have to be in the full-on distance learning mode that they may not have wanted to be in, but they understand.” Wisconsin’s Education ForwardThe Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction released Education Forward, its guidance document for school reopening, on June 22. State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor said, “The next school year will be likely be [sic] different from the learning environment students and teachers have grown accustomed to. Education Forward is meant to provide information for educators and school officials as they make decisions regarding their school operations to keep all students and staff safe while learning.” On July 7, Gov.Tony Evers (D) said the state’s plan allows local districts to make reopening decisions they feel are right for their communities. He told The Capital Times, “It’s important for school districts and parents and kids to be prepared but at the end of the day, I would not consider a district who offers a hybrid where it’s partially in school, partially online to be failing in their responsibilities. They have to make that decision locally.” Wisconsin does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen—individual districts that meet the state’s requirements can set their own timelines. According to EdWeek, public schools in Wisconsin typically start the academic year on September 1 or later, with the exact start date varying by district. On March 13, Evers closed all K-12 schools across the state from March 18 through April 5. He extended the closure indefinitely on March 17 before closing them for the remainder of the year on April 16. ContextWisconsin has a divided government. The governor is a Democrat, and Republicans have majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state has had a divided government since 2019. The following tables show public education statistics in Wisconsin, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans The Education Forward guidance document is not binding on local districts, which are responsible for developing their own specific reopening plans. In-person, hybrid, and online learning The guidance document outlines all-remote, physically distanced (hybrid), and full-time in-person learning options for localities to consider. School districts are allowed to determine and implement the best learning model for their community’s needs. In-person learning, according to the plan, is defined as a situation where “the vast majority of students attend in-person. Some students (those with health concerns) may participate virtually on an as-needed basis.” In the physically distanced learning model, “learning occurs both in-person and virtually, utilizing classrooms, outdoor learning spaces, homes, and community-based organizations.” The virtual learning option allows education to take place completely remotely “using digital, analog, synchronous, asynchronous, or hybrid instructional models.” Mask requirements The plan recommends teachers, staff, and students wear masks whenever feasible—face coverings are not required. In-person health recommendations and requirements For in-person learning, the guidance document recommends physical distancing of six feet or more. The document also recommends schools implement daily health screenings and temperature checks. To reduce traffic and keep students physically distanced, the guidelines recommend modifications to collective lunch times (staggering lunch times, choosing alternative spaces to eat, or implementing a lunch delivery to classrooms). The plan also recommends districts and schools stagger recess, arrival, and departure times. The document recommends schools adopt their own policies and procedures to comply with local social distancing ordinances. The document says schools are responsible for informing local public health officials when students or faculty test positive for or exhibit symptoms of the coronavirus. Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions The guidance document does not offer specific recommendations for transportation and busing. It does say districts should “collaborate with transportation vendors to implement a busing plan meeting social distancing requirements, if necessary. Include a plan for pick-up, in-transit, drop off, and cleaning and disinfection protocols.” ResponsesThe Wisconsin Education Association Council said local teachers should be involved in school and district decision-making. On Aug. 1, WEAC President Ron Martin said, “WEAC believes any plan for reopening schools must ensure the health and safety of our students and staff and also prioritize long-term strategies on student learning and educational equity. We must have the time and resources to reopen safely… but that requires funding. WEAC restates our stance that all decisions must be guided by science. We want nothing more than to be back at school with our students, but we can only be there safely when the Badger Bounce Back benchmarks are met.” Additional activityIn this section, we feature examples of other federal, state, and local government activity, as well as influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.
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Democratic National Convention begins with speeches from Sanders, Michelle Obama
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| August 17, 2020: The Democratic National Convention begins on Monday with speeches from Bernie Sanders, John Kasich, Michelle Obama, and others. The Trump campaign is launching a seven-figure digital ad campaign during the Democratic National Convention.
“If we look at the history of modern conventions, it’s tempting to dismiss the large, in-person gatherings of power players from all around the country as pageantry. But if you look closer, you’ll notice that conventions have played an important role for different wings of the party, who may disagree with party leadership and want to generate their own media attention. Granted, this has become harder to do over the years, especially as conventions have become more TV-centric and prepackaged. And that will likely be particularly true this year given the pandemic. But that doesn’t mean conventions have lost all meaning. Even if nothing is actually decided at the conventions, they still shine a spotlight on the parties, illuminating emerging factions and up-and-coming politicians, setting the stage for — and creating — the future of each party. That’s why it’s unfortunate that this year’s format has to be virtual — and why one should hope that it won’t be the new normal.” – Julia Azari, associate professor of political science at Marquette University Election Updates
What We’re Reading
Flashback: August 17, 2016 Donald Trump received his first classified national security briefing. |
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Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: August 14, 2020
Each day, we:
Want to know what happened yesterday? Click here. The next 72 hoursWhat is changing in the next 72 hours?
Since our last editionWhat is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.
Tracking industries: BarsAll 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: in which states may you go out for a drink? We last looked at bars in the August 7th edition of the newsletter. Since then, no states have opened or closed bars. At an Aug. 13 news conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said he would need to see hospital capacity increase and the state’s positivity rate fall below 10% for a “sustained period of time” before he would consider reopening bars.
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This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Michigan’s Safe Schools Return to School RoadmapOn June 30, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and the state’s Return to School Advisory Council released the Safe Schools Return to School Roadmap, a list of guidelines for reopening Michigan’s public schools for fall 2020. Whitmer said, “Thanks to our aggressive action against this virus, the teachers who have found creative ways to reach their students, and the heroes on the front lines, I am optimistic that we will return to in-person learning in the fall. The MI SafeSchools Return to School Roadmap will help provide schools with the guidance they need as they enact strict safety measures to continue protecting educators, students, and their families.” On June 25, the Michigan Education Association (MEA) outlined its priorities for reopening schools in the fall, emphasizing safety, meeting diverse student needs, and increased funding. MEA President Paula Herbart said, “We owe it to our students to do everything in our power to return to school in the fall — but only if we can keep them, their families and the school employees who serve them safe. No one has a crystal ball about how this ongoing pandemic is going to unfold, but we can come up with minimum requirements needed to move forward with in-person learning.” Michigan does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen—individual districts that meet the state’s requirements can set their own timelines. According to EdWeek, public schools in Michigan traditionally start the academic year after Labor Day, with the exact start date varying by district. On March 12, Whitmer closed all schools in the state until April 5. On April 2, Whitmer announced that schools statewide would remain closed for the rest of the academic year. ContextMichigan has a divided government. The governor is a Democrat, and Republicans have majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state has had a divided government since 2019. The following tables show public education statistics in Michigan, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans Individual districts are responsible for developing their own reopening plans. Districts were required to file their plans with the state. Chalkbeat Detroit published a list of district reopening plans here. In-person, hybrid, and online learning The state’s school reopening plan closely follows the state’s economic reopening plan, linking specific policies for schools to the phase of economic reopening in that district. The plan outlines four scenarios for instruction during the economic reopening:
Mask requirements Depending on the phase of reopening in a district, there are different requirements for wearing masks or facial coverings. If the district is in Phase Four of the state’s reopening, all students and staff are required to wear facial coverings. In Phase Five, facial coverings are strongly recommended for all. In Phase Six, no facial covering recommendations are made. In-person health recommendations and requirements In Phase Four of the reopening plan, all students, staff, and visitors must take a health screening before entering the building, and all desks must be placed at least six feet apart. Indoor assemblies are limited to those with no more than one class. Meals are recommended to be staggered and taken in outdoor spaces to allow for six feet of social distancing. Off-site field trips are also suspended in this phase, and recess is recommended to be done outdoors with one class. If more than one class is at recess, the state recommends all students wear facial coverings. In Phase Five, most of the requirements from Phase Four become recommendations. The plan emphasizes promoting social distancing to the greatest degree possible and recommends moving desks to allow six feet of distance. Gatherings like recess or assemblies should comply with executive orders about gathering sizes and should stress social distancing. Field trips are permitted, but facial coverings are required for transportation to and from the field trip site. In Phase Six, safety protocols are no longer required. In all phases, if a student or staff member shows symptoms of COVID-19, they are required to isolate and obtain a test. If a student or staff member tests positive, the guidelines require that student to isolate until they have a negative test or have quarantined for the amount of time outlined by the CDC. In the case of a positive test, those who were in close contact with the positive individual are recommended to quarantine and get a test. Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions In Phase Four of the state’s reopening plan, students and staff are required to wear masks and use hand sanitizer upon entering the bus. In Phase Five of the plan, facial coverings are strongly recommended on the bus. In Phase Six, safety protocols are no longer required on buses or transportation. ResponsesMichael Rice, state Superintendent of Instruction, praised the guidelines for return, saying, “This is a thoughtful set of parameters under which we can return safely and realistically to school in the fall. If we follow our health protocols, both inside school and out, we have the opportunity to stay in school longer next school year than if we assume that the pandemic has run its course. It hasn’t.” MEA President Paula Herbart expressed concern for teacher and student safety in school reopening plans, saying in a video to teachers on July 22, “If medical experts say it’s not safe for us to return to buildings to teach students face-to-face, then we can’t and we won’t. If school districts are keeping you and your members out of the process, making decisions about returning to school that don’t include you, and are ignoring you at the bargaining table, then they’ll see us in court.” Washington’s Reopening Washington Schools 2020On June 11, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal released Reopening Washington Schools 2020, a guidance document developed by the Reopening Washington Schools 2020 Workgroup with health and safety recommendations from the state Department of Health. Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said, “We all want students back in educational settings, but we must continue to monitor health data carefully, and proceed with caution. This virus is unpredictable and has upended our regular ways of doing everything. Therefore, if COVID cases spike or spread, we may need to reassess this plan. We cannot guarantee that school will open in fall. But for now, this guidance provides a path that schools, educators and families need to plan for the coming months and the fall. Kids need to be learning but they also need to be safe and healthy.” Washington does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen—individual districts that meet the state’s requirements can set their own timelines, depending on conditions in their community. According to EdWeek, public schools in Washington traditionally start the academic year in late August to early September, with the exact start date varying by district. On March 13, Inslee ordered all K-12 schools in the state to close for six weeks, effective March 17. On April 6, Inslee closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. ContextWashington has a Democratic trifecta. The governor is a Democrat, and Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Democratic trifecta in 2017. The following tables show public education statistics in Washington, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans Districts are required to develop their own reopening plans which must be approved through a local board resolution. Districts then must file their plans with the Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction and the State Board of Education within two weeks of the district’s fall starting date. In-person, hybrid, and online learning Individual districts are responsible for developing a schedule for returning to school. The guidance document specifies that alternative and hybrid schedules are to be implemented only if social distancing and other health requirements cannot be met:
Mask requirements Students, volunteers, or guests must wear cloth face coverings at school. Students are permitted to use face shields rather than a cloth covering. Staff are required to wear face coverings unless they are working alone. In-person health recommendations and requirements Physical distancing of at least six feet is required in schools, but how to achieve that is left to individual districts. The guidance document says that in addition to keeping students in cohorts, districts should, “practice physical distancing (six feet) within each group of students as much as possible. Create space between students and reduce the amount of time they are close with each other. Your ability to do this will depend on students’ ages and developmental and physical abilities.” The document also recommends limiting the number of students in common spaces, such as cafeterias, and suggests holding lunch periods outside when possible. This may also be done “through meal delivery to classes, or through grab-and-go services. If using the cafeteria, have students sit with their class or group, and ensure physical distance between students and between groups.” If a student or staff member shows symptoms of COVID-19, districts are advised to “separate the person away from others, with supervision at a distance of six feet, until the sick person can leave.” In the case of a positive COVID-19 test, “the local health jurisdiction will advise, but it is likely that many of the student’s classmates will be considered close contacts and need to be quarantined for 14 days.” Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions Schools are required to develop a system for drop-off and pick-up that keeps families at least six feet from each other and reduces their need to enter the school. For school buses and transportation, the guidelines require that districts:
ResponsesOn July 27, the Washington Education Association posted a statement to its website calling for Inslee to mandate fully virtual reopening of public instruction. The statement read, in part, “We know that in-person teaching and learning is best for both students and educators, and educators want nothing more than to get back into schools with our students. The reality is that, with very few exceptions, we are nowhere close to containing the spread of this virus and nowhere close to being able to guarantee the health and safety of our students, educators, families, and communities. Therefore, we cannot responsibly support a return to school buildings for in-person learning this fall. We call on Governor Inslee to continue leading with science and safety and declare that schools will open remotely this fall.” Additional activityIn this section, we feature examples of other federal, state, and local government activity, as well as influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.
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Ballotpedia’s Weekly Presidential News Briefing: August 8-14, 2020
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Campaign Ad Spotlight
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Trump opposes additional USPS funding, universal mail-in ballots
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| August 14, 2020: Donald Trump said universal mail-in voting would not be possible without additional funding for the USPS, which he said he opposed. Mike Bloomberg will speak at the Democratic National Convention on August 20. “Yet the coronavirus outbreak continues to cast a large shadow over the 2020 presidential election. Just half of U.S. registered voters (50%) say it will be very or somewhat easy to vote in the upcoming elections, while about the same share (49%) expects to have difficulties casting a ballot. That is a substantial change since October 2018, shortly before that year’s midterm elections, when 85% of registered voters said it would be easy to vote. Voters who support Donald Trump are far more likely than those who support Joe Biden to say it will be easy to vote this year. However, the shares of both Trump and Biden supporters who expect it will be easy to vote are much lower than the shares of voters who said this in 2018 – regardless of which party’s candidate they supported.” – Pew Research Center Election Updates
What We’re ReadingFlashback: August 14, 2016 U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) wrote an op-ed in The New York Times calling on Trump to release his tax returns. |
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Penn. state employee sues AFSCME Council 13 over automatic paycheck dues deductions
Penn. state employee sues AFSCME Council 13 over automatic paycheck dues deductions
On July 6, a Pennsylvania state employee filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 13 and state officials. The employee alleges that the union violated her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights when it continued to collect dues from her paychecks against her wishes after she resigned her membership.
Who are the parties to the suit?
The plaintiff is LuAnn Zeigler, an employee of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. She is represented by attorneys from the Fairness Center, which describes itself as “nonprofit, public interest law firm that provides free legal services to those hurt by public-sector union officials.” The Fairness Center has, to date, filed eight suits against AFSCME Council 13 over the union’s dues deduction practices.
The defendants are:
- AFSCME Council 13
- Michael Newsome, in his capacity as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Office of Administration
- Brian T. Lyman, in his capacity as Chief Accounting Officer for the Commonwealth and Deputy Secretary for the Office of Comptroller Operations
AFSCME Council 13 is one of Pennsylvania’s larger public-sector labor unions. According to its most recent annual report filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, AFSCME Council 13 had 52,883 dues-paying members and 582 fee payers (who are not considered full members), as of Sept. 27, 2019.
What is at issue?
The collective bargaining agreement covering Zeigler’s employment is in effect from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2023. It provides for automatic dues deductions and stipulates that “the employer shall rely on the information provided by the union to cancel or change authorizations.”
On July 25, 2018, Zeigler signed a union membership card, which stated that dues deduction authorizations are revocable only “during the 15 days before the annual anniversary date of this authorization or, for public sector contracts, during the 15 days before the date of termination of the appropriate collective bargaining agreement between the employer and the union, whichever occurs sooner.”
Zeigler resigned from the union on Jan. 2. On Jan. 31, a union representative wrote to Zeigler, confirming both the cancelation of her membership and the continuation of dues deductions: “When you joined the union, you agreed to continue to provide financial support in an amount equal to dues until a certain window period. … Given your commitment to continue providing financial support at least until this window, you cannot cancel your payments right now.”
Zeigler and her attorneys argue that continued compulsory dues deductions violate her rights to free speech, association, and equal protection under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, respectively. They cite the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME.
What comes next?
The case is currently assigned to Judge David Cercone, a George W. Bush (R) appointee. No hearings have been scheduled yet. The case name and number are Zeigler v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 13, 2:20-cv-00996.
What we’re reading
- Los Alamos Reporter, “Commentary: New Mexicans Opt Out Of Forced Unionism,” Aug. 12, 2020
- Workers World, “Historic win for labor: California child care workers unionize,” Aug. 10, 2020
- National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, “National Right to Work Foundation Issues Special Legal Notice for State of Ohio Employees Freed from Illegal OCSEA Union Dues Scheme,” Aug. 6, 2020
The big picture
Number of relevant bills by state
We are currently tracking 99 pieces of legislation dealing with public-sector employee union policy. On the map below, a darker shade of green indicates a greater number of relevant bills. Click here for a complete list of all the bills we’re tracking.
Number of relevant bills by current legislative status
Number of relevant bills by partisan status of sponsor(s)
Recent legislative actions
- California AB2850: This bill would specify that the Public Employment Relations Board has jurisdiction to enforce statutory provisions governing employer-employee relations within the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District.
- Democratic sponsorship.
- Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee reported favorably Aug. 12. Referred to Senate Appropriations Committee. Hearing scheduled Aug. 17.
Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: August 13, 2020
Each day, we:
Want to know what happened yesterday? Click here. Since our last editionWhat is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.
Tracking industries: Nursing home visitsAll 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: in which states may you visit someone in a nursing home? This does not include end-of-life or other emergency-related visits. Visits limited to family members only, or that are only allowed outdoors, are counted as “visitors allowed” in the chart and map below. We last looked at nursing home visitation in the Aug. 6 edition of the newsletter. Since then, Texas began allowing nursing home visitation. Facilities with no confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days can allow outdoor visitation. West Virginia closed nursing homes to visitors.
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This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Vermont’s A Strong and Healthy StartOn June 17, 2020, the Vermont Agency of Education and the Vermont Department of Health released A Strong and Healthy Start, which provided guidance for safety and public health in school reopening. The state has also provided guidance documents on hybrid learning and decision making for local administrators. Individual school districts must decide if they will open for in-person, hybrid, or remote instruction. Governor Phil Scott said, “At this time, Vermont data continues to support the reopening of schools and we will reassess that at any point,. Parents and our kids deserve the best education that we can possible [sic] provide. … We know a fully remote format creates gaps that some students fall through, and unfortunately this has a greater impact on some students than others.” On July 29, Scott signed an executive order that moved the start of the 2020-2021 academic year to Sept. 8. According to EdWeek, public schools in Vermont traditionally start the academic year in late August, with the exact date varying by district. Scott said the delay would give districts more time to begin with fully remote learning, telling reporters, “It makes sense for some to start with this more conservative approach.” On March 15, Scott ordered all K-12 schools in the state to close on March 18 until at least April 6. On March 26, 2020, Scott announced schools would be closed for the remainder of the academic year. ContextVermont has a divided government. The governor is a Republican, and Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state has had a divided government since 2017. The following tables show public education statistics in Vermont, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans On June 4, 2020, the Vermont Agency of Education released guidelines detailing the procedures for reopening. It said individual districts would submit reopening plans that would need to comply with the state-level guidelines outlined in its planning template. In-person, hybrid, and online learning The state’s guidance document allows individual districts to decide whether to use fully in-person schedules, a hybrid model, or fully online learning for the 2020 school year. On July 25, the state released an updated document that stressed school flexibility in planning, saying, “[I]t is important that each district plan for a certain amount of flexibility to shift school instruction along a continuum of options from full in-person instruction to full remote learning, including a hybrid learning approach that might include both.” Mask requirements Students, teachers, and school staff are required to wear facial coverings while in the school building and outside if six feet of social distance cannot be maintained. In-person health recommendations and requirements A Safe and Healthy Start recommends students be kept together in the same groups as much as possible. It also requires the groups to comply with the occupancy standards to ensure they maintain a six-foot social distance. The guidelines recommend installing physical barriers where social distancing is more difficult. Libraries and other communal areas can remain in operation if social distancing is possible and enforced. The plan recommends cafeterias and gyms should not be used for their normal purposes. Rather, they should be used as additional classroom space to help a school to properly allow for social distancing. Before and after school programs are allowed to remain in operation with social distancing requirements and with strict record-keeping suggested. The guidance recommends that anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 should self-isolate until they have had no fever for 24 hours without the use of medications. Students and staff will be excluded from school activities and buildings if they:
If COVID-19 is confirmed in a student, the school must:
Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions All students and staff must wear facial coverings while on school buses or other transportation. In addition, students should go through a health screening before boarding the bus. The state recommends assigning students to a bus based on their grade cohort and that students are assigned specific seats. ResponsesThe Vermont-NEA, the state’s largest teacher’s union, called for the state to adopt a phased approach rather than let individual districts decide how to reopen. The group has also called for the state to establish a “State Commission comprised of educators, school counselors, school nurses, educational support professionals, custodians and bus drivers, administrators, school board members, parents/caregivers, and AOE representatives” that can evaluate COVID-19 reopening plans. In an open letter to her school district opposing the plan, Harwood Unified Union School District Superintendent Brigid Nease said:
Vermont Secretary of Education Dan French said the decision offers individual districts options rather than dictates policy for the entire state. On Aug. 10, he told VTDigger:
Virginia’s Recover, Redesign, RestartThe Virginia Department of Education most recently updated its school reopening guidance on July 6. When the guidance was first introduced in June, Gov. Ralph Northam (D) said, “Resuming in-person instruction is a high priority, but we must do so in a safe, responsible, and equitable manner that minimizes the risk of exposure to the virus and meets the needs of the Virginia students who have been disproportionately impacted by lost classroom time.” Secretary of Education Atif Qarni said a phased opening of schools was designed with social and emotional wellbeing in mind. Qarni said, “These plans are informed by a range of perspectives and will help ensure that we prioritize the social emotional well-being of all of our students, their families, and educators as we go back to school this summer and fall.” Virginia does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen. Each district will decide when and with what form of instruction to reopen schools. According to EdWeek, public schools in Virginia start the academic year no earlier than 14 days before Labor Day. On March 14, Northam ordered all K-12 schools in the state to close for at least two weeks, effective March 16. On March 23, he announced that all schools would be closed for the rest of the school year. ContextVirginia is a Democratic trifecta. The governor is a Democrat, and Democrats have majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Democratic trifecta in 2020. The following tables show public education statistics in Virginia, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans On June 6, Northam introduced a phased guide to reopening public schools in Virginia. Phase One uses distance learning as the mode of education, with limited access to school facilities for students with disabilities. Phase Two allows for limited in-person instruction, especially for grades K-3. Phase Three allows for in-person instruction with social distancing and health and safety precautions taken. When he announced the phased plan, Northam said that most schools could reopen in Phase Two. The Recover, Redesign, Restart plan was revised on July 8 to include further instructions for Phase Three of reopening. In the revision, the state recommends practices and procedures for reopening schools but leaves the specific plans for reopening to individual school districts. According to the Virginia Department of Education, at least 15 days before instruction begins, “Public school divisions are required to submit a plan for providing new instruction to all students in the 2020-2021 academic year, regardless of phase or the operational status of the school at the time. This plan must also include strategies to address learning lost due to spring 2020 school closures. This should include a plan for fully remote instruction should public health conditions require it.” Districts are also recommended to post their plans on their websites for public viewing. In-person, hybrid, and online learning According to state guidance, schools will offer a variety of learning models depending on the plans they submit to the state. All districts must include plans for fully remote learning, but the phased model of reopening requires schools to plan for some level of in-person instruction. The guidance document states, “While the broad parameters of each phase are defined by the state, a great deal of local autonomy exists and school divisions have the flexibility to respond to this guidance within the capacity and resources of the division.” The state says alternative schedules may be necessary to maintain physical distance and outlines multiple possibilities in its guidelines. The guidelines state, “In order to adhere to the physical distancing requirements, schools will need to consider alternative and innovative schedules for their school buildings. These schedules will need to consider the developmental abilities and academic needs of the students served in each scenario, while maximizing physical distancing of students.” Mask requirements During all phases of Virginia’s plan, face coverings are recommended when six-foot physical is not possible. Face coverings are not required in any phase. In-person health recommendations and requirements Social distancing is required in all phases of the state reopening plan. In Phase Three, the most advanced phase of the plan, all individuals are required to be at least three feet apart. Each phase also accounts for increased occupancy of spaces like auditoriums, playgrounds, and cafeterias. Phase One allows 10 people in a space, Phase Two allows 50, and Phase Three allows 250. All phases require that space allows for six feet of distance. The state guidelines recommend daily health screenings for all students, faculty, and staff, and that any person who does not pass the health screening stay home. Those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to isolate, and those who experience symptoms in school are required to isolate. According to the Virginia Department of Education:
Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions During Phase One, bus capacity is limited to 10 students per bus. During later phases, bus capacity is recommended to be at an amount that allows for appropriate physical distancing. Face coverings are recommended but not required. ResponsesAccording to Richmond Magazine, the organization Virginia Educators United launched a petition in July, suggesting the state “keep classrooms closed until infections trend downward for at least 24 days and until preventive measures such as proper classroom ventilation, cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment are fully funded by the state.” Former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder (D), now a professor of public policy at Virginia Commonwealth University, told the Virginia Mercury he disagreed with Northam’s decision to allow individual districts to determine their reopening plans, saying, “I would not have done it that way. There need to be comprehensive, almost uniform requirements across the state. The plan cannot be helter-skelter.” Additional activityIn this section, we feature examples of other federal, state, and local government activity, as well as influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.
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Biden raises $26 million, doubles single-day fundraising record
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Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: August 12, 2020
Each day, we:
Want to know what happened yesterday? Click here.
Since our last editionWhat is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.
Tracking industries: RestaurantsAll 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: in which states may you dine in at a restaurant? We last looked at restaurants in the August 5th edition of the newsletter. Since then, no states have opened or closed dine-in services. On Aug. 10, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said it was still too risky to allow indoor dining across the state, citing a study on the spread of the virus in a restaurant in China.
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This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year. North Carolina’s Lighting Our Way ForwardOn June 11, 2020, the State Board of Education approved the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s, plan for school re-opening, Lighting Our Way Forward. On July 14, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) announced that schools must operate under either a hybrid or fully-online plan. Districts are required to offer online-only instruction for students who are at high risk or who choose not to return to in-person instruction. In his announcement, Cooper said, “There are no decisions more important than the ones about our children and our schools. This announcement today is the result of careful, collaborative, and painstaking work. There is much risk in not going back to in-person school. We know that schools provide so much more than just academic lessons.” Public schools operating on a traditional schedule will begin instruction on August 17. According to EdWeek, public schools in North Carolina traditionally start the year in late August. Cooper closed public schools in the state for two weeks on March 14. On March 23, he extended the closure through May 15. On April 24, he announced that public schools were closed for the remainder of the school year. ContextNorth Carolina has a divided government. The governor is a Democrat, and Republicans have majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state has had a divided government since 2017. The following tables show public education statistics in North Carolina, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans School districts are required to develop their own reopening plans that comply with the requirements outlined in the state’s guidance document. Those plans are:
Individual districts may choose to open under Plan B, which has some in-person instruction, or Plan C, which is entirely virtual. All districts are required to offer a fully virtual option. Schools may choose between Plan B or Plan C at any time. In-person, hybrid, and online learning Districts that choose a hybrid model are required to limit capacity to a level that will allow students and staff to adhere to a six-foot social distance. The state’s reopening guidelines suggest that scheduling for hybrid learning should be determined by individual school districts. The guidelines offer suggestions for alternating days, alternating weeks, or blending which grade levels would attend in person and which would attend virtually. Mask requirements All students, teachers, and staff are required to wear masks or face coverings. In-person health recommendations and requirements On June 8, 2020, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit, a series of guidelines for in-person public education. When learning is done in-person, the following precautions are required, according to EducationNC:
Schools must conduct regular screenings for COVID-19 symptoms and isolate individuals who show symptoms. Staff and students must stay home if they test positive for COVID-19, show symptoms, or have come in close contact with a person who has COVID-19. The guidelines provide criteria to return for three scenarios:
Schools are required to ensure that six feet of distance is possible and marked out for students and staff during times where students and staff are more likely to come in contact, such as at lunch or during recess. Capacity for common areas is limited to the number that would allow for six-foot social distancing. Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions The state’s face mask requirement for students and staff also applies to transportation. Buses are limited to one student per seat. Screening for symptoms, including temperature checks, may be conducted prior to boarding transportation. ResponsesAfter Cooper announced that districts would have the option for reopening under Plan B or Plan C, North Carolina Association of Educators President Tamika Walker Kelly said, said:
North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) criticized Cooper’s decision to limit district choices to Plans B and C. In a statement, Berger said:
North Dakota’s K-12 Smart RestartThe North Dakota Department of Public Instruction released its school reopening guidance, titled K-12 Smart Restart, on July 14. Gov. Doug Burgum (R) said, “North Dakota’s children are looking to us as adults to help them adjust to life with COVID-19. They will be watching us and looking to us for answers, guidance and security. Today’s guidance is the next step in that journey. We are committed to supporting and partnering with our schools and families to provide a safe, high-quality education experience for all students.” State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said, “School boards and administrators will be making difficult decisions to ensure the health and well-being of their communities and limit the spread of COVID-19 while fulfilling their overall mission of educating students. They are in the best position to make the dozens and dozens of judgment calls that will be necessary every day and changing as the days go on.” North Dakota does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, public schools in North Dakota traditionally start the academic year in late August to early September, with the exact start date varying by district. On March 15, Gov. Burgum closed schools for one week, effective March 16. On March 19, Burgum extended the closure indefinitely. The governor closed schools for the rest of the academic year on May 1. On May 11, he announced schools could reopen starting on June 1 for summer programs, though they were not required to. ContextNorth Dakota has a Republican trifecta. The governor is a Republican, and Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Republican trifecta in 1995. The following tables show public education statistics in North Dakota, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.
DetailsDistrict reopening plans Each school district is responsible for developing Health and Safety plans regarding in-person instruction, which district school boards must approve in consultation with local public health units. Each school is also required to have a board-approved Distance Learning Plan, along with a hybrid plan. Schools are required to post the plans on a publicly accessible website. In-person, hybrid, and online learning The state’s reopening guide sets forth a color-coded phased approach to returning students to classrooms. The levels—Red (critical risk), Orange (high risk), Yellow (moderate risk), Green (low risk), and Blue (new normal)—are “based on criteria such as the number of cases reported, positivity rates, testing capacity, hospital capacity, occurrence of point-source outbreaks, level of community spread, vulnerable populations affected and ability to protect, the availability of personal protection equipment (PPE), etc.” Schools in the Red or Orange Phase should remain closed, with all instruction provided remotely. Schools in the Yellow Phase can resume in-person instruction if they have a Health and Safety Plan approved by the district’s school board. In the Yellow Phase, guidance states that plans should emphasize facial coverings, personal hygiene, and social distancing. In the Green Phase, the guidance says that “some physical distancing measures and limitations on gatherings will still be recommended to prevent transmission from accelerating again.” For schools in the Blue Phase, “most normal activity can resume, with standard precautions and awareness of health guidelines such as routine hand washing, stay home when sick, cover your cough, education, stockpiling, planning, routine health alerts, etc.” As long as school plans have been approved, details of each model of learning can vary widely from school to school based on local conditions. Mask requirements For schools in the Yellow Phase, guidelines state, “Facial coverings (masks or face shields) should be worn by staff and students when social distancing is not possible.” For those in the Green Phase or Blue Phase, schools are instructed to develop “Guidelines for when facial coverings should be worn by staff and students when social distancing is not possible.” In-person health recommendations and requirements State guidelines instruct schools to develop their Health and Safety Plans based on documents released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, North Dakota Department of Health, and local public health units. Plans must include the following:
Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions The guidelines do not specify requirements or restrictions regarding transportation and busing, aside from instructing schools to develop “Protocols for adjusting space occupancy on buses that allow for separation among students to the maximum extent feasible.” ResponsesNick Archuleta, President of ND United, the state’s largest teacher’s union, responded to the state’s guidelines: “As expected, the responsibility for the creation of reopening plans and protocols rests with the local school districts, as it should. To that end, I am imploring local school boards and administrators to be as inclusive as possible as they undertake this important planning. If we are to instill confidence in the minds of parents, students, professional educators, and education support professionals, it is imperative that they have a seat at the table and that their views are seriously considered.” Additional activityIn this section, we feature examples of other federal, state, and local government activity, as well as influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.
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Nevada to mail ballots to all voters ahead of Nov. 3 general election
On Aug. 3, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed AB4 into law, directing election officials to automatically send mail-in ballots to all active registered voters in the Nov. 3 general election.
How did the bill become law?
The legislation was introduced in the Nevada Assembly on July 31 and referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Assembly approved AB4 on the same day and transmitted it to the Nevada Senate, where it was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Senate approved the legislation on Aug. 2 and sent it to the governor.
The Assembly voted 29-12 in favor of the bill, with one member excused. The Senate voted 13-8 in favor of the bill. The vote split along partisan lines in both chambers, with all Democrats voting in favor of the legislation and all Republicans voting against (except the one Assembly Republican excused from the vote).
What changes did the bill make to existing law?
AB4 modifies election procedures during declared states of emergency. Specifically, the legislation:
- Directs election officials to automatically send mail-in ballots to all active registered voters in elections affected by a statewide state of emergency.
- Sets the postmark deadline for mail-in ballots as the day of the election and the receipt deadline as seven days after the election.
- Allows a voter to authorize any person to return a mail-in ballot on behalf of the voter.
- Authorizes election officials to begin counting ballots 15 days before the election.
What were the reactions?
Both national and state-level Republicans criticized the legislation, both in terms of its content and its method of enactment. Former state attorney general Adam Paul Laxalt (R) posted on Twitter: “Gov. Sisolak and the NV Dems called a special session with no public present and inside 24 hours are ramming through mail-in balloting and ballot harvesting. They are massively altering our election 97 days out entirely without the SecState. They are working to steal our election[.]”
President Donald Trump (R) retweeted Laxalt’s post, adding, “This is outrageous. Must be met with immediate litigation!”
Democrats dismissed these criticisms. Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, both Democrats, said, “This bill ensures every eligible voter in the state is able to cast his or her ballot safely and securely without risk to their health.”
William McCurdy, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said, “Trump and his allies have always been motivated by partisanship, even at the expense of American lives. That he would threaten Nevada Democrats’ work to protect voting access through a crisis of his own making is both despicable and par for the course.”
What comes next?
On Aug. 4, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. the Republican National Committee, and the Republican Party of Nevada filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. In their formal complaint, they allege: “AB4 adds more than 25 new election-related sections to the Nevada Revised Statutes and amends more than 60 others. Many of those provisions will undermine the November election’s integrity. Some go beyond that, crossing the line that separates bad policy judgments from enactments that violate federal law or the United States Constitution.”
On Aug. 10, attorneys for Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske (R) filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. In that document, attorneys wrote, “Absent a concrete and particularized injury to plaintiffs, the court has no jurisdiction to intervene in election preparations. Because Plaintiffs have failed to plead facts from which one might reasonably infer that an injury is actual and imminent, not hypothetical, the court should dismiss their claims for lack of jurisdiction.”
The lawsuit, and the motion to dismiss, are pending before Judge James Mahan, an appointee of President George W. Bush (R). The case name and number are Donald J. Trump for President v. Cegavske, 2:20-cv-01445.
Absentee/mail-in voting modifications since our last issue
Since our July 29 edition, we’ve tracked the following absentee/mail-in voting modifications:
- Arkansas: On Aug. 7, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) issued an executive order extending absentee ballot eligibility to all voters in the Nov. 3 general election “who conclude their attendance at the polls may be a risk to their health or the health of others due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” The order formalized the policy that Hutchinson and Secretary of State John Thurston (R) first announced on July 2.
- California: On Aug. 6, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 423 into law, authorizing counties to consolidate polling places in the Nov. 3 general election, among other modifications to administration procedures.
- Connecticut: On July 31, Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed HB6002 into law, allowing voters to cite concern over COVID-19 as a reason for voting absentee in the Nov. 3 general election.
- Minnesota: On Aug. 3, a Minnesota district court approved a consent decree between the plaintiffs and the state defendants in LaRose v. Simon. Under the terms of the consent decree, state election officials agreed to waive the witness requirement for mail-in ballots cast in the Nov. 3 general election. The state also agreed to count all mail-in ballots postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received within five business days of Election Day.
- Montana: On Aug. 6, Gov. Steve Bullock (D) issued a directive permitting counties to conduct the Nov. 3 general election entirely by mail. Bullock also authorized counties to expand early voting opportunities for the general election.
- Nevada: On Aug. 3, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed AB4 into law, directing election officials to automatically send to all active registered voters in the Nov. 3 general election.
- Pennsylvania: On July 31, Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar (D) announced the state would provide prepaid return postage for all mail-in and absentee ballots in the Nov. 3 general election.
- Rhode Island:
- On July 31, Judge Mary McElroy of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island approved a consent agreement reached by the parties in Common Cause Rhode Island v. Gorbea. Rhode Island officials agreed not to enforce witness or notary requirements for mail-in ballots in both the Sept. 8 primary and Nov. 3 general elections.
- On Aug. 7, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued a per curiam opinion denying Republicans’ motion to stay the consent decree.
- Tennessee: On Aug. 5, the Tennessee Supreme Court vacated a lower court order that had extended absentee voting eligibility to all voters during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the state’s standard eligibility criteria apply to the Nov. 3 general election. The state granted that “individuals with a special vulnerability to COVID-19” and “or caretakers for individuals with a special vulnerability to COVID-19” would meet the existing statutory criteria for absentee voting eligibility.
- Virginia: On Aug. 5, the parties in League of Women Voters of Virginia v. Virginia State Board of Elections reached a settlement providing for the suspension of Virginia’s witness requirement for absentee ballots in the Nov. 3 general election.
To date, 38 states have modified their absentee/mail-in voting procedures. These modifications can be divided into five broad categories:
- Automatic mail-in ballots: Five states (California, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, and Vermont) have opted to automatically send mail-in ballots to all eligible voters in certain elections to ensure that most voting takes place by mail. These states are shaded in yellow in the map below.
- Automatic mail-in ballot applications: Seventeen states (Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin) have opted to automatically send mail-in ballot applications to all eligible voters in certain elections. These states are shaded in dark blue in the map below.
- Eligibility expansions: Ten states (Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) have expanded absentee voting eligibility in certain elections. These states are shaded in light blue in the map below.
- Deadline extensions: Five states (Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah) have opted to extend absentee/mail-in ballot request or submission deadlines in certain elections. These states are shaded in dark gray in the map below.
- Other process changes: One state (North Carolina) has made other modifications to its absentee/mail-in ballot procedures in certain elections. This state is shaded in gray in the map below.
Redistricting developments since our last issue
Since our July 29 edition, we’ve tracked the following redistricting-related developments.
- On Aug. 3, the United States Census Bureau announced it would conclude field data collection efforts by Sept. 30. The agency said it would use incentive awards and additional hires “to accelerate the completion of data collection and apportionment counts by our statutory deadline” of Dec. 30. The Bureau had previously indicated it might have to extend door-knocking efforts into October.
Litigation tracking
To date, we have tracked 165 lawsuits and/or court orders involving election policy issues and the COVID-19 outbreak. In each issue of The Ballot Bulletin, we shine a spotlight on what we consider one of the more interesting recent events in this area. Click here to view the complete list of lawsuits and court orders.
This week, we turn our attention to a case out of Georgia, Anderson v. Raffensperger.
- Case name: Anderson v. Raffensperger
- Case number: 1:20-cv-03263
- State of origin: Georgia
- Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
- Summary: On Aug. 6, the Democratic Party of Georgia, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and three Georgia residents filed suit against several state and local election officials. The plaintiffs allege that state and local election administration policies result in extended waiting times at the polls, deterring citizens from voting. They are asking the court to order election officials to “provide a sufficient number, and equitable distribution, of polling places and other election resources to prevent voters from having to wait in unreasonably long lines on Election Day.” In a statement, Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs said, “The Democratic Party of Georgia, Fair Fight and Democratic legislators all opposed Secretary Raffensperger’s legislation that would have required counties to add more polling places, equipment, and/or poll workers if any polling place had a wait time of more than an hour at any point throughout the day. Now, they are asking a federal court to order just that. Meanwhile, Secretary Raffensperger has been providing Georgia counties with specific data to help them know where they might need to add more polling places or voting equipment in order to avoid lines in November.”
- Court documents:
- Complaint (dated Aug. 6)
Legislation tracking
To date, we have tracked 276 bills that make some mention of both election policy and COVID-19. States with higher numbers of relevant bills are shaded in darker blue on the map below. States with lower numbers of relevant bills are shaded in lighter blue. In states shaded in white, we have tracked no relevant bills.
