Category: State
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Vermont enacts vote denial prohibition, campaign finance changes in 2026 session
The Vermont General Assembly adjourned its 2026 regular session on May 29 after passing one election-related bill, which Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed on June 8. S. 298 is an omnibus elections bill. It includes a prohibition on state or local voting policies that result in a “denial or abridgement of the right of any…
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Three statewide candidate filing deadlines in the next two weeks
As we approach the longest day of the year on June 21, candidates and voters in multiple states have election-related deadlines to be aware of as the 2026 election cycle continues. Three states have statewide candidate filing deadlines in the next two weeks. The map and bulleted list below show which states have candidate filing…
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Thirty-one members of the New York Legislature are retiring this year, the second-most since 2010
Thirty-one members of the New York Legislature are retiring in 2026. This is the second-most retiring incumbents since 2010. The only other year with more than 30 retirements was 2020, when there were 33. Otherwise, 25 incumbents or fewer have retired each year since 2010. According to City and State New York’s Rebecca C. Lewis…
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California initiative that would make changes to the environmental review process established by CEQA qualifies for the November ballot
The California Secretary of State announced that a ballot initiative proposing to amend the California Environmental Quality Act by modifying environmental review processes qualified for the ballot on June 16. The Committee to Build an Affordable California, the campaign supporting the initiative, submitted 942,967 signatures, of which the secretary of state projected 77.5% are valid,…
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Jon Echols (R) defeated Jeff Starling (R) in the Republican primary for Oklahoma Attorney General on June 16, 2026
Jon Echols (R) defeated Jeff Starling (R) in the Republican primary for Oklahoma Attorney General on June 16, 2026. Incumbent Gentner Drummond (R), first elected in 2022, ran for governor. The last election for Oklahoma Attorney General without an incumbent on the ballot was in 2010. The Southwest Ledger's M. Scott Carter said, "For decades,…
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Campaign behind a ballot initiative to prohibit corporations from political spending in Montana submits signatures
A campaign submitted 50,000 signatures to county officials on June 16 for verification to qualify a ballot initiative that would prohibit nonprofits, trusts, partnerships, corporations, trade associations, or unincorporated associations, and all entities doing business in Montana from contributing to campaigns, ballot measure elections, or political parties. The initiative classifies these entities as artificial persons…
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North Carolina General Assembly overrides Governor's veto of bill opting state into federal education tax credit scholarship program
On June 3, 2026, the North Carolina General Assembly overrode Gov. Josh Stein's (D) veto of HB 87, titled the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), opting the state into the federal education tax credit scholarship program. Stein vetoed HB 87 on Aug. 6, 2025. In his 2025 veto message, Stein said, "Once the federal…
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Iowa enacts five election bills in 2026, including prohibition on foreign donations in ballot measure elections
The Iowa General Assembly adjourned its 2026 regular session on May 3 after passing five election-related bills. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed each of the bills by June 2. Among the enacted bills was HF 2601, which prohibits foreign contributions in ballot measure elections. Iowa previously had a ban on foreign funding for candidate elections,…
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Kansas could become the first state to change its supreme court selection method since 2021
On August 4, as Kansans vote in primaries for offices including governor and U.S. Senate, a constitutional amendment to change how the state’s supreme court justices are selected will be on the ballot. Currently, the state uses an assisted-appointment method in which a nominating commission sends a list of applicants to the governor, who selects…
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What to know about how states count absentee/mail-in ballots
In the midst of primary season, voters may wonder about the laws that govern how and when states count absentee/mail-in ballots. Every state provides a method for voters to cast ballots without visiting a physical polling place, but policies for counting those ballots differ from state to state. State laws prescribe when election officials can…