Category: State
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Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs order requiring state to issue guidance on immigration enforcement at polling places
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed an executive order on May 20 requiring the state Department of Elections to issue guidance for election workers on engaging with federal immigration officers at polling places, among other directives. There is no timeline for when the agency must issue the guidelines, but the order requires the department to…
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South Carolina changes municipal election date laws, approves three other pieces of election-related legislation in 2026
The South Carolina Legislature adjourned its 2026 regular legislative session on May 14 after approving four pieces of election-related legislation. Among those was H 3556, which establishes certain dates when municipal elections may be held in odd-numbered years. The bill also allows only municipalities with more than 10,000 residents to have a municipal elections commission…
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Maryland lawmakers enact state-level voting rights act, 21 other election bills in 2026
The Maryland General Assembly adjourned its 2026 legislative session on April 13 after sending 22 election-related bills to Gov. Wes Moore (D). Moore signed each of the bills between April 14 and May 12. Among those bills was SB 255, which established the Maryland Voting Rights Act. The bill prohibits counties or municipalities from using…
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Missouri voters to decide amendment to establish Show-Me Prosperity Investment Fund to reduce and eliminate state taxes
Missouri voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to create the Show-Me Prosperity Investment Fund, which would grow through state investments until its earnings could replace tax revenue, with the goal of reducing and eventually eliminating state taxes. The amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 95, passed the state Legislature. The Senate approved it 22-7 on March…
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Missouri voters to decide constitutional amendment to require election of county sheriffs
Missouri voters will decide a constitutional amendment to require the election of county sheriffs in most counties. The amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 87 (SJR 87), which was introduced by Sen. Jill Carter (R-32), passed the state legislature on May 15, 2026. The House passed the measure by 95-46, and the Senate passed the measure by…
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The Utah Supreme Court undergoes another change in structure with the resignation of Justice Diana Hagen
On May 8, Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen resigned, marking another structural change within the Court. Hagan’s resignation comes after Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed a bill on Jan. 31 to increase the number of justices on the Court from five to seven — making Utah the first state since 2016 to expand its…
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Connecticut could become the 37th state to allow absentee/mail-in voting without an excuse
On May 15, Connecticut legislators sent a bill to Gov. Ned Lamont (D) that would remove the requirement that voters provide an excuse to request an absentee ballot. Currently, Connecticut is one of 14 states that require voters to have a valid excuse to vote absentee/by mail. Twenty-eight states allow any eligible voter to request…
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Alabama announces special primary elections for four U.S. House races, New Hampshire moves 2028 primary date
Two states recently revised their election calendars: Alabama scheduled special primary elections this year for four congressional districts, and New Hampshire moved its statewide and congressional primaries to June beginning in 2028. On May 12, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) announced that special primaries will happen on Aug. 11 for four of the state's seven…
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Hawaii legislators advance bill to restrict corporate political activity
On May 8, Hawaii legislators sent a bill to Gov. Joshua Green (D) that would prohibit corporations from spending money or participating in election or ballot measure activities. SB 2471 would amend state law to modify the powers given to corporations. The bill establishes that corporations have artificial-person powers, defined as the ability to carry…
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Louisiana state legislature certifies two measures related to homestead tax exemptions for surviving spouses of deceased veterans and changing property tax limits for the 2026 ballot
The Louisiana State Legislature approved two constitutional amendments related to property taxes for the Nov. 3, 2026, statewide general election ballot. Legislators passed both amendments on May 11, 2026. In Louisiana, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during a single session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of…