Category: State

  • Voters have until June 8 to remove signatures from recall petitions of California Gov. Newsom

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    The next major deadline in the recall campaign against California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is June 8. Voters have until this date to request to have their signatures removed from the recall petitions. At that point, if at least 1,495,709 signatures remain, the recall election will be certified and proceed to a budgeting and scheduling…

  • Voters to decide state legislative primaries in New Jersey, Virginia on June 8

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    Two states—New Jersey and Virginia—are holding state legislative elections this year. Democratic and Republican voters in each state will be selecting nominees for these races on June 8. In New Jersey, all 120 state legislative seats are up for election: 80 in the General Assembly and 40 in the state Senate. Ninety percent of incumbents,…

  • Redistricting review: Illinois lawmakers approve state legislative, supreme court maps

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    Last week, Illinois lawmakers approved revised maps for the Illinois state Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives, and the Illinois Supreme Court. Both sets of maps were approved along party lines, with all Democrats voting ‘yea’ and all Republicans present voting ‘nay.’ In Illinois, the General Assembly is responsible for redistricting. Maps are subject to…

  • Special election to be held on June 8 in New Hampshire House district

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    A special election is being held on June 8 for the Merrimack 23 District of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Muriel Hall (D) and Christopher Lins (R) are running in the general election. The winner of this special election will serve until December 2022. The seat became vacant after Samantha Fox (D) resigned on…

  • Looking back at government responses to the coronavirus pandemic, June 1-5, 2020

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    Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout the year, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, issued mask mandates, and changed election dates. Many of those policies remain in place today.  Here…

  • Delaware, Maine, New Jersey end face-covering requirements

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    Three states ended statewide public mask requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated people between May 21 and May 28. Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) ended the statewide indoor mask requirement May 24. Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew said businesses could require people to show proof of vaccination, but “the state of Maine…

  • Constitutional amendment establishing a right to a designated essential caregiver will be on the November ballot in Texas

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    On May 27, the Texas State Legislature voted to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot that would provide residents of nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and state-supported living centers with a right to designate an essential caregiver who may not be prohibited from visiting the resident. It would also authorize the Texas State Legislature…

  • Oklahoma adjourns 2021 legislative session without passing any constitutional amendments

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    The Oklahoma State Legislature adjourned its 2021 state legislative session on May 27, 2021. The legislature did not refer any constitutional amendments to the ballot during the 2021 legislative session. One constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 1001, was passed unanimously in the House but did not receive a vote in the Senate before the session…

  • Connecticut voters to decide early voting amendment in 2022

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    On May 27, the Connecticut State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to voters in 2022 that would authorize the state legislature to provide by law for early voting. Currently, Connecticut does not permit early voting. As of April 2021, 38 states and the District of Columbia permitted early voting. Early voting allows citizens…

  • Newsom recall update: 37 filed candidates, a new poll, and a $3 million donation

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    The recall campaign against California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is currently in the signature removal phase, when voters can request to have their signatures removed from the recall petitions through June 8. At that point, if at least 1,495,709 signatures remain, the recall election will be certified and proceed to a budgeting and scheduling phase.…