Category: State
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Maryland was the most active Democratic state in terms of new election laws in the first half of 2024
Maryland adopted 10 election-related bills in the first half of 2024, making it the most active state with a Democratic trifecta in terms of new election laws. Lawmakers adopted bills expanding protections for election officials, and created a portal intended to address election misinformation. They also adopted a new law modifying post-election canvassing procedures, including a process…
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Signatures submitted for Arizona initiative that would raise minimum wage to $18
In Arizona, a campaign supporting an initiative to increase the minimum wage to $18 per hour submitted signatures on July 3, 2024. Voters would decide on the ballot initiative on Nov. 5, 2024. Raise the Wage AZ, the campaign sponsoring the initiative, submitted 354,278 signatures to state officials. At least 255,949 signatures must be verified.…
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Fewest ever contested state legislative primaries in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 33 contested state legislative primaries on September 3, 2024, the fewest since Ballotpedia started tracking in 2010. There are 27 contested Democratic primaries and six contested Republican primaries. For both parties that is below the average from 2010 to 2022. The average number of contested Democratic primaries was 36.9 and the average number…
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Voters in six states—CO, FL, MD, NY, NV, and SD—will be deciding on abortion in 2024, with measures proposed in five other states
Voters in six states—Colorado, Florida, Maryland, New York, Nevada, and South Dakota—will decide on abortion-related ballot measures in Nov. 2024. Initiatives are also proposed in five additional states. On June 28, a ballot initiative to provide a state constitutional right to an abortion was certified for the ballot in Nevada. Around 128,000 signatures were verified…
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Signatures submitted for Ohio ballot initiative to establish the Citizens Redistricting Commission
In Ohio, the campaign behind a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment to create a Citizens Redistricting Commission submitted signatures on July 1, 2024. Voters would decide the ballot initiative on Nov. 5, 2024. The initiative would replace the current Ohio Redistricting Commission with the Citizens Redistricting Commission. Currently, the Ohio Redistricting Commission has seven members, including the…
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Nevada voters will decide on abortion amendment in November, joining five other states—CO, FL, MD, NY, and SD
Voters in Nevada will decide on a citizen-initiated ballot measure to provide a state constitutional right to an abortion on Nov. 5, 2024. About 128,000 signatures were verified on June 28, 2024. For a citizen initiative to qualify for the ballot, 102,362 valid signatures were required. Voters in 11 states could vote on abortion-related measures…
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State supreme court vacancy count for June 2024
In this month’s state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and the swearing-in of justices from June 1, 2024, to June 28, 2024. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Announced retirements: New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) announced on June 10, 2024, that Justice Lee A.…
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First half of 2024 sees historic spike in recall efforts against elected officials
In the first half of 2024, Ballotpedia tracked the highest number of officeholders targeted for recall and the highest number of officeholders removed from office by mid-year since tracking began in 2014. From January 1 through June 28, 2024, there were 164 recall efforts launched against 266 officeholders, resulting in 38 officials being successfully recalled.…
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Twenty-eight candidates are running in the top-two primary for governor of Washington – Semi Bird (R), Bob Ferguson (D), Mark Mullet (D), and Dave Reichert (R) lead in media coverage and endorsements
Twenty-eight candidates are running in the top-two primary for governor of Washington. Semi Bird (R), Bob Ferguson(D), Mark Mullet (D), and Dave Reichert (R) have received the most media attention and endorsements. The primary is Aug. 6, 2024. The top-two finishers will advance to the general election on Nov. 5, 2024. Incumbent Jay Inslee (D) is not running for re-election. Political commentators have identified two themes…
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Indiana treasurer adds BlackRock to state ESG watchlist
Indiana Treasurer Daniel Elliott (R) announced June 21 that he added BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, to “a state watchlist, accusing the firm of making illegal environmental, social or governance (ESG) commitments,” according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle. The decision was related to a 2023 state law banning ESG in state pension investments. Ballotpedia…