Search results for: “Florida “
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Where could we see marijuana on the ballot in 2019 and 2020?
Marijuana was a notable topic and trend for ballot measures in 2018. In 2018, voters in two states—North Dakota and Michigan—decided citizen initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana. The measure was defeated in North Dakota and approved in Michigan. In Oklahoma, State Question 788 legalizing medical marijuana was approved in June 2018. Utah and…
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Initiative to allow affirmative action in Washington certified to the legislature, may appear on November 2019 ballot
On February 7, 2019, Initiative 1000 was certified to the Washington legislature after enough signatures were found to be valid. Proponents submitted 395,938 signatures and, using a random sample method, the secretary of state’s office found that 76 percent of the signatures were valid—more than the 259,622 required signatures. Initiative I-1000 would allow affirmative…
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Duval Democrats announce official opposition to Lenny Curry’s re-election in Jacksonville
On Tuesday, the Duval County Democratic Party announced it had passed a resolution opposing the re-election of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry (R), although there are no Democratic candidates running. Curry faces Councilwoman Anna Brosche (R), former Atlantic Beach City Councilman Jimmy Hill (R), and Omega Allen (I) in the March 19 general election. If no…
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New Jersey governor signs $15 minimum wage legislation
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, signed legislation to increase the state’s minimum wage over five years, reaching $15 in 2024. Thereafter, the minimum wage will be tacked to increases in the Consumer Price Index. New Jersey is the fourth state, following California, Massachusetts, and New York, to enact $15 minimum wage legislation. …
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Ballotpedia covering elections for 496 school board seats in 2019
In 2019, Ballotpedia is covering school board elections for 496 seats across 176 school districts. These districts span 23 states, and collectively, they served 6,425,522 students during the 2015-2016 school year—approximately 12.8 percent of all public school students in the nation. In addition to the 200 largest school districts as measured by student enrollment, Ballotpedia…
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New York Legislature approves extreme risk protection order bill
New York’s legislature sent a firearms regulation bill to Governor Cuomo earlier this week. The New York State Legislature approved SB 2451 along party lines on January 29. According to the New York State Senate website, the bill “establishes extreme risk protection orders as a court-issued order of protection prohibiting a person from purchasing,…
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Proponents of transportation sales tax seek dismissal of Hillsborough County commissioner’s lawsuit against the measure
The group, All for Transportation, that sponsored a transportation sales tax measure in Hillsborough County, Florida, has filed a motion requesting dismissal of a lawsuit against the measure. Referendum 2 was approved in November 2018 by 57 percent of voters, authorizing the county to raise the sales tax rate from 7 percent to 8…
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Former U.S. Senator, NHL team owner endorse in Tampa Bay mayoral race
On Tuesday, former U.S. Sen. and Florida governor Bob Graham (D) endorsed city council member Mike Suarez for Tampa Bay mayor. In a statement, Graham said, “His leadership on the environment, our efforts to fight the war on terrorism and his dedication to protecting our elders, is what I admire about his service.” Suarez has…
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Tampa’s 2019 municipal races see twice as many candidates as 2015
A total of 32 candidates filed to run for eight offices up for nonpartisan election in Tampa, Florida, which is double the number of candidates who ran in the city’s 2015 elections. The office of mayor and all seven city council seats are on the general election ballot on March 5, 2019. If no candidate…
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How many citizens does your state legislator represent?
Each decade, the federal government conducts a census to update its population counts. Changes in population counts then require state governments to redraw their legislative jurisdiction boundaries. The average state senate district had a population of 156,339 following the 2010 census. That was an increase of 13,532 from the 2000 figure of 142,807. The average…