On April 1, 2020, Governor Jim Justice (R) issued an executive order postponing West Virginia’s statewide primary, including its presidential preference primary, to June 9, 2020. The primary was originally scheduled to take place on May 12, 2020. According to the press release announcing the postponement, “Secretary of State [Mac] Warner said his office continues…
On March 30, 2020, Governor Brad Little (R) and Secretary of State Lawerence Denney (R) announced that Idaho’s May 19, 2020, primary election would be conducted entirely by mail. According to the press release announcing the change, “The Governor and Secretary of State will work with the Attorney General and the clerks of Idaho’s 44…
As of March 31, governors and state agencies have issued 758 executive orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Executive orders are orders issued by a state’s executive branch that do not require legislative approval and are typically based on constitutional or statutory authority. The three states with the most executive orders so far are…
On March 30, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) issued an executive order closing nonessential businesses and requiring individuals to remain in their homes except for essential activities. Lee’s order is effective from March 31 through April 14. Schools are scheduled to remain closed through April 24. Twenty-eight states have issued stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders to…
On March 30, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) issued an executive order closing nonessential businesses and requiring individuals to remain in their homes except for essential activities. Northam’s order took effect immediately and will remain in place until June 10. It does not impact the state’s schools, which Northam closed for the academic year on…
An effort to recall Lance FitzGerald from his position as Ouray County Sheriff in Colorado submitted 1,082 petition signatures in March 2020. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect 768 signatures from eligible Ouray County voters. If enough signatures are deemed valid, a recall election will be scheduled. The recall effort began in January 2020.…
On March 30, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued an executive order closing nonessential businesses and requiring individuals to remain in their homes except for essential activities. Hogan’s order took effect immediately and will remain in place until the state’s declared state of emergency is over. The order defines essential activities as trips for supplies…