Tag: State news 2023
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Election legislation roundup: Texas State Legislature
As of June 11, members of the Texas State Legislature, which includes the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas State Senate, have passed 10 bills related to election administration since the beginning of the year. Of those 10 bills, legislators passed four during the week of June 5-11. This is four more than the…
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297 constitutional amendments were filed during the 2023 Texas legislative session with House Republicans filing the most
Of the 297 constitutional amendments filed during the 2023 regular session, 184 amendments (62%) were filed by Republican senators or representatives, and 113 (38%) by Democratic legislators. Compared to the 2021 regular legislative session, Republicans filed 58 more amendments in 2023, and Democrats filed an additional 21. Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-22) filed the most Republican-sponsored…
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One incumbent defeated in New Jersey’s state legislative primaries
New Jersey held state legislative primaries on June 6, the first in the 2023 election cycle. One Democratic incumbent—Nia Gill—lost, representing 1.1% of the 93 incumbents running for re-election. Overall, 17 incumbents ran in contested primaries, meaning 82% were guaranteed to advance to the general election. It is uncommon for state legislative incumbents to lose…
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Johnston defeats Brough in Denver’s fifth open mayoral election since 1959
Former state Sen. Mike Johnston defeated former Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce CEO Kelly Brough, 54% to 46%, in a runoff election for mayor of Denver, Colorado, on June 6, 2023. This was the city’s fifth open mayoral election since 1959. Incumbent Michael Hancock (D), first elected in 2011, was term-limited. While the election was officially nonpartisan, both Brough and…
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Texas set to become ninth state to withdraw from ERIC, Arizona’s possible withdrawal vetoed by Gov. Hobbs (D)
Texas lawmakers sent SB1070 to Gov. Greg Abbot (R) on May 29, 2023, positioning the state to become the eighth to withdraw from ERIC this year, and the ninth overall. Elsewhere, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed SB1135 on May 26, a bill including provisions that would have effectively withdrawn Arizona from ERIC. ERIC is…
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Texas Senate appoints committee to develop rules for upcoming impeachment trial
The Texas Senate appointed a committee on May 29 to develop proposed rules for the upcoming impeachment proceeding against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R). The committee, consisting of five Republicans and two Democrats, was directed to propose rules for the trial by June 20. The Senate also adopted a resolution on May 30 calling…
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Florida marijuana initiative has enough signatures to appear on 2024 ballot; state supreme court review pending
Smart & Safe Florida, a campaign supporting a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in Florida, has collected 967,528 valid signatures, exceeding the 891,523 valid signatures needed to be placed on the ballot in 2024. State officials confirmed on June 1, 2023, that the campaign had submitted enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot and…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of May 30, 2023, 24 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in eight states for elections in 2023. That’s nine more measures than the average number (15) certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 38 statewide measures have been certified in 20 states. That’s six…
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Election legislation roundup: New York State Senate
As of May 28, Ballotpedia has tracked 157 election-related bills in the New York State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the 157, Ballotpedia tracked nine from May 22-28. Democrats sponsored all nine bills. Five of nine bills are below: NY S07368: Relates to board of elections poll workers; provides that the board…
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Election legislation roundup: New Jersey State Senate
As of May 28, Ballotpedia has tracked 29 election-related bills in the New Jersey State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the 29, Ballotpedia tracked one from May 22-28. A bipartisan group of legislators sponsored the bill. The one bill is below: NJ S3851: Provides additional ways for transferring deceased voter’s record to Statewide…