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The Ballot Bulletin, May 3, 2024
States approved 17 election-related bills since our last edition, compared to 76 in 2023 and 18 in 2022 during the same period. Welcome to The Ballot Bulletin: Ballotpedia’s Weekly Digest on Election Administration. Every Friday, we deliver the latest updates on election policy around the country, including nationwide trends and recent legislative activity.
ICYMI: Top stories of the week
Voters in Crook County, Oregon, to decide on an advisory measure to secede from the state. Voters in Crook County, Oregon, will decide on an advisory measure on May 21 asking whether they support negotiations to incorporate the county into the state of Idaho. While the measure itself is advisory and would not change any state boundaries upon approval, Crook County will be the 15th Oregon county since 2020 to vote on a measure to secede from the state and join neighboring Idaho.
Kelly Daughtry (R) suspends campaign in North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District, leaving Brad Knott (R) as presumptive nominee
Kelly Daughtry (R) suspended her campaign for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District on May 2, 2024, leaving Brad Knott (R) as the presumptive nominee. Daughtry and Knott are the two candidates on the ballot in the May 14, 2024, primary runoff. Daughtry and Knott advanced from the March 5 primary with 27.4% and 18.7% of the vote respectively, below the 30% threshold required to avoid a runoff.
Missouri Supreme Court orders new election for state ballot measure related to Kansas City police funding, which was approved in Nov. 2022
In Missouri, voters will decide on a constitutional amendment for a second time, after the Missouri Supreme Court ordered a new election. In 2022, voters approved a ballot measure allowing legislators to increase the minimum required funding for a state board-established police force. As of 2024, there is just one state board-established police force, the Kansas City Police Department.
Voters in northeastern Gwinnett County, Georgia, to vote on ballot measure creating a new city, Mulberry
In northeastern Gwinnett County, Georgia, voters will decide on a ballot measure on May 21 to create a new city called Mulberry. Mulberry would have around 41,245 residents. The Georgia State Legislature referred the measure to the ballot in a vote that divided Republicans and Democrats. The Georgia State Senate voted 30-15 to pass the bill, titled SB 333, on February 1, 2024. Senate Republicans supported SB 333, while Democrats opposed the bill. The Georgia House of Representatives voted 101-63 to pass the bill on February 8. In the House, Democrats voted 5-63, while Republicans supported SB 333. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed the bill on Feb. 13, 2024.
71% of the more than 4,500 local elections Ballotpedia covered in April were uncontested
Welcome to the Friday, May 3, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:. 71% of the more than 4,500 local elections Ballotpedia covered in April were uncontested. 2024 statewide ballot measure certifications currently running ahead of 10-year average. #FridayTrivia: What percentage of state...
U.S. ESG funds see record outflows
In the first quarter of 2024, U.S. investors removed nearly $9 billion of net capital from funds promoting ESG investing strategies. The move marked the largest ESG outflow recorded. Ballotpedia tracks support for and opposition to the environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing movement. To learn more about arguments...
Biden issued one executive order about public health in April
President Joe Biden (D) issued one executive order in April, bringing his total to 138. Executive Order on COVID-19 and Public Health Preparedness and Response (April 12, 2024) Biden issued 25 executive orders in January 2021, more than any other month of his presidency. He did not issue any...
Oklahoma bans ranked-choice voting, joins six other states in prohibition
On April 29, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) signed HB 3156 into law, banning the use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) in the state. The new law makes Oklahoma the seventh state to ban RCV, and the second state to do so this year after Kentucky did so earlier in the month. Every state that has passed a law banning RCV did so with a Republican controlled legislature, all since 2022.
Six candidates are running in the Republican primary in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District
Six candidates are running in the Republican primary in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District on July 30, 2024. Five lead in endorsements, polling, fundraising, and local media attention: Trent Franks (R), Abraham Hamadeh (R), Anthony Kern (R), Blake Masters (R), and Ben Toma (R). Incumbent Debbie Lesko (R) is not...
South Dakota campaign submits signatures for right to abortion amendment, may join three other states voting on abortion in 2024
In South Dakota, a campaign supporting a ballot initiative to provide a state constitutional right to abortion submitted 55,000 signatures on May 1, 2024. If at least 35,017 of the submitted signatures are validated, the initiative will be certified to appear on the ballot for Nov. 5, 2024. Voters in...
Article III federal judicial nominations by president by days in office since 2001
There were 43 vacancies out of 890 authorized federal judicial posts through April 30, 2024. Forty-two of those were for Article III judgeships. This report is limited to Article III courts, where appointees are confirmed to lifetime judgeships. From March 2 through April 30:. 12 judges were confirmed. 11 judges...
All candidates for Kentucky House of Representatives District 76 Democratic primary complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey
All three candidates running in the May 21, 2024, Democratic primary election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 76 — Joshua Buckman (D), Anne Donworth (D), and James Palumbo (D) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
All candidates for U.S. House Indiana District 9 Democratic primary complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey
Both of the candidates running in the May 7, 2024, Democratic primary election for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District — D. Liam Dorris (D) and Timothy Peck (D) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.
Signatures filed for top-four ranked-choice voting (RCV) initiative in Idaho, which would reverse the state’s ban enacted in 2023
Signatures were filed for a citizen-initiated ballot measure to adopt ranked-choice voting (RCV) in Idaho. The ballot initiative would replace partisan primaries with top-four primaries, in which candidates, regardless of political affiliation, are listed on the same ballot, and the top four vote-getters advance to the general election. RCV would then be used in general elections. The ballot initiative would enact a system similar to Alaska’s, which voters approved in 2020.
Signatures submitted for minimum wage and paid sick leave initiative in Missouri
A Missouri campaign supporting a minimum wage and paid sick leave ballot initiative submitted more than 210,000 signatures to the secretary of state on May 1, 2024. The initiative would increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour in 2026, starting at $13.75 per hour in 2025. It would also require employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.
Preemption plays out with marijuana in Texas – our latest episode of On the Ballot
Welcome to the Thursday, May 2, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:. Preemption plays out with marijuana in Texas – our latest episode of On the Ballot. 118th Congress saw its lowest-ever approval rating in April. Ballotpedia and Decision Desk HQ...
Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #108
Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving school board politics and governance. School board filing deadlines, election results, and recall certifications. Three states have adopted education savings account (ESA) programs in 2024. Extracurricular: education news and numbers from around the web. Candidate...
State supreme court vacancy count for April 2024
In this month’s state supreme court vacancy update, Ballotpedia tracked announced retirements, nominations, appointments, confirmations, and swearings-in of justices from April 1 to April 30, 2024. Ballotpedia tracks court vacancies in all 52 state supreme courts. Announced retirements:. No new retirements were announced in April 2024. Candidates nominated/appointed:. The...
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