By Eric Veram Since the beginning of the year, we have tracked 167 proposed laws in 35 states affecting the initiative and referendum process. Please note that some of these are constitutional amendments requiring voter approval before going into effect. The Ballot Law Update is released on the last Wednesday of each month. Stay tuned [...]

By Eric Veram Since the beginning of the year, we have tracked 125 proposed laws in 31 states affecting the initiative and referendum process. The Ballot Law Update is released on the last Wednesday of each month. Stay tuned to the Tuesday Count for weekly ballot law news. Recent news South Dakota legislature proposes amendment [...]

Edited by Eric Veram Though there were no certifications since our last report, the week has not been short on interesting developments. One such instance is a initiative attempt in Ohio that would introduce so-called “right-to-work” legislation similar to that in Michigan. The story, and news on states looking to oppose the recent Citizens United [...]

February 14, 2013 By Tyler King CONCORD, New Hampshire: Senate Republican Leader Jeb Bradley has proposed several changes to election laws in New Hampshire. Bradley told the Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee that the most important change to election laws his bill would make would be requiring independent groups to file expenditure reports with the state. The intent of his bill would be to [...]

January 8, 2013 By Justin Haas TALLAHASSEE Florida Early voting laws are likely to be changed once again in Florida. Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, the man who sponsored the 2011 law that reduced the number of early voting days in Florida, has now authored a bill which would provide increased early voting opportunities.[1] Both chambers of the Florida Legislature are [...]

By Eric Veram Richmond, Virginia: Currently, Virginia is one of the 18 states that does not allow early voting without an excuse, but, due to exceedingly long lines on election day, that may soon change. Governor Bob McDonnell said that waiting in line two hours to vote is unacceptable and is willing to look at expanding the state’s [...]

By Eric Veram Since the beginning of the year, we have tracked 54 proposed laws in 20 states affecting the initiative and referendum process. The Ballot Law Update is released on the last Wednesday of each month. Stay tuned to the Tuesday Count for weekly ballot law news. Recent news Passage of marijuana legalization measures causes uncertainty: Even though marijuana was legalized [...]

November 1, 2012 By Kelly O’Keefe QUILCENE, Washington: Fire commissioners Dave Ward and Mike Whittaker are used to fighting fires, but over the past 16 months, they’ve had to fight a recall effort aimed at removing the pair from office. On November 13, the duo will face voters in a recall election in Jefferson County[1] The recall effort was launched in June [...]

October 22, 2012 By Justin Haas MONTPELIER, Vermont The U.S. Justice Department has settled a lawsuit with Vermont over the state’s delayed mailing of some absentee ballots, which was filed by the federal government.[1] The U.S. Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act requires that those absentee ballots which are requested by voters be mailed out at least 45 [...]

October 16, 2012 By Eric Veram RICHMOND, Virginia: On Friday, October 12, the Virginia State Board of Elections published a press release warning that some citizens have been receiving phone calls telling them they can vote over the phone. The board reports that this information is false and adds, “Virginia law does not permit voting through the telephone. Apart from voting [...]