Caroline County elections director outlines RLA steps, new vendor demos and candidate filings The county election director told the Board of Elections on March 13 that staff are preparing for a state-required risk-limiting audit, public demonstrations of the newly selected ES&S voting system will be held March 232d25, and 29 local candidates filed by the Feb. 24 deadline.

Caroline County is gearing up for a new era in voting with mandatory risk-limiting audits and public demos of the cutting-edge ES&S machines—are you ready to see how your vote will be counted?

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#CarolineCounty #MD #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CivicEngagement

House Finance Committee presses Division of Elections on SB 64 implementation, rural impacts and data sharing At a March 12 hearing on Senate Bill 64, the House Finance Committee focused on feasibility of an online ballot-tracking and ‘cure’ system, privacy and data-sharing (SAVE/ERIC/PFD) and practical obstacles for rural Alaskans. Division of Elections staff said an automated system could not be ready for the August 2026 primary and estimated under 1,000 curable absentee ballots statewide.

The Alaska House Finance Committee is grappling with the challenges of implementing new absentee ballot tracking and curing requirements before the 2026 primary, raising concerns about rural voter access and technology readiness.

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#AK #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency

Charlotte County Electoral Board records Goode as registrar through June 30, 2023 after 2-1 vote The Electoral Board voted 2-1 on July 1 to record in its minutes that Mr. Goode serves as Charlotte County registrar through June 30, 2023, after members said they relied on guidance from the Department of Elections amid differing legal opinions about the June 24 appointment.

In a contentious 2-1 vote, the Charlotte County Electoral Board has officially declared Mr. Goode as the registrar until June 30, 2023, amidst legal debates and differing opinions from county officials.

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#CharlotteCounty #VA #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CivicEngagement

Board authorizes petition for special election after Commonwealth Attorney announces retirement County Attorney Frank Rennie told the Board Commonwealth Attorney Robert Clement will retire Dec. 31; the Board authorized a petition to the Circuit Court seeking a writ of special election to be held Nov. 2, 2021 and discussed an interim appointment.

A significant change is on the horizon as Commonwealth Attorney Robert Clement announces his retirement, prompting the Board to move swiftly for a special election.

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#LunenburgCounty #VA #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #PublicParticipation #CommunityGovernance

Charlotte County electoral board closes registrar’s office, places registrar and assistant on administrative leave On Dec. 15 the Charlotte County Electoral Board voted to close the registrar’s office pending state legal guidance and placed Registrar Eric Goode and Assistant Registrar Dorothea Knott on administrative leave through Dec. 31, 2021; the board also approved several security measures and scheduled weekly oversight meetings.

Charlotte County's Electoral Board has taken drastic measures by closing the registrar's office and placing both the Registrar and Assistant on administrative leave amid concerns about election integrity.

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#CharlotteCounty #VA #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CivicEngagement

Charlotte County electoral board dispute centers on interim registrar evaluation and transparency At its April 22 reconvened meeting, the Charlotte County Electoral Board faced public criticism and internal disputes over the evaluation and hiring process for Interim Registrar Eric Goode, minutes accuracy and whether prior motions complied with state code.

The Charlotte County Electoral Board is in turmoil over the evaluation of its interim registrar, raising serious questions about transparency and election integrity just before a crucial election.

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#CharlotteCounty #VA #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency

State Election Board urges restoration of funding after clearing backlog ahead of election year The executive director of the state election board told senators he cleared a backlog of about 315 election cases since assuming the post in June and urged restoration of the FY27 budget to $1.389 million, warning that House cuts risk hampering operations in an election year.

Georgia's State Election Board has cleared a staggering backlog of 315 cases, but without restored funding, the heart of democracy in the state may be at risk!

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#GA #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #GovernmentFunding #GeorgiaElections

Committee advances bill to add county recorders and legislative committee leaders to EPM consultation list Senate Bill 1237, which would require the Secretary of State to consult county recorders and chairs/ranking members of legislative election committees when drafting the Elections Procedures Manual (EPM), was given a due‑pass recommendation after county recorder testimony urging codification of recorder input to reduce litigation.

A pivotal vote in Arizona could empower county recorders to have a stronger voice in shaping election laws and reduce potential litigation.

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#AZ #LegislativeReform #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CivicEngagement #ArizonaCounties

Council approves major water and wastewater contracts and authorizes joint election agreement The council approved a $92.3 million GMP 1 construction package for the Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Plant, agreed to participate (~$2.3M) in a 30-inch waterline oversizing to serve Ponder Farms MUD, and authorized a joint election agreement with Denton County; most measures passed unanimously.

Denton City Council just approved a massive $92.3 million contract for wastewater expansion and a significant investment in water infrastructure—big changes are on the horizon!

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#DentonCityDentonCounty #TX #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CommunityDevelopment

Clerk: Early voting began Feb. 9; 1,140 mail ballots mailed, 642 returned Grundy County's elections clerk told the committee early voting began Feb. 9, about 400 voters have used the courthouse and remote sites, the office mailed 1,140 vote-by-mail ballots with 642 returned, and the county completed a state-mandated equipment test and scheduled an additional public test to meet statutory timing.

Grundy County's early voting is off to a strong start with 400 voters already casting their ballots, and the clock is ticking for mail-in ballots with over 600 returned!

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#GrundyCounty #IL #VotingAccess #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CivicEngagement #GrundyCountyElections

Committee advances bill to make key offices nonpartisan in five metro counties The Senate Ethics Committee advanced SB 573 to make certain county offices nonpartisan in five large metro counties (Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, Clayton and DeKalb). District attorneys and others warned the change may require a constitutional amendment; the bill’s author said legislative counsel supported the statute as drafted.

A bold new bill could reshape governance in Georgia's largest counties by shifting key offices to nonpartisan elections, sparking heated debates over fairness and constitutional implications.

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#GA #CivicParticipation #GeorgiaCounties #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency

Panel advances bill to require counties to transmit cast vote records to Secretary of State Senate Bill 1038, which would require county boards or elections officers to transmit the cast vote record (CVR) to the Secretary of State and bar alteration of the transmitted CVR, received a due‑pass recommendation after debate on whether the CVR is already a public record and why the change is needed.

Senate Bill 1038 aims to strengthen election integrity by requiring counties to send cast vote records to the Secretary of State, sparking debate on the necessity of such a measure.

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#AZ #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #PublicRecord #ArizonaElections

Alaska committee presses elections officials over memorandum that sent statewide voter file to DOJ Lawmakers at a March 4 joint Senate hearing criticized the Division of Elections' transfer of Alaska's statewide voter-registration file to the U.S. Department of Justice under a December 2025 memorandum of understanding, questioned the legal basis and called for documents, possible legislation and litigation.

Alaska lawmakers are raising serious concerns over the state's controversial transfer of voter registration data to the DOJ, questioning its legality and the potential implications for voter privacy.

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#AK #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency

Assembly elects Public Service Commission members, Casten wins contested seat The joint assembly approved candidates for four Public Service Commission seats. Stephen M. Casten won a contested election for seat 3 by a combined vote of 148 to 11; other seats were filled by acclamation or lopsided tallies.

The South Carolina General Assembly just elected new members to the Public Service Commission, with Stephen M. Casten winning a decisive victory in a contested seat!

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#SC #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #PublicService #SouthCarolinaPublicService

Board of education seats: contested elections produce ties and procedural confusion; special election set for June The governing council held board‑of‑education subdistrict elections March 2. Two candidates were approved unopposed; contested seats produced multiple roll calls, inconsistent weighted population tallies and a deadlock for one subdistrict, prompting the council to plan a special election at the June meeting.

Contested elections for the Special School District board have spiraled into chaos, leaving one seat undecided and a special election on the horizon.

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#MO #MissouriSchools #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #StudentSafety #FiscalResponsibility

Senate debates election-law amendments; S694 advanced after amendments Senators debated several election-related measures, including S694 updates on polling-place rules and precinct sizes, and amendments to improve access to cast-vote records; sponsors and opponents sought carryovers for further work.

South Carolina's Senate is shaking up election laws, advancing critical measures to modernize polling places and enhance transparency—what changes are on the horizon?

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#SC #VotingAccess #SouthCarolinaElections #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CivicEngagement

Public Disclosure Commission details website upgrades, filer support and move to login.gov Public Disclosure Commission officials told a legislative work session they have expanded online help, training and outreach for candidates and filers, handled thousands of assistance requests in fiscal 2025, and are coordinating a move from Secure Access Washington to login.gov to ease access for filers.

The Public Disclosure Commission is revolutionizing campaign filing with a user-friendly website, enhanced training, and a seamless transition to login.gov for easier access!

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#WA #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #DigitalAccessibility #CivicEngagement

State Board of Elections certifies Feb. 10 special election results and outlines referendum timetable The State Board of Elections unanimously certified Feb. 10 special-election results for Senate District 39 and House District 5; staff described checks performed and the Department clarified it has no role in writing the April 21 referendum question and will execute any law set by the General Assembly.

The State Board of Elections has officially certified the results of the recent special elections, paving the way for an important statewide referendum this April!

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#VA #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CivicEngagement #VoterEducation #VirginiaElections

Senate committee hears campaign-finance update to treat coordinated electioneering as in-kind contributions The Senate Elections Committee heard testimony in favor of SF 3886, which would treat coordinated electioneering communications as in-kind campaign contributions and add digital ad disclaimer rules; the bill was laid over for possible omnibus inclusion after committee discussion and no final vote on passage.

A pivotal campaign finance bill in Minnesota could reveal the hidden influence of wealthy donors on elections by treating coordinated electioneering as in-kind contributions.

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#MN #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #VoterEducation #MinnesotaCampaignFinance #PoliticalDisclosure

Witnesses tell House committee schools should not use school-aid dollars to fund bond campaigns Supporters of House Bill 5,032 told the House Committee on Election Integrity that school districts should not use school-aid funds to pay for planning or campaign-style communications tied to bond elections, urging private fundraising and greater transparency; witnesses urged data collection on failed millages and clearer fund accounting.

Michigan lawmakers are grappling with whether school districts should use taxpayer dollars to fund bond election campaigns, raising questions about transparency and accountability.

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#MI #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #SchoolFunding

Maricopa supervisors approve $550,000 for signature-verification workstations amid Agilis dispute The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 Feb. 25 to reallocate $550,000 to the Recorder’s Office for signature-verification workstations and tenant improvements; county staff said the funds come from legislative contingency, not for the Agilis machine, while critics pressed for more transparency about the upgrade and related state funding.

Maricopa County's recent $550,000 funding approval for signature-verification workstations has sparked controversy, raising questions about transparency and the Agilis voting system connection.

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#MaricopaCounty #AZ #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #VotingSecurity

Town clerk outlines new primary date, filing deadlines after state law change Town clerk explained HB2022 moved Arizona’s primary to the second-to-last Tuesday in July, setting the 2026 primary for July 21 and detailing candidate filing, registration and ballot-statement deadlines for Prescott Valley.

Big changes are coming to Prescott Valley as the state primary is now set for July 21, impacting candidate filings and early voting arrangements!

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#PrescottValleyYavapaiCounty #AZ #VotingAccess #CivicParticipation #PrescottValleyElections #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency

House debate over HB558 exposes split on adding party‑affiliation disclosure to nonpartisan filings The committee adopted the first substitute to HB558 (elections filing disclosure) but then voted 7–3 to hold the bill for further study after extended debate and public comment. Supporters argued disclosure aids voter information and engagement; opponents, including the League of Cities and the League of Women Voters, warned it would politicize local, nonpartisan offices and could reduce focus on qualifications.

The House committee's heated debate over HB558 reveals a deep divide on whether disclosing party affiliations in nonpartisan races will boost voter engagement or undermine essential local governance.

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#UT #VoterEngagement #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #PartisanshipConcerns

Secretary of State presenter outlines voter guide mailings, reduced federal grants and $1.8M media request A presenter from the Vermont Secretary of State's office told a legislative committee the office will begin mailing a voter guide to every household in 2026, warned of declining federal HAVA funding, requested a base $450,000 general fund appropriation, and asked for $1.8 million for local media grants and $90,000 for community radio.

Vermont plans to mail a personalized voter guide to every household starting in 2026, aiming to enhance civic engagement amidst dwindling local news coverage.

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#VT #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CivicEngagement #VermontElections #LocalMediaSupport

House passes bill adding election hand‑count rules; $300,000 training amendment adopted Lawmakers debated new rules for post‑election precinct hand counts and whether to require paper ballots. An amendment to fund clerk and volunteer training with $300,000 passed; final passage of House Bill 52 was 49–9 with 4 excused.

Wyoming lawmakers have just approved a pivotal bill that sets the stage for uniform post-election hand counts, backed by a $300,000 training fund for county clerks!

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#WY #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #VotingAudit #CivicEngagement

Committee moves bill clarifying candidate name rules for filings Senate Bill 299 clarifies candidate name use (middle or maiden name and county-known nicknames) after issues surfaced under last year’s law; the lieutenant governor’s office and county clerks testified in support and the committee voted to advance the bill.

Senate Bill 299 is set to clarify candidate name rules, addressing last year's confusion and ensuring smoother filings for future elections.

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#UT #LegislativeReform #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CivicEngagement

Representative says she obtained Hennepin County voter master list and accuses Secretary of State of restricting access Representative Pam Oldendorf told the committee she has the Hennepin County master voter list and said the secretary of state directed most counties to provide a reduced set of fields, a move she said prevents verification; she described anomalies she says appear in the data and said the matter could lead to legal action.

Minnesota Representative Pam Oldendorf claims to have uncovered alarming anomalies in the Hennepin County voter master list and accuses Secretary of State Steve Simon of restricting access to vital information.

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#MN #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #DataAccountability

Senate committee advances bill to codify post‑election audits after Weston County errors The Senate Corporations Committee advanced House Bill 85 to require minutes, sworn observers and public notice for post‑election audits after a Weston County sample found 21 errors in 75 ballots; clerks warned about room capacity and ballot security during the process.

Wyoming's Senate committee just advanced a bill to ensure post-election audits are transparent and accountable after a shocking discovery of ballot errors!

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#WY #CivicParticipation #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #PublicAccountability

House Elections Committee hears competing proposals to alter Missouri term limits and leadership tenure The House Elections Committee heard testimony on four similar proposed constitutional amendments that would let legislators serve 16 years in either chamber and add limits on leadership tenures; sponsors argued it preserves institutional knowledge while opponents warned of voter backlash and election costs.

Missouri lawmakers are pushing to change term limits and leadership tenures, claiming it will empower the people, but critics warn of potential voter backlash and hefty costs.

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#MO #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #MissouriLegislation #LeadershipReform

Committee narrows campaign‑finance reporting changes, raises small‑race threshold to $1,500 The Joint Standing Committee advanced LD 2000 with an amendment that raises the reporting threshold for state representative and municipal candidates to $1,500 and keeps most independent‑expenditure filings at 24 hours while allowing candidates a 48‑hour window; the measure passed the committee roll call.

Maine's Joint Standing Committee just approved a significant overhaul of campaign finance rules that could reshape the landscape for smaller races—are you ready for the changes?

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#ME #MaineVeterans #CitizenPortal #ElectionTransparency #CampaignFinance