Elections and voting coverage

What government is actually doing — laws and executive action, budgets and taxes, housing, schools, health, courts, public safety, transport, energy, voting and campaigns — across Washington, the states and city hall. Filter below or page through the full archive.

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News · CA

California enacts law addressing misuse of courts by abusers

Elections and voting

The new state law is intended to prevent abusers from using legal proceedings to continue harming survivors.

The Ballot California News DeskOct 5, 2026

News · SD

Bryon Noem responds after Kristi Noem files for divorce

Elections and voting

Bryon Noem spoke publicly two days after his wife of 34 years, former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, filed for divorce.

The Ballot South Dakota Policy DeskOct 5, 2026

News · PA

Pennsylvania House passes bill to open primary elections

Elections and voting

The measure would allow independent and third-party voters to participate in Pennsylvania primary elections.

The Ballot Pennsylvania Policy DeskOct 5, 2026

News · SC

What’s on South Carolina’s 2026 election ballot

Elections and voting

South Carolina voters will decide three statewide offices and elections for all seven U.S. House districts on Nov. 3.

The Ballot South Carolina News DeskOct 5, 2026

News · ND

North Dakota’s 2026 elections: Key races and voting history

Elections and voting

Voters will choose a U.S. House member, secretary of state and attorney general in North Dakota’s Nov. 3 election.

The Ballot North Dakota DeskOct 5, 2026

News · MA

What Massachusetts voters will decide in 2026

Elections and voting

The Nov. 3 election includes contests for U.S. Senate, all nine U.S. House seats and statewide constitutional offices.

The Ballot Massachusetts News DeskOct 5, 2026

News · MO

Kehoe eases fuel and weight rules during Missouri harvest

Elections and voting

Gov. Kehoe signed an order relaxing fuel and weight rules for Missouri farmers during the harvest period.

The Ballot Missouri News DeskOct 4, 2026

News · MD

Moore announces funding for child poverty initiative

Elections and voting

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced funding for an initiative aimed at combating child poverty in the state.

The Ballot Maryland DeskOct 4, 2026

News · AL

Alabama data center law starts Oct. 1 amid bill questions

Elections and voting

The law takes effect Oct. 1 as attention turns to data center contracts, commission reviews and public access to the process.

The Ballot Alabama DeskOct 4, 2026

News · AZ

Arizona candidate residency questions remain unresolved

Elections and voting

Some Arizona candidates face questions about where they live, while the state’s residency rules remain difficult to enforce.

The Ballot Arizona Policy DeskOct 4, 2026

News · TN

Tennessee orders review after Pike survives execution attempt

Elections and voting

The governor ordered an outside review after death row inmate Christa Pike remained alive following an execution attempt.

The Ballot Tennessee DeskOct 4, 2026

News · MD

Moore announces funding for child poverty initiative

Elections and voting

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced funding for an initiative intended to address child poverty in the state.

The Ballot Maryland Policy DeskOct 4, 2026

News · AZ

Congress passes bill to make Chiricahua a national park

Elections and voting

The measure would make Chiricahua National Monument Arizona’s fourth national park if it receives final presidential approval.

The Ballot Arizona News DeskOct 4, 2026

News · TN

Tennessee governor pauses executions, orders outside review

Elections and voting

All Tennessee executions are paused for the rest of the year while a third party conducts a review ordered by the governor.

The Ballot Tennessee Policy DeskOct 4, 2026

News · CA

California Governor Signs Three AI, Workplace Surveillance Bills

Elections and voting

The three measures establish California laws addressing artificial intelligence and monitoring in the workplace.

The Ballot California News DeskOct 4, 2026

News · CA

California limits use of AI in employee dismissals

Elections and voting

A new California law restricts how artificial intelligence may be used when employers decide to dismiss workers.

The Ballot California DeskOct 3, 2026

News · VA

West Virginia governor announces state park funding

Elections and voting

Blennerhassett Island is among the state parks included in a funding announcement from West Virginia’s governor.

The Ballot Virginia DeskOct 3, 2026

News · NY

New York approves electric lawn equipment rebates

Elections and voting

The state program will offer rebates for electric lawn equipment to landscapers and municipalities.

The Ballot New York Policy DeskOct 3, 2026

News · DE

Delaware governor vetoes emergency powers bill

Elections and voting

The governor rejected a state of emergency measure whose proposed rules would not have applied to him.

The Ballot Delaware DeskOct 3, 2026

News · ID

Idaho expands federal partnership on forest management

Elections and voting

Gov. Little commented on a broader state-federal effort intended to speed forest management work across Idaho.

The Ballot Idaho Policy DeskOct 3, 2026

News · AZ

Senate backs Ciscomani bill for fourth Arizona national park

Elections and voting

The measure would add a fourth national park in Arizona if it completes the remaining federal process.

The Ballot Arizona DeskOct 3, 2026

News · KS

Kansas City Council sends some stadium measures to voters

Elections and voting

A council-approved ordinance requires certain stadium measures to receive a public vote.

The Ballot Kansas Policy DeskOct 3, 2026

News · DC

Trump Orders D.C. Campaign Against Mosquitoes and Ticks

Elections and voting

The order sets 2028 pest-reduction targets and directs agencies to consider sterilization, genetic modification and beneficial bacteria.

The Ballot District of Columbia DeskOct 3, 2026

News · DC

Trump sets 2028 targets for mosquito and tick control

Elections and voting

The order directs federal agencies to cut invasive mosquitoes and ticks in Washington and consider genetic and sterilization tools.

The Ballot District of Columbia Policy DeskOct 3, 2026

News · WI

Wisconsin DOJ highlights election protections

Elections and voting

The department reminded Wisconsinites that state and federal laws provide separate layers of protection for elections.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskOct 3, 2026

News · SD

Kristi Noem files for divorce; comedians respond

Elections and voting

Kristi Noem filed for divorce from Bryon Noem after 34 years of marriage, prompting jokes about the couple’s split.

The Ballot South Dakota Policy DeskOct 3, 2026

News · PA

Pennsylvania enacts measures to fight human trafficking

Elections and voting

Multiple acts aimed at fighting human trafficking have been signed into Pennsylvania law.

The Ballot Pennsylvania DeskOct 3, 2026

News · TN

Tennessee governor orders probe of Piker execution

Elections and voting

The governor called Christa Piker’s botched execution a tragedy and directed the state to investigate what happened.

The Ballot Tennessee News DeskOct 3, 2026

News · OK

Trump urges Oklahoma voters to back Republicans before rally

Elections and voting

The president released a campaign video before an Oct. 1 rally at the Choctaw Event Center in Durant.

The Ballot Oklahoma Policy DeskOct 3, 2026

News · NM

What to know about New Mexico’s 2026 elections

Elections and voting

Voters will decide a U.S. Senate seat, three U.S. House seats and several statewide offices on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot New Mexico Policy DeskOct 3, 2026