Politics and government news

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.

923 stories · page 16 of 31

News · NJ

GOP lawmaker proposes five New Jersey election bills

Elections and voting

The five-bill package focuses on election security and is not directly connected to a particular race or election.

The Ballot New Jersey Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · KY

Kentucky Supreme Court to hear fight over parole change

Public safety

The justices will consider whether a 2024 law requiring more prison time before parole eligibility can apply to people convicted earlier.

The Ballot Kentucky DeskSep 25, 2026

News · CT

Glock challenges Connecticut’s convertible-pistol ban

Public safety

The gunmaker’s federal lawsuit disputes Connecticut’s ban on pistols that can be readily converted into machine guns.

The Ballot Connecticut Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · AR

Arkansas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit arrests seven

Health care

The Arkansas attorney general announced seven arrests by the state unit responsible for Medicaid fraud enforcement.

The Ballot Arkansas Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · IL

Illinois congresswoman calls for ending DHS, ICE and CBP

Elections and voting

The proposal calls for abolishing all three federal bodies but is not directly connected to a candidate race or election.

The Ballot Illinois Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · AR

Sanders announces bridge loan for Delta Peanut

Elections and voting

The financing is intended to help Delta Peanut continue work tied to Arkansas’ peanut harvest.

The Ballot Arkansas News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · CA

California senator seeks tax to deter gas price gouging

Economy and jobs

The proposal would use a tax to discourage price gouging at gasoline pumps, with its impact depending on how lawmakers structure it.

The Ballot California DeskSep 25, 2026

News · AZ

Election rules return to focus in Arizona state race

Elections and voting

Arizona’s secretary of state contest is renewing debate over election rules, but campaign arguments do not by themselves change voting procedures.

The Ballot Arizona News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · IL

AFP-IL files ethics complaint over library district polling

Economy and jobs

The complaint alleges the Vernon Area Public Library District used taxpayer resources for polling connected to a referendum.

The Ballot Illinois News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · CA

California sheriff ordered to return confiscated ballots

Elections and voting

The return order changes who holds ballots seized during a voter-fraud inquiry but does not establish that fraud occurred.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · TX

Abbott proposes screen time limits in Texas schools

Education

Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed limiting screen time in Texas schools, placing classroom technology use on the state education agenda.

The Ballot Texas Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · ID

California court orders return of 650,000 seized ballots

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court directed the Riverside County sheriff to return 650,000 ballots that had been seized.

The Ballot Idaho DeskSep 25, 2026

News · MT

Montana court returns Butte data center measure to ballot

Elections and voting

The Montana Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that had blocked a proposed data center initiative in Butte-Silver Bow County.

The Ballot Montana News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · IA

Iowa Judge Dismisses Trump Lawsuit Over Register Poll

Elections and voting

The case challenged a pre-election poll showing Donald Trump behind Kamala Harris, and the judge warned about effects on news reporting.

The Ballot Iowa DeskSep 25, 2026

News · OH

Court allows Ohio citizenship proof rule at BMV

Elections and voting

A federal appeals panel reversed an order that had blocked Ohio’s citizenship-document rule for voter registration at BMV offices.

The Ballot Ohio News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · NV

Nevada AG’s office proposes expanding Medicaid fraud unit

Health care

The proposal would enlarge an existing attorney general’s office function focused on Medicaid fraud.

The Ballot Nevada Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · OK

Judge says Oklahoma cannot exclude Jewish charter school

Education

The federal ruling allows Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School to continue seeking approval, though appeals could delay the case.

The Ballot Oklahoma DeskSep 25, 2026

News · NE

Pillen announces 90-day diesel tax pause for agriculture

Economy and jobs

Nebraska agricultural producers are set to receive a temporary, 90-day pause on diesel taxes under an announcement from Gov. Jim Pillen.

The Ballot Nebraska Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · UT

California court orders return of 650,000 seized ballots

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court directed the Riverside County sheriff to return 650,000 ballots that had been seized.

The Ballot Utah DeskSep 25, 2026

News · OH

Court restores Ohio voter citizenship proof law

Elections and voting

A 2-1 ruling restores Ohio’s proof-of-citizenship requirement one month after a lower court temporarily blocked the voter ID law.

The Ballot Ohio DeskSep 25, 2026

News · LA

Silver Alert for Longview man who may head to Louisiana

Public safety

Police are looking for Ricky Hughes, 69, who has a cognitive impairment and was last seen at a Longview hospital.

The Ballot Louisiana News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · MD

Maryland revenue forecast rises, but budget gap remains

Economy and jobs

Maryland expects nearly more this fiscal year, though state leaders say the increase will not eliminate the budget shortfall.

The Ballot Maryland DeskSep 25, 2026

News · MD

Maryland tightens data center rules amid rapid growth

Elections and voting

Maryland is adding guardrails for data centers as more states respond to the industry’s fast expansion.

The Ballot Maryland Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · AR

Arkansas officials weigh national college sports proposal

Health care

The bipartisan measure would set national NIL and revenue-sharing rules while adding protections involving scholarships and health care.

The Ballot Arkansas DeskSep 25, 2026

News · IL

Ramirez bill would replace DHS, ICE and CBP

Immigration

The Illinois Democrat proposes a new Department of Community Safety and shifting at least billion toward community programs.

The Ballot Illinois Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · KS

Kansas amendment divides Secretary of State candidates

Elections and voting

A proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot has become a point of debate in the race for Kansas Secretary of State.

The Ballot Kansas DeskSep 25, 2026

News · MT

Federal judge blocks Montana political deepfake ad law

Elections and voting

The federal court action stops Montana’s political “deepfake” advertising law from operating under the terms of the judge’s order.

The Ballot Montana DeskSep 24, 2026

News · CA

Orange County Register urges No vote on Proposition 1

Housing

The newspaper argues that taking on more debt would not solve California’s housing shortage.

The Ballot California News DeskSep 24, 2026

News · CA

California voter ID argument centers on election rules

Elections and voting

A Los Angeles Times contributor is urging California to adopt an identification law intended to ensure votes count.

The Ballot California DeskSep 24, 2026

News · MS

Mississippi absentee voting: Eligibility and deadlines

Elections and voting

Mississippi voters seeking to cast an absentee ballot must meet eligibility rules, applicable deadlines and the state’s new in-person process.

The Ballot Mississippi News DeskSep 24, 2026