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.

Open the Elections and voting hub for candidate positions and state pages

243 stories · page 1 of 9

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 · MD

Scott seeks to limit inspector general’s access to records

Elections and voting

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott filed for a protective order covering some records sought by the inspector general.

The Ballot Maryland 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 · IL

Chicago council approves higher vote threshold for new debt

Elections and voting

The measure would require support from three-fifths of the 50-member City Council before Chicago could approve new borrowing.

The Ballot Illinois 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 · MN

Minneapolis approves human monitor rule for driverless rides

Elections and voting

The Minneapolis City Council approved an ordinance requiring human oversight of driverless rideshare service in the city.

The Ballot Minnesota DeskOct 3, 2026

News · AZ

Phoenix-based Leslie’s files for Chapter 11

Elections and voting

The pool company is entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closing 76 stores.

The Ballot Arizona Policy 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 · WI

Milwaukee County votes to remove Flock cameras from parks

Elections and voting

Milwaukee County approved removing Flock cameras from parks, moving the issue from a policy vote to implementation.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskOct 3, 2026

News · MN

Jacob Frey vetoes Minneapolis driverless rideshare measure

Elections and voting

The Minneapolis mayor rejected a city ordinance addressing driverless rideshare service.

The Ballot Minnesota News 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 · MN

Frey says he will veto driverless rideshare ordinance

Elections and voting

The Minneapolis City Council approved an ordinance concerning driverless rideshares, but Mayor Jacob Frey says he will veto it.

The Ballot Minnesota DeskOct 3, 2026