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.

1,584 stories · page 23 of 53

News · US

Sky News frames broad guide to US midterm elections

Elections and voting

The development concerns US midterm elections generally and is not tied to a named race, election or candidate.

The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · US

COMELEC resolution addresses halt to November election activity

Public safety

Resolution No. 26-0842 concerns activities tied to the November 2, 2026 barangay and youth council elections.

The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · US

Club for Growth gives GOP a midterm affordability message

Elections and voting

The group is urging Republican lawmakers to link high living costs to federal expansion and promote spending restraint and greater competition.

The Ballot National DeskSep 26, 2026

News · AL

Alabama’s 2026 Election Page Lacks Specific Race Details

Elections and voting

The election entry pairs Alabama’s 2026 contests with past presidential results but does not name a race or candidate.

The Ballot Alabama News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · US

Army Reserve reviews support options for Southern Command

Foreign policy

An internal Army message seeks information on units that could be available within four months as the military continues planning focused on Cuba.

The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · WA

Trump-Xi summit winds down as pressures test GOP

Economy and jobs

The leaders discussed trade, artificial intelligence and the Iran war as some Republican lawmakers criticized Xi’s treatment in Washington.

The Ballot Washington DeskSep 26, 2026

News · PA

Philadelphia Council calls for ban on Flock cameras

Elections and voting

City Council approved a resolution demanding that Philadelphia ban Flock cameras, putting the issue before city officials for further action.

The Ballot Pennsylvania Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · TN

Dylan Lewis out for Tennessee’s Week 4 game vs Texas

Elections and voting

The SEC availability report lists Tennessee safety Dylan Lewis as out and two other Volunteers as questionable against Texas.

The Ballot Tennessee DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MD

Maryland man indicted in fatal Fairfax County stabbing

Elections and voting

A Maryland man faces a formal criminal accusation connected to a stabbing that killed a person in Fairfax County.

The Ballot Maryland DeskSep 26, 2026

News · IN

Indiana attorney general sues IHSAA over board quota

Elections and voting

The lawsuit challenges an IHSAA board requirement tied to race, placing the association’s governance policy before a court.

The Ballot Indiana News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · IL

Chicago data center moratorium ordinance proposed

Elections and voting

A proposed Chicago ordinance would pause certain data center activity, but it has not yet become city law.

The Ballot Illinois DeskSep 26, 2026

News · NC

Voting advocates sue N.C. board over mail ballot rules

Elections and voting

The legal challenge concerns changes to how North Carolina election officials process ballots submitted by mail.

The Ballot North Carolina DeskSep 26, 2026

News · ME

California court orders return of 650,000 seized ballots

Elections and voting

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

The Ballot Maine DeskSep 26, 2026

News · CA

California court orders sheriff to return 650,000 ballots

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court directed the Riverside County sheriff to give back 650,000 ballots the office had seized.

The Ballot California DeskSep 26, 2026

News · NJ

New Jersey won’t provide county boards lawyers in RNC suit

Elections and voting

County election boards involved in an RNC lawsuit over voting records will not receive lawyers from the state.

The Ballot New Jersey News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MS

Warren County board president enters Mississippi Senate race

Foreign policy

The Warren County board president has announced a campaign to succeed an outgoing Mississippi senator.

The Ballot Mississippi DeskSep 26, 2026

News · IL

Chicago data center moratorium ordinance proposed

Elections and voting

A proposed Chicago ordinance would establish a moratorium involving data centers, placing the issue before city policymakers.

The Ballot Illinois Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · GA

Atlanta mayor calls for new surveillance rules

Elections and voting

Atlanta’s mayor is seeking new city rules for surveillance, opening a policy discussion over how the technology should be governed.

The Ballot Georgia News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · IL

Halpin Announces More Aid for Food Security

Foreign policy

Illinois State Sen. Halpin announced additional food-security aid in a development not tied to an election or candidate.

The Ballot Illinois News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · NC

What to know about North Carolina’s 2026 elections

Elections and voting

Election Day is Nov. 3, with North Carolina entering the cycle under divided party control across major state and federal offices.

The Ballot North Carolina Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · MS

Senate passes Vicksburg military park expansion bill

Elections and voting

The Senate approved legislation that would expand Vicksburg National Military Park, advancing the proposal in the federal lawmaking process.

The Ballot Mississippi Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · CA

California court finds sheriff’s ballot seizure unlawful

Elections and voting

The California Supreme Court ruled that a Republican sheriff unlawfully took possession of more than 650,000 ballots.

The Ballot California Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

News · NJ

New Jersey enacts Borinqueneers license plate law

Elections and voting

A Ruiz and Cruz-Perez bill creating a New Jersey license plate honoring the Borinqueneers has been signed into law.

The Ballot New Jersey DeskSep 26, 2026

News · GA

Rural farm votes shape Georgia governor campaign

Elections and voting

Fuel costs, trade impacts and Trump are emerging as central themes in the competition for Georgia’s rural farm voters.

The Ballot Georgia DeskSep 26, 2026

News · US

Iran proposes seven-day plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Foreign policy

Tehran says its plan could reopen the waterway and restart negotiations with Washington before the November midterm elections.

The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · US

Musk development raises election-data safeguard questions

Elections and voting

A development involving Elon Musk has renewed scrutiny of privately backed tools or services that could touch election data.

The Ballot National DeskSep 25, 2026

News · US

Chinese press scuffles with U.S. media, Secret Service

Elections and voting

Chinese reporters accompanying President Xi Jinping clashed with U.S. journalists and security personnel during his White House state visit.

The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

News · US

Trump and Xi exchange praise during White House tea

Foreign policy

President Trump and China’s President Xi thanked each other for past hospitality and discussed opportunities to meet again.

The Ballot National (US) News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · US

Trump Hosts Xi Jinping at White House State Dinner

Foreign policy

Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook joined the two presidents at a White House dinner focused on a consequential economic relationship.

The Ballot National DeskSep 25, 2026

News · US

Senate rejects curb on Trump's Iran war powers

Foreign policy

A Democratic-led resolution seeking to limit President Donald Trump’s war powers involving Iran failed in the Senate.

The Ballot National (US) Policy DeskSep 25, 2026