Many Alabama voters are celebrating the state s new voting maps for congressional districts and the groups who worked to get them redrawn are reflecting on their journey. The battle for fair representation for Alabama voters of color made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, twice. .
There are warnings of cuts to municipal governments and schools, and some loss of local control for budget decisions, amid efforts to eliminate property taxes in North Dakota. Organizers of a possible ballot question downplay those concerns. Petitions are being circulated to get the issue on the 2024 ballot, asking voters to do away with property taxes by way of a constitutional amendment. .
An election law expert says guilty pleas from Trump lawyers in Georgia s election interference case probably won t change the minds of voters who think the 2020 election was stolen. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, said he has empathy for "good" Americans who sincerely wanted to see Donald Trump re-elected as president in 2020. He said he believes they re still convinced it was rigged, because they ve been targets of a long-term disinformation effort to keep them angry - and sending money to pay his legal bills. .
When the postal service works better, people are more likely to vote - according to new research. The study published in the Election Law Journal finds efficient postal service increases voter turnout regardless of a state s mail voting laws. Some states have passed more restrictive mail-in voting laws since the false accusations of voter fraud in the 2020 election. .
For the first time in more than a decade, Washington residents will not see advisory votes on their ballots in this year s elections. Advisory votes asked people if they approved of tax laws passed by the Legislature, although the results had no effect on the tax laws themselves. Critics argued they cluttered ballots, making them harder to understand. .