State and Local Politics and Policy
It’s especially hard to get low-income Americans living in multifamily buildings across the digital divide. But states and nonprofits are finding ways to do it.
What’s happening in Falls Church, Va., a suburban city outside Washington, D.C., is a microcosm of events underway in city and county election offices around the country on the eve of Nov. 3.
Jill Lepore’s new book, “If Then” explores the men and the machines behind the rise of modern computing, data analytics and the dark impact of technology on politics, elections and democracy itself.
All sides agree that naming the winners can’t come too soon, but complex and unique factors at play make quick results unlikely. Still, election officials are sticking to procedure to ensure fairness and accuracy.
An appellate court decided that ballots arriving after Election Day must be separated from other ballots, even if they’re postmarked before Nov. 3. Election officials urged voters to not mail their ballots to avoid confusion.
There are a number of voting measures on ballots this year, including ranked choice voting proposals in Alaska and Massachusetts. Missouri and Virginia voters will decide who's in control of redistricting.
To boost voter confidence, election officials in numerous counties are taking transparency to the ultimate level, installing live cameras in the rooms where ballots are sorted, verified and counted.
2020 put all states to the test as they moved to deliver more services online than ever before. Leading states had laid the groundwork with strong as-a-service platforms and pivoted quickly to take on new challenges.
The U.S. has a long history of political violence, which has mostly been avoided in the recent past. State and local officials worry this year is shaping up as an exception.
In another turn of Texas’ mask battle, voters will not be required to wear a mask while in polling places. Many argue this doesn’t ensure everyone the equal opportunity to vote safely without risking their health.
In addition to combating voting misinformation, Florida election supervisors must determine if bullhorn yelling and flag-waving caravans are harmless acts of voter enthusiasm or if they’re calculated acts of intimidation.
Grassroots political campaigns, with their personal touch, are deeply rooted in American politics. But not anymore. A day with a Hagerstown, Md., mayoral candidate shows how it has changed.
Indian Americans are the wealthiest immigrant group in America and while they overwhelmingly vote Democratic, the Trump campaign has worked hard to make an appeal and the numbers show it might be working.
In Florida, the official COVID-19 death count is 16,505. But a study by the CDC reveals the number could be significantly higher as thousands of people are dying from other causes that were brought on by the pandemic.
Numerous measures curbing police power or pursuing criminal justice reform ideas are on state and local ballots this year. They predate the George Floyd protests but reflect current concerns.
Mayor Lightfoot argues that the plan to issue tickets to cars travelling 6 mph over the speed limit is to curb a public safety issue, but critics say it is a money-making tactic that will hurt lower-income communities.
Federal, state and local officials in Washington state are preparing for the aftermath of next week’s highly-contested election. While there haven’t been any credible threats yet, the state is prepping for potential violence.
Amesh Adalja, a senior health scholar at the Johns Hopkins University, talks about improving treatments, preventing infections and understanding science as coronavirus case numbers rise and winter approaches.
Worried we may have to wait to find out whether Biden or Trump won? In 1800, election results were delayed for months. And don’t forget 2000, when legal battles prolonged the final results until Dec. 12.
As if navigating every choice on a ballot isn’t enough of a puzzle, voters are confused about how and where to vote. A team of tech experts and researchers has created a one-stop resource to guide them.
Election officials are assuring voters that this year is no different: Their ballots will be counted and the election results will be fair. Roughly half of the state’s registered voters have requested absentee ballots.
The number of gay and trans candidates has increased more than 40 percent from 2018. Legislative candidates among them include an unusual number of women.
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According to our new research with the Center for Digital Government, citizen satisfaction has dropped by 13 percent even as their need for government support and help rose substantially.
Gov. Cuomo claims NY COVID Alert will be a great tool in the state’s fight against the spread of the coronavirus. But the administration won’t reveal the detailed data that would show the app’s effectiveness.
Portland, Ore., and Richmond, Va., have been rocked by racial justice violence for much of the summer. Both Mayors Ted Wheeler and Levar Stoney face heavy competition as they try to hold on to top office.
Democrats are playing offense, looking at recapturing chambers in states where Biden has a good chance of winning. There aren't enough opportunities, however, for them to erase the GOP's national advantage.
Voting by mail can make it easier for people of color to cast their ballots. But there are still language barriers, a lack of community outreach and government distrust that discourage many from feeling safe enough to vote.
Several county health departments have not received enough or any funding to assist in the battle against the pandemic. As the state’s case count keeps rising, extra funding is critical, according to public officials.
Transit officials are monitoring voter enthusiasm for a host of ballot measures they see as essential to economic recovery, supporting essential workers, social equity, climate goals and preventing traffic nightmares.
In 2016, several states like Pennsylvania saw historically low Black voter turnout, but this year officials expect the results to be different. Many hope they can turn activism into actual voting.
Too many of our elected officials have stood quietly by in the face of idolatry and a cult of personality in our government. We need a return to the values of honesty, human rights and caring.
