Campaigns & Elections
With AI on the rise, Texas House passes bill requiring more transparency in political ads
The bill faced fierce opposition from hardline conservatives who say it is policing speech and could allow the state to jail people over silly political memes.
Georgia House passes bill to criminalize using AI-generated political ads intended to deceive
A bill aimed at reducing misleading AI-generated political ads passed the state House with a bipartisan 152-12 vote Thursday.
Democrats push Justice Department to keep Election Threats Task Force amid rollbacks
The task force was created to help protect election officials from stalking and threats, but its future remains in question after the Trump administration scrapped other election integrity initiatives.
What’s next for cybersecurity, election info sharing?
Federal funding has been slashed by $10 million for two information sharing centers, which both have tens of thousands of members. A more fragmented and expensive future could follow as states and others go it alone.
Louisiana to share voter data with other states
The voter registration data of Louisiana residents will be shared with officials in Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi.
Texas counties left scrambling after critical election equipment loses its certification
Texas decertified a widely used electronic pollbook after problems in November. Will a fix arrive in time for the next election?
The apocalypse that wasn’t: AI was everywhere in 2024’s elections, but deepfakes and misinformation were only part of the picture
COMMENTARY | Like it or not, AI is now part and parcel of elections, from helping with mundane campaign functions to enabling politicians to speak to constituents in multiple languages at once.
Elections offices slowly turn to .gov domain in the fight against misinformation
Uptake has been slow, even as the federal government has made it free. Experts said it could help election officials stand apart as purveyors of truthful information.
States reject changes to how elections are administered
Advocates had hoped ranked choice voting would be instituted in more states but were left disappointed last night. Only Washington, D.C. and some small municipalities approved its use.
States overwhelmingly approve noncitizen voting bans
Voters in all eight states approved constitutional amendments with at least 60% of the vote, even as experts and state leaders say the issue is exceedingly rare.
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What voters had to say about abortion rights in 2024
The majority of ballot measures to protect abortion rights passed, but concerns about women’s health outcomes remain.
Few surprises in races for governor, ballot measures
No seats flipped among state executives, while most voters approved protecting abortion rights and rejected some changes to how their elections are administered.
What we’re watching this Election Day
Stay tuned for results coverage and analysis through the coming days in the key races and ballot measures Route Fifty is tracking across the country.
Nevada says it worked out the kinks in its new voter system in time for the election, but concerns remain
After recent practice runs showed significant problems in transferring data accurately, the battleground state’s new centralized voter registration system will get its first real-world test in a major presidential election.
Early voting is open and going smoothly
Despite some isolated events, one election expert says it is remarkable how “few problems we’ve heard about.”
A ballot measure on Medicaid funding is poised to pass. Some say it could do more harm than good.
Proposition 35 would change how California funds its public health insurance program to address health care shortages in the state.
Final results may lag in deadlocked presidential contest, anxious election officials warn
Due to tight margins in swing states, a presidential victor may not be announced election night or even the following day.
Massachusetts voters to consider ditching high school graduation requirements
The ballot measure is seen as a referendum on the role of standardized testing in schools. If Massachusetts drops the requirement, will others follow?
The next front in the war over homelessness is on the Arizona ballot
Conservatives want to use the criminal justice system to force unhoused people into treatment. It may do more harm than good.
Will Washington voters buy into Inslee’s vision on climate policy?
Voters are set to weigh in on the governor’s “proudest accomplishment.” The state’s cap-and-trade law that some say is key to the third-term Democrat’s legacy is on the ballot this fall.
