Texas taxpayers face a $100 million bill to update voting machines with equipment that doesn’t exist yet
Texas state lawmakers passed a broad and controversial new election law in 2021 that mandates the purchase of voting technology that does not currently exist. Sponsors of the new provision claim the legislation aims to prevent cheating in elections by preventing the use of certain technology to count votes and store cast-ballot data. The new law will go into effect prior to the November 2026 general election, immediately prohibiting the use of millions of dollars worth of voting equipment. With no new technology currently
Oklahoma considers separating state and federal elections if voting rights acts pass
A combination of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement and Freedom to Vote Acts was passed in the House of Representatives but held up in the Senate last January. President Biden has continued urging congress to pass the voting legislation which would mandate same-day voter registration, online voter registration, and restore voting rights for people convicted of felonies after leaving prison. However, a Republican Representative from Piedmont, Oklahoma is ready to oppose what she considers to be federal overreach into the states right
Nikki Haley announces presidential campaign, challenging Trump
Nikki Haley, the former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor, has announced her candidacy for President. With her announcement Haley has become the first major challenger to former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. This decision marks a change for Haley, who previously said she would not challenge Trump if he decided to run for the White House. If elected, Haley would become both the nation's first female president and the first United States President of Indian descent. Visit Associated Press to learn
The Shocking Decline of Senate Ticket-Splitting
Over the past two decades, “ticket-splitting” in Senate elections, where voters cast separate votes for candidates of different political parties, has declined significantly. This decline in split ticket voting has been consistent since the 1990s as more voters have been drawn to an “all or nothing” stance in elections. The change in voting behavior has bolstered congressional polarization and research from the University of Virginia Center for Politics indicates that this trend is expected to continue in future elections. Visit UVA Center for Politics to learn
Democrats vote to change order of 2024 presidential primary
The Democratic Party approved the reordering of its 2024 presidential primary, changing the location of its first primary election from Iowa to South Carolina. The shift is meant to empower black and other minority voters who are critical to the Democratic base. The new plan, championed by President Joe Biden, would have South Carolina lead off with its primary on February 3rd, followed by New Hampshire and Nevada three days later. Advocating his support for the new primary schedule, party chairman Jaime Harrison said,