Citizenship/Representative Democracy / Public News Service

The Indiana Citizen launched its virtual ballot in 2020. The tool has become more robust during the last four years. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, October 11, 2024

Hoosier voters gain access to nonpartisan election information tool

The Indiana Citizen, a nonpartisan voter information platform, aims to improve civic engagement in Indiana by helping voters make informed choices…

On this year's Utah ballots, Amendments B and C have passed legislative hearings unanimously, and neither has been challenged in court, according to the Utah Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, October 11, 2024

Report: What UT voters should know about this year's amendments

Voting may be a bit more confusing than expected in Utah this year, as two of the four amendments on the ballot have now been voided. The Utah …

Data suggest that, contrary to popular belief, rural and urban voters in America share many bedrock values. (Matt/Adobe Stock)

Friday, October 11, 2024

Ohio voters have more in common than you might think

As Ohio heads into a pivotal election season, the divide between rural and urban voters might seem deep - but one expert says the gap isn't as wide …

Votes on bills comprised 80% of each legislator's grade on the 2023-24 Pro-Kid Scorecard, with budget and leadership actions making up the remaining 20%. (MikeFusaro/Adobe Stock)<br />

Thursday, October 10, 2024

New legislative scorecard highlights leaders on children’s issues

The biannual Pro-Kid Scorecard from the Children Now Action Fund was released today. In it, 12 state Assembly members and seven state Senators …

As of Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, Mississippi's Statewide Election Management System reported more than 38,000 absentee ballots requested for the November General Election. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Experts analyze key issues uniting Mississippi's rural and urban voters

During this contentious election season, people may think rural and urban Mississippi voters are hopelessly divided but experts said it is largely a …

AARP Iowa traveled the state this summer in a recreational vehicle called the

Thursday, October 10, 2024

AARP Iowa presses candidates on support for family caregivers

AARP Iowa has released a series of videos asking congressional candidates how they would support Iowans who are unpaid caregivers. The group …

Around 90% of young voters in Arizona say the cost of living is a serious concern to them, followed by affordable housing (86%) and protecting the water supply (81%), according to Arizona State University. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, October 10, 2024

AZ voting advocates switch focus to voter education

Now that the deadline to register to vote in Arizona has passed, voting-rights advocates are switching their focus to voter education. Today…

Nearly 90% of nonbinary adults in the workforce are younger than age 35 and half are people of color. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Research; Adding trans workers can boost company bottom lines

Experts say a diverse workforce is crucial for creativity and social justice, and equally good for a company's bottom line. But reluctance to hire …

In Florida, the deadline to register to vote was Monday, and a Florida driver's license or Department of Motor Vehicles ID card was necessary to complete the registration. (Vilkasss/Pixabay)

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Groups file emergency lawsuit to reopen FL voter registration amid hurricanes

As Hurricane Milton makes landfall and Florida recovers from Hurricane Helene's devastation, voting rights groups have filed a legal challenge to …

Some 35 states require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these, 24 require voters to present photo identification; 11 accept other forms of identification, according to Ballotpedia. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Nevada's Question 7 could enact ID requirements to vote

A coalition of voting rights advocates in Nevada is voicing its opposition to Question 7 on this year's ballot, which would require Nevadans to …

More than a half-million immigrants reside in Colorado, working as nursing assistants, cooks and software developers. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Report: Immigrants boost Colorado and U.S. economy, create jobs

Immigration boosts the economy - in Colorado and across the U.S. But new policies are needed to maximize gains and make it harder for employers to …

Lt. Gov. Penny Flanagan, DFL-Minn., could become the first Native American woman to serve as governor if the Harris-Walz ticket wins the White House. (Office of the Governor)

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Early voting begins in AZ, as candidates court 'powerful' Native vote

It is the first day of early voting in Arizona and both presidential hopefuls will be making their cases to voters. Gov. Tim Walz, DFL-Minn.…

In key takeaways from 2024 polling data released by the Rural Democracy Initiative, Donald Trump held a 26-point lead among registered rural voters back in March. However, Kamala Harris has cut Trump's lead to 18 points among rural likely voters based on updated surveys. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Checking the rural voter temperature in MN and elsewhere

The November election is one month from today and Minnesota is part of a new multistate poll drawing feedback from rural voters. The research firm …

Union membership is still well below levels from past decades, however, there has been a revival in organization activity and various policies tied to the presidential election are fueling interest among key unions. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Concerned union voices put spotlight on Project 2025

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are trying to appeal to labor groups on the campaign trail. A much-debated policy …

According to the Indiana Bar Foundation Civic Health Index, Indiana has consistently had some of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Early voting begins in Indiana; registration deadline passes

It is now too late for Hoosiers to register to vote in the upcoming presidential election, as the window has closed. Indiana is now in the next …

In North Carolina, college and university students may register and vote in the county where they live while they go to school if they do not intend to return to their former home after graduation. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

UNCW students mobilize to break voting barriers ahead of elections

As the November elections approach, students at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington are taking action to remove voting barriers and boost …

Jared Williams, president of student government at The College of New Jersey, and Aria Chalileh, vice president.

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Voting: The new hot thing on campus

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News…

In 2022, fewer than 40% of workers with incomes below the federal poverty threshold earned paid sick leave compared with 77% of those with earnings at least four times the federal poverty threshold. (nicoletaionescu/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

250,000 Nebraskans stand to benefit from paid sick-leave ballot initiative

Nebraska is one of three states with paid sick leave on the ballot next month. Nebraska women are disproportionately affected by a lack of paid sick …

There are now no consistent renters' rights nationally and some states, like Arkansas, have very few tenants' rights. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

AR renters could benefit from proposed National Tenants Bill of Rights

By Wesley Brown for the Arkansas Delta Informer.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Delta Informer-Wi…

The average person's struggle to distinguish between true and false online information now extends beyond voting to health, well-being and civic life. (nicoletaionescu/Adobe Stock)

America's 'era of misinformation' not exclusive to elections, voting

Wading through misinformation these days is not exclusive to voting rights and rules - but also can cause confusion about health, well-being…

Eligible voters from both political parties would have difficulty obtaining proof of citizenship, according to a survey by the Brennan Center for Justice. Some 20 million eligible U.S. voters said they cannot quickly access a passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers. (Adobe Stock)

Voting rights groups sue to block NH proof-of-citizenship law

Voting-rights groups in New Hampshire have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state's new election law, which requires proof of citizenship for …

At Ohio State, 36 were arrested for alleged criminal trespassing, including students, a staff member and supporters unrelated to the institution during protests this spring. (Erman Gunes/Adobe Stock)

Ohio's evolving landscape of student activism

By Eduardo Miranda Strobel / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Protests at …

Advocacy groups are asking folks in Wisconsin to pledge to become a Supreme Court voter. (Brianna Gonsalves/Clear Channel Outdoor)

Overlap cited between SCOTUS and presidential election

With a month to go before the presidential election, voters in swing states such as Wisconsin are likely to hear more messaging about the outcome …

Wendolyn Gray of Louisville, Ky., said she is committed to helping other vote, after she lost the right to vote due to a past nonviolent felony offense. (Adobe Stock)<br />

This Louisville resident cannot vote but is devoted to helping others do so

Today is the last day Kentuckians can register to vote in next month's presidential election. The ballot will also include two constitutional …

New billboards in Philadelphia raise awareness about the role voters in the 2024 Election when it comes the future of the nation's highest court. (Brianna Gonsalves/Clear Channel Outdoor)

The link between the presidential election and future of SCOTUS

With a month to go before the presidential election, voters in swing states such as Pennsylvania are likely to hear more messaging about the outcome …

A new report finds Idaho lawmakers have been adopted policies to improve elections. (Devin Allphin/Adobe Stock)

Reports: States adopting policies to increase voter access, secure elections

Election laws have been in the spotlight since 2020 - but despite the controversy, a new report finds many states have made election administration …

Voters with disabilities who are unable to leave their home or facility where they are residing, may be able to obtain assistance from a Special Elections Board to assist them in voting, according to Disability Rights Arizona.(Adobe Stock)

Last day to register in AZ focuses on voters with disabilities

Today is the last day in Arizona to register online to vote in next month's election. And that means voting rights advocates in the battleground …

Every registered Colorado voter will automatically receive a ballot by mail. Unless you opt out, eligible Coloradans are automatically registered to vote when applying for or renewing your driver's license. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado one of 23 states to allow in-person registration on Election Day

Colorado residents who want to receive a November 5 general election ballot by mail must be registered, by mail or online, no later than October 28…

Data suggested contrary to popular belief, rural and urban voters in America share many bedrock values. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

As election nears, experts explore issues uniting rural, urban voters

During this contentious election season, people may think rural and urban voters are hopelessly divided but experts said it is largely a myth…

Climate change, marked by rising temperatures, sea levels and extreme weather, poses significant threats to Tennessee. The environmental shifts are predicted to cause more illness, death and forced relocation of Tennesseans. (michelmond/Adobe Stock)

Report exposes donors funding climate change disinformation in TN

As Tennesseans deal with record-breaking heat, hurricanes and prolonged drought linked to a changing climate, a new report showed how American …

In September, the Michigan Senate passed SB 401, a bill to expand voter rights and accessibility in the state. The measure is set for a hearing next week in the House Elections Committee. (Adobe Stock)

MSU study: Michigan voter-roll purging could be biased

States are required to conduct regular voter list maintenance to ensure the rolls are accurate. But a new Michigan State University study suggests …

Nearly 90% of nonbinary adults in the workforce are younger than age 35 and half are people of color. (Marcos/AdobeStock)

Boosting transgender employment could boost a company's bottom line

Experts say a diverse workforce is crucial for creativity and social justice, and equally good for a company's bottom line. But reluctance to hire …

In 2020, 36% of Wisconsin voters told the Marquette Law School Poll that political disagreements negatively affected personal interactions with another voter. That number jumped to 46% in the current election cycle. (Adobe Stock)

WI poll reflects voter exhaustion over political divisions

A new poll out this week shows nearly half of Wisconsin voters stopped talking about politics with someone because of disagreements over the president…

This round of debt relief forgave more than $14.6 million in medical debt for 7,717 residents of Lucas County after RIP acquired ProMedica's debt portfolio. (Adobe Stock)

Program provides life-changing relief from medical debt for Ohioans

Medical debt has long been a burden for many Americans, with millions struggling to pay off their healthcare bills. In the Buckeye State, however…

The Indiana Secretary of State calculates the registration percentage by dividing the state's voter registrations by the total number of eligible Hoosier voters. (Adobe stock)

Inflated voter rolls in Indiana? Critics say yes

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

Many residents of Montana's seven Indigenous tribes live several hours from the nearest polling place. Advocates are pushing back on efforts to limit remote ballot collection efforts on tribal lands. (Adobe Stock)

Indigenous groups fight limiting remote ballot collection

Montana's Indigenous population is pushing back against efforts to limit ballot collection on tribal lands. Many members of the state's seven tribes …

The Michigan Education Coalition stressed key issues facing school districts include school funding, school board accountability, and culturally responsive curriculum. (VeloonaP/Adobe Stock)

MI voters reminded to look beyond the presidency

As Michigan voters prepare for the upcoming presidential election, state officials are urging them not to lose sight of vital local races, especially …

Some 83% of registered Democrats, 73% of Republicans and 83% of Independents support having open primary elections, according to a 2024 Clark University study. (Adobe Stock)

South Dakotans to vote on nonpartisan primaries

Voters next month will be shaping how future elections operate in many states, including South Dakota, where nonpartisan primaries are on the ballot…

The Indiana State Democratic Party says without an Election Day on-campus voting site, Purdue students, faculty and staff will be disenfranchised. (Adobe stock)

Purdue students: What do we want? On-campus voting

Purdue University students are pushing back against Tippecanoe County's plan for limited voting access on campus. The county has announced only a 10 …

The U.S. Postal Service's Delivering for America plan is not expected to cause layoffs, but Ricci Roberts, the branch president of mail handlers in Cheyenne, said keeping a job under the changes may require relocating. (Adobe Stock)

As WY mail to be routed out of state, many say concerns unheard

As the U.S. Postal Service continues to implement a long-term reform plan, rural customers in places such as Wyoming may pay the price. Following …

FollowtheCrypto.org finds that the crypto industry provided more than $174 million for the 2024 election so far. (VideoFlow/Adobe Stock)

The power of crypto in Ohio's political landscape

As cryptocurrency becomes more prevalent, it's also making its way into the political arena. With millions of dollars being funneled into campaigns …

The HBCU Liberation Tour aims to get students in historically Black colleges to engage in the political system and register to vote. (Adobe Stock)

HBCU Liberation Tour seeks to mobilize young Black voters in TN, South

Polling shows that many young people of color in Generation Z are ambivalent about voting, but one group of activists is working to change that…

Montana residents who qualify can receive up to $675 in property tax rebates. (Adobe Stock)

Deadline approaches for Montana tax rebate

Tomorrow is the deadline for Montana residents who qualify to apply for a property tax rebate. The State Legislature passed the measure during its …

For decades, the fossil fuel industry has been able to slow or prevent policies to reduce climate pollution by laundering false claims and junk science through allied think tanks and media outlets. (Adobe Stock)

Report names donors bankrolling climate change disinformation

As Coloradans deal with record-breaking heat, wildfires, and prolonged drought - linked to a changing climate - a new report shows how American …

Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump has denied he would sign a national abortion ban if elected president and would leave limits on abortion access up to individual states to decide. (Nicholas J. Klein/Adobe Stock)

Navigating local priorities in Ohio House District 43

In Ohio's 43rd House District race in Toledo, candidates are discussing a range of issues of interest to their constituents. Incumbent Rep. Michele …

Despite claims of tampering in conservative circles, the Bipartisan Policy Center said ballot drop boxes are put in place by government officials and are often under 24-hour surveillance. (Adobe Stock)

WI voting watchdog: Please don't drop the ball on drop boxes

With just under 40 days before the November election, Wisconsin is again mired in controversy over the use of ballot drop boxes and a civic …

A blood test for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) costs between $10 and $250 depending on which health care facility you choose. A comprehensive metabolic panel ranges from $10 to $700. (Adobe Stock)

New tool helps consumers compare costs, quality of hospital care

Shopping for health-care procedures has historically been more challenging than getting the best deal on groceries or even car repairs. But Cari …

Lawmakers introduced the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act in Congress on Wednesday. The bill would limit the ability to openly carry a gun at a polling place. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Newsom signs bill to fight intimidation at CA polling places

With the election six weeks away, concern is building about attempts to intimidate voters at the polls - so, lawmakers are taking action at the state …

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Civic Engagement & Voting

Hoosier voters gain access to nonpartisan election information tool

Report: What UT voters should know about this year's amendments

Ohio voters have more in common than you might think

New legislative scorecard highlights leaders on children’s issues

Experts analyze key issues uniting Mississippi's rural and urban voters

AARP Iowa presses candidates on support for family caregivers

AZ voting advocates switch focus to voter education

Research; Adding trans workers can boost company bottom lines

Groups file emergency lawsuit to reopen FL voter registration amid hurricanes

Nevada's Question 7 could enact ID requirements to vote

Report: Immigrants boost Colorado and U.S. economy, create jobs

Early voting begins in AZ, as candidates court 'powerful' Native vote

Checking the rural voter temperature in MN and elsewhere

Concerned union voices put spotlight on Project 2025

Early voting begins in Indiana; registration deadline passes

UNCW students mobilize to break voting barriers ahead of elections

Voting: The new hot thing on campus

250,000 Nebraskans stand to benefit from paid sick-leave ballot initiative

AR renters could benefit from proposed National Tenants Bill of Rights

America's 'era of misinformation' not exclusive to elections, voting

Voting rights groups sue to block NH proof-of-citizenship law

Ohio's evolving landscape of student activism

Overlap cited between SCOTUS and presidential election

This Louisville resident cannot vote but is devoted to helping others do so

The link between the presidential election and future of SCOTUS

Reports: States adopting policies to increase voter access, secure elections

Last day to register in AZ focuses on voters with disabilities

Colorado one of 23 states to allow in-person registration on Election Day

As election nears, experts explore issues uniting rural, urban voters

Report exposes donors funding climate change disinformation in TN

MSU study: Michigan voter-roll purging could be biased

Boosting transgender employment could boost a company's bottom line

WI poll reflects voter exhaustion over political divisions

Program provides life-changing relief from medical debt for Ohioans

Inflated voter rolls in Indiana? Critics say yes

Indigenous groups fight limiting remote ballot collection

MI voters reminded to look beyond the presidency

South Dakotans to vote on nonpartisan primaries

Purdue students: What do we want? On-campus voting

As WY mail to be routed out of state, many say concerns unheard

The power of crypto in Ohio's political landscape

HBCU Liberation Tour seeks to mobilize young Black voters in TN, South

Deadline approaches for Montana tax rebate

Report names donors bankrolling climate change disinformation

Navigating local priorities in Ohio House District 43

WI voting watchdog: Please don't drop the ball on drop boxes

New tool helps consumers compare costs, quality of hospital care

Newsom signs bill to fight intimidation at CA polling places