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RandySF's JournalElection Commission approves language for petitions to recall five Grand Blanc Township board members
GRAND BLANC TWP. — Resident and former candidate for supervisor, Monica Shapiro, says she and others will begin collecting signatures in April on petitions seeking to recall five members of the board of trustees.
The petitioners have until June 15 to collect at least 4,717 eligible signatures to trigger a recall election in November.
Shapiro said she’s hoping to get 6,000 to provide a buffer.
“I think it’s doable,” she said.
https://geneseecountyview.com/articles/news/election-commission-approves-language-for-petitions-to-recall-five-grand-blanc-township-board-members/
Democratic attorneys general in Oregon hint at election integrity fight ahead of 2026 midterms
PORTLAND, Ore.— Five Democratic attorneys general who have waged high-profile legal battles against the federal government had a clear message on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming midterm elections: The fight against President Donald Trump’s administration has only just begun.
“There is no way in hell we are going to let this president continue to chip away at our rights, at our democracy at this time. We’re going to continue to fight for this entire term and do our job as attorneys general,” Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield told a hall filled with hundreds of attendees. “And what we need you to do — this is a partnership in all communities, you have a voice, you must exercise it.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined Rayfield at Portland’s Revolution Hall, with the United States and Oregon state flag behind them as they discussed their response to executive federal overreach.
The town hall — moderated by Portland-based writer Cheryl Strayed — came exactly a year after Oregon signed onto its first federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, joining Arizona, Washington and Illinois to sue over its attempt at ending birthright citizenship.
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/21/democratic-attorneys-general-in-oregon-hint-at-election-integrity-fight-ahead-of-2026-midterms/
McCall eyes second water bond election amid 'staggering' treatment plant costs
A project to expand the capacity of McCall’s drinking water plant is facing a funding shortfall of at least $7 million.
Members of the McCall City Council were briefed on that financial reality at a meeting last week, during which council members agreed seeking debt financing would be the best way to close the funding gap.
The amount of the bond issue is still to be determined, but it is expected to land between $7 million and $11 million. The measure could be on the ballot for voters to decide as soon as May 19, or less than two years after voters authorized a $16.5 million bond for the water project.
If approved, the new debt financing would likely raise monthly bills for about 5,400 city water users by up to 4%, council members were told.
https://valleylookout.com/2026/01/21/mccall-eyes-second-water-bond-election-amid-staggering-water-project-bids/
In 'uncertain times,' Arizona lawmakers introduce bill to improve voting access, cybersecurity
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes on Wednesday announced new legislation that would seek to improve voting access and provide funding to improve the cybersecurity of state and county election systems.
During a press conference, Fontes called the legislation, called the Voters First Act, a “research-based, common-sense proposal to modernize, standardize and prioritize the voting process across all 15 counties in Arizona.”
The act, which was introduced by Democratic party leaders in both houses Wednesday, includes statewide restoration of Arizona’s permanent early vote list, which allows voters to receive ballots by mail for early voting, and applies the state’s 75-foot “voter protection zone” to ballot drop boxes and voting locations. It would extend the early voting period, allow the state to accept private grant funding to educate the public about the basic facts of statewide elections and allow ballots to be collected and processed continually on election day, for faster results.
“The choice before us is not whether to change, but whether to rise to the moment, to ensure the resilience of our democracy during uncertain times,” Fontes said.
https://statescoop.com/arizona-adrian-fontes-voters-first-act/
Earlier Montana primary election challenges schools
Efforts to move up Montana’s primary election in time for the 2028 presidential race are running into resistance from public schools.
State and local educators last week cautioned legislators against making changes to the state’s election calendar that require voters to weigh in on school budget decisions before fall enrollment figures are known.
At issue is whether to move Montana’s primary election to earlier in the year, and possibly combine it with spring school elections. The proposal originated in April 2025 as a committee resolution by the Legislature’s House State Administration and Veterans Affairs Committee. The goal, according to committee chair Rep. Julie Darling, R-Helena, was to get more press for Montana’s preferences in presidential primaries by moving the vote closer to Super Tuesday, the date in March when many states attract the attention of presidential candidates by holding primaries on the same day.
Education officials told lawmakers Jan. 12 that it might be best to leave public school elections out of any rescheduling. “If changes are to be considered, they would need to be rolled out thoughtfully and over time with clear voter communication and education and close coordination with election administrators and communities across the state,” Katie Youngblood told legislators at last week’s meeting at the Capitol. Youngblood is deputy chief of staff and policy director for state Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen.
https://montanafreepress.org/2026/01/21/earlier-montana-primary-election-challenges-schools/
Iberville Parish councilwoman (D) accused of election fraud ahead of 2024 election
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Plaquemine councilmember faces allegations of election fraud ahead of the 2024 election.
According to Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi, Councilwoman Wanda Jones violated Louisiana law after allegedly registering out-of-parish citizens with the Secretary of State’s office.
Investigators with the Secretary of State determined that Jones violated Title 18 of the Louisiana election code, which states that registering to vote in the name of another or fictious name is an example of election fraud.
Iberville Parish District Attorney Tony Clayton and the Secretary of State’s office agreed that Jones violated five felony counts of election fraud.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/iberville-parish-councilwoman-accused-election-001012568.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADlZMP5bkLFyd5BdO1T9F49MTnje3enqKNTjPRDIlHkz3f_zn2qLJQrnDbTYsNQXvraAX1-2RIYNgwtxn8nzqrltv3SvbuBbaNSYKbztJMeZff4mca0SGpKq0UhUZ1jyf49pzVvfiSR5QLQquhE4k4zykQv83fKbDCNs2N14MkKr
Platte County voters to decide on property tax cap in April election
On Wednesday, Platte County commissioners voted to place a tax question on the April ballot that could provide relief to homeowners facing rising property taxes.
The move puts the decision to cap property tax increases in the hands of voters. However, one resident says the move comes too late for her family.
"You go from owning to renting because of these taxes," said Victoria Valdez, a Platte County resident. "It's not the American dream we're supposed to be having."
However, it's the reality Valdez and her husband now face. They own La Cabana Mexican restaurant.
https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/platte-county-voters-to-decide-on-property-tax-cap-in-april-election#google_vignette
Hickman County Election Commission appoints Brittany Duke new elections administrator
The Hickman County Election Commission has named Brittany Duke the new county administrator of elections after a 3-2 vote Tuesday night following a round of interviews.
“I am so thankful and appreciate this opportunity I’ve been entrusted with,” Duke said, following the announcement Tuesday night. Duke added, “I want to assure voters that I intend to honor this decision by running the office with integrity and transparency going forward. People should feel comfortable to come vote, and they will have that now.”
Duke took on the role of interim administrator of elections following the resignation of Martie Davis last fall. That resulted in Duke conducting elections office business for the November early voting period and the December Special Election Day.
The Election Commission narrowed their search for the administrator from 10 applicants to a list of the top three candidates last week, foregoing an earlier decision to discuss candidate applicants by a numbered system. The top three were Brittany Duke, Charlene Hunt and Mark Totty. The interviews with the top three, which were open to the public, took place Tuesday.
https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/hct-print/election-commission-interviews-top-applicants-brittany-duke-chosen-as-admin-in-3-2-vote/
SC candidate Lazar (R): I am not trying to change Wisconsin's abortion law
(The Center Square) – One of the candidates for supreme court in Wisconsin continues to want to take abortion out of the conversation for this spring’s election.
Judge Maria Lazar this week penned another op-ed explaining her stance on Wisconsin’s 20-week abortion law.
“Sensationalized headlines have twisted my comments to suggest I am seeking to change Wisconsin’s abortion laws. Let me be clear: I am a jurist, not a politician. I am not running to impose a heartbeat bill from the bench, and any insinuation to the contrary is false,” she wrote.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week ran a story that said Lazar would be open to a heartbeat bill. She was speaking with students at UW-Whitewater in November.
https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_11dd8035-d289-4f0b-bccd-7f420faab850.html
EMILY's List to Spend $15 Million on Key State-Level Races in 2026
EMILY’s List, the influential Democratic-aligned political action committee, announced Wednesday that it would spend $15 million on state-level races across nine battlegrounds this year.
The PAC’s 2026 State Power Plan calls for hefty investments in non-federal contests in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in a bid to bolster Democratic power in state government.
The group, which is focused on electing Democratic women who support abortion rights, said it would also get involved in a handful of states with GOP-controlled legislatures, including Kansas and New Hampshire.
The goal of the investments, according to the group’s president, is to limit Republican power at the state level and build a Democratic bulwark against the Trump administration.
https://campaignsandelections.com/industry-news/emilys-list-to-spend-15-million-on-state-races-in-2026/
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