RandySF
RandySF's JournalAZ-GOV: Hobbs warns that GOP governor candidates would undo Arizona's abortion protections
On the 53rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, with Arizonans continuing to face threats against reproductive health care from Republicans at the state and federal levels, Democrats called on voters to shore up the right to abortion via the ballot box and pushed for legislative action from across the aisle.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to abortion four years ago, the legal outlook for the procedure in Arizona has been colored by turmoil and uncertainty. A near-total ban from the Civil War era was briefly revived in 2024, before the state’s Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes won a ruling that froze its enforcement. The law was ultimately repealed after weeks of resistance from GOP legislators.
The confusion and fear sowed during that political back-and-forth resulted in an overwhelming win for Proposition 139, adding abortion as a fundamental right to the Arizona Constitution.
But that victory has far from settled the matter: dozens of anti-abortion laws remain enshrined in state law and Republican lawmakers, who hold a majority in the state legislature, refuse to throw out the remaining restrictions, leaving reproductive rights advocates with no choice but to challenge them in the courts — a lengthy and expensive process.
https://azmirror.com/2026/01/22/hobbs-warns-that-gop-governor-candidates-would-undo-arizonas-abortion-protections/
Competing statehouse visions for voting in Nebraska vie for the ballot
LINCOLN — Two proposals with competing visions for the future of voting in Nebraska show some differences between how the two major political parties approach voting regulations.
Both state constitutional amendments were heard Thursday in the Nebraska Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. One, from a Democrat, would lower the voting age to 16 from 18. The other, from a Republican, would tweak the state constitution to say only U.S. citizens can vote in elections, which is already a requirement.
Dona-Gene Barton, a political scientist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who studies political behavior, said the amendments offer a glimpse of how some Democrats and Republicans, at the state and federal level, view voting regulations. As an example, she pointed to recent bills in the GOP-led statehouse, which is officially nonpartisan.
Voting-rights advocacy organization Civic Nebraska said the age-lowering proposal from Democrats “strengthens democracy” and questioned the GOP proposal’s new language on citizenship as unnecessary, saying it risks reinforcing “misinformation.”
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/01/22/competing-statehouse-visions-for-voting-in-nebraska-vie-for-the-ballot/
Legal fight over natural gas initiative crescendoes at WA Supreme Court
It was more than a year ago when voters approved a ballot measure to protect access to natural gas service in homes and other buildings, undercutting Washington’s efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.
The fate of that initiative now rests with the state Supreme Court.
The justices heard arguments Thursday morning in a challenge environmental groups and local governments brought against Initiative 2066. They argue the measure is unconstitutional because it covers more than a single subject and does not contain the full text of state laws it would alter.
Last March, a King County Superior Court judge agreed. Backers of the initiative appealed, landing the case at the state’s highest court.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/01/22/legal-fight-over-natural-gas-initiative-crescendoes-at-wa-supreme-court/
NEARLY ALL OKLAHOMA REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS OPPOSE SQ 836, WARN OF CALIFORNIA-STYLE ELECTIONS
More than 90 percent of Oklahoma House Republicans, and 95 percent of Oklahoma Senate Republicans, have jointly signed a letter urging Oklahomans to reject State Question 836, saying the proposal is “bad policy and bad for Oklahoma.”
State Question 836 would eliminate Oklahoma’s primary elections and instead place all candidates from all parties on a single ballot, with all voters participating regardless of party registration. The top two finishers would then proceed to the November general election ballot under SQ 836–even if both candidates are members of the same political party.
That would largely mirror California elections, where even statewide races have involved only two Democratic candidates.
An initiative-petition effort is underway to collect 172,993 valid signatures to place SQ 836 on the ballot in Oklahoma.
https://ocpathink.org/post/independent-journalism/nearly-all-oklahoma-republican-state-lawmakers-oppose-sq-836-warn-of-california-style-elections
Ballots on the way to thousands of Spokane County voters for special election
SPOKANE, Wash - Voters in certain areas of Spokane County will receive ballots soon for a special election on February 10th.
The Spokane County Elections Office will mail around 20,000 ballots this week to voters in the East Valley, Tekoa, Newport, Rosalia, St. John and Tekoa School Districts.
Anyone living in the area who doesn't receive a ballot by January 30th should notify the elections office at 509-477-2320.
Voters can mail in their ballots or drop them in county dropboxes.
https://www.kxly.com/news/politics/4thepeople-elections-coverage/ballots-on-the-way-to-thousands-of-spokane-county-voters-for-special-election/article_48e9c7a5-2299-4f75-9f3c-e2303b849c6e.html
Early voting set for Merritt school bond election
Sayre, OK – Early voting for the Merritt Public Schools bond election will begin Thursday, Feb. 5, according to the Beckham County Election Board.
Early voting will be held Thursday, Feb. 5, and Friday, Feb. 6, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Beckham County Activity Center, also known as the Fair Barn, at 310 E. Main St. in Sayre. Early voting is not available at polling places on Election Day.
Beckham County Election Board Secretary Sherron Manning said early voting is open to all eligible voters and does not require an excuse. The option is available for all county and state elections and is intended to provide flexibility for voters who may be unable to vote on Election Day or wish to avoid long lines.
The election involves a bond proposal for Merritt Public Schools Independent School District No. 002. The proposition asks voters to approve the issuance of $28,530,000 in bonds to fund construction, equipment purchases, repairs, and remodeling of school buildings, as well as the acquisition and improvement of school sites. The proposal also authorizes the levy of an annual tax to pay interest on the bonds and create a sinking fund for principal repayment.
https://www.kecofm.com/featured/early-voting-set-for-merritt-school-bond-election/
Fulton County election leaders warn of new push to strip local control ahead of 2026 vote
Fulton County leaders and national election experts are warning that a renewed push at the state Capitol could weaken local control over elections — just as federal investigators and outside activist groups intensify scrutiny of the county's voting system.
At a public town hall Thursday night, Commissioners Dana Barrett and Mo Ivory said Fulton County has once again become a testing ground in a broader national fight over who controls elections — local communities or higher levels of government.
In simple terms, speakers said some political actors are trying to:
- Challenge voter registrations in large numbers
- Create confusion and distrust around election results
- Shift decision-making power away from counties like Fulton
https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/fulton-county-election-leaders-warn-of-new-push-to-strip-local-control-ahead-of-2026-vote/
Mail in ballots and post marks could affect Nevada elections
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) -Drop off a piece of mail, it’s just assumed it will be post marked that day.
Late last month the US Post Office announced under new rules, a post mark will reflect when the piece of mail enters a processing facility--not when the mail is dropped off.
This has an impact on legal documents, taxes, and mail-in ballots used in elections.
“It is either drop off your mail ballot early,” says Cisco Aguilar Nevada Secretary of State on options voters currently have. It is use a drop box at a polling location. Or physically take the ballot to the counter at the post office on election day and have them manually stamp it. But I don’t think that’s the most efficient way for our mail ballots to work. I think it is going to overrun the postal service.”
https://www.kolotv.com/2026/01/23/mail-ballots-post-marks-could-affect-nevada-elections/
Panel agrees to move city, school elections to even-numbered years
A split House elections committee on Thursday signed off on a bill moving elections for cities, school boards and community colleges to the fall from the spring.
With Democrats dissenting, the elections committee agreed to revive an issue that was last debated in the Kansas Legislature in 2015.
Democrats unsuccessfully tried to table the bill on Thursday, citing the fact they didn't have an assessment of the cost of implementing the bill.
The secretary of state's office said it could not complete a fiscal note for the . . .
https://sunflowerstatejournal.com/panel-agrees-to-move-city-school-elections-to-even-numbered-years/
MI-SD35: Saginaw County Early Voting Center opens Jan 24 for 35th Senate District election
SAGINAW, Mich. — The Saginaw County Clerk’s Office says in person voting for the Feb. 3 Special Primary Election for the 35th State Senate District will begin on Saturday Jan. 24.
Early voting will take place at the Saginaw County Early Voting Center located at 618 Cass St. Saginaw, MI, 48602, adjacent to the courthouse.
Early voting will be available through Sunday, February 1st from 9am to 5pm, and from 9am to 7pm on the Wednesday before the election.
The Early Voting Center allows voters to insert their ballot into a tabulator prior to Election Day, however no results will be tabulated or released prior to 8pm on Election Day.
https://midmichigannow.com/news/local/saginaw-county-early-voting-center-opens-jan-24-for-35th-senate-district-election
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Gender: MaleHometown: Detroit Area, MI
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Current location: San Francisco, CA
Member since: Wed Oct 29, 2008, 01:53 PM
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