RandySF
RandySF's JournalSlower USPS pickups and postmarks could delay voter registrations, mail ballot applications, and actual votes
Local election officials across the nation have started warning voters about changes to mail pickup policies that can delay the postmarking of mail-in ballots, putting them at risk of going uncounted.
The risk is particularly acute in states that allow grace periods for late-arriving ballots that were postmarked on or before Election Day, but the headaches caused by the new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rules, which Democracy Docket reported on extensively in October, extend to every corner of the nation and begin well before Election Day.
“If you would have asked me two months ago, ‘Hey, Rebecca, as a national voting rights leader, what do you think is going to be the biggest threat or the biggest challenge in Americans attempting to vote in 2026?’ I would have told you, it’s likely going to be intimidation. We’re probably going to see federal agents, maybe ICE agents, showing up in or around polling locations,” said Rebekah Caruthers, president of the Fair Elections Center. “I think [mail voting] is what the issue is actually going to be, because we can’t just look at this new post office rule in a vacuum.”
USPS is in the process of eliminating evening mail pickups from post offices more than 50 miles away from a regional processing facility, which are located mostly in large metropolitan areas. The changes, already in effect for roughly 16% of the U.S. population, will mean mail will be postmarked and delivered at least one day later than before.
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/slower-usps-pickups-and-postmarks-could-delay-voter-registrations-mail-ballot-applications-and-actual-votes/
Democrats' plan to revamp WA's initiative process stirs backlash
Majority Democrats in the state Legislature are pushing changes they say will restore integrity to Washington’s venerable initiative process.
Opponents contend the moves will effectively block residents’ direct path to the ballot to pass laws of their own making.
Bills introduced in the House and Senate would bar paying a person for each signature they collect. And they would allow legal action against those suspected of violations.
The legislation also would add a new step at the front end of the process by requiring a person, at the time they fill out paperwork and pay the fee for an initiative, to also submit signatures of 1,000 registered voters as a show of support for a proposed measure.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/01/26/democrats-plan-to-revamp-was-initiative-process-stirs-backlash/
Paying ballot-question petition circulators would be banned by bill advancing to SD House
Paying ballot-question petition circulators would be prohibited in South Dakota by a bill the House State Affairs Committee approved Monday at the Capitol in Pierre.
Rep. Travis Ismay, R-Newell, introduced House Bill 1087 in response to several questions that appeared on the 2024 general election ballot with help from paid petition circulators.
“This bill that I am bringing honors the will of the people and not out-of-state interests,” Ismay said.
Petitioners in South Dakota need 17,508 signatures from registered voters to propose a law, which is known as an initiative, and the same number of signatures to put a bill passed by legislators on hold for consideration by voters, which is known as a referendum. The number of signatures required to propose a state constitutional amendment is 35,017.
https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/paid-ballot-question-petition-circulators-banned-bill-advancing-sd-legislature/
The challenges of bringing a ballot initiative to Ohio voters, and why it's harder than ever
While redistricting reform might not be on the ballot again this election season, the people who bring about initiatives and constitutional amendments aren’t sitting on their hands. The result of the 2024 campaign informed how advocacy leaders are moving forward, they say.
“I actually think right now is a critically important time for any future redistricting initiative, to keep talking about these issues, and to keep linking this problem to all the other problems around the country,” said Collin Marozzi, advocacy director for the ACLU of Ohio.
Ballot initiatives serve as an important part of making governmental change, one that many around the state see as one of the only ways, currently, to bring about change on which a Republican supermajority won’t budge, like reproductive rights or marijuana.
While an initiated statute on marijuana succeeded (though the legislative success is still to be determined), and reproductive rights were solidly approved to enter the Ohio Constitution, the most recent pass at redistricting reform to change to a citizen-run method rather than one run by elected officials didn’t fare as well.
https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/01/26/the-challenges-of-bringing-a-ballot-initiative-to-ohio-voters-and-why-its-harder-than-ever/
GOP leaders defend Cabarrus candidate after racist, anti-immigrant comments online
A Republican Cabarrus County commission candidate’s campaign video in a conservative-leaning Facebook group posted Jan. 12 drew a slew of racist comments and prompted vocal defenses from local GOP leaders. Krushani Patel, a candidate seeking a seat on the
Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, posted the video in Cabarrus County Citizens Against Tax Hikes, an active 2,700-member group with posts and discussions about county politics from a mostly Republican perspective. Local elected officials, candidates and state lawmakers often comment and post in the forum.
Her video discussed the importance of civic engagement for building strong communities an urged people to get involved in local politics. Patel is one of 12 candidates running for three available commission seats.
Instead of staying focused on policy, Patel said, the discussion veered into personal attacks after commenters singled her out as an immigrant and speculated about her religion. Patel was born in India, she told The Charlotte Observer, and has lived in Cabarrus for nine years.
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article314412698.html#storylink=cpy
TX-SD09: Tarrant County officials close all polling locations Jan. 25, delay poll openings for Jan. 26
All early voting polling locations in Tarrant County closed Jan. 25 and the polling locations will have delayed openings Jan. 26 due to icy weather conditions from Winter Storm Fern.
A special election was called for the State Senate District 9 runoff race, with candidates Democrat Taylor Rehmet and Republican Leigh Wambsganss facing off for the position.
All 22 early polling locations in Tarrant County closed Jan. 25, and the county’s election website states that polling locations will open late Jan. 26 due to safety concerns stemming from the storm.
According to a message on the county’s election website, early voters should check back on Jan. 26 to see an updated list of open polling locations and the opening times for those locations.
https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/keller-roanoke-northeast-fort-worth/election/2026/01/25/tarrant-county-officials-close-all-polling-locations-jan-25-delay-poll-openings-for-jan-26/
Dade City Election Scheduled for April 14
Dade City Commissioner’s seats held by Mayor Scott Black in Group 1 and Commissioner Ann Cosentino in Group 2 will be eligible to be voted upon on April 14, according to the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Office.
Black was honored last year for having served on the Dade City Commission for 35 years. Cosentino was elected to her first term on April 12, 2022.
The qualifying period for said election will begin at noon on Feb. 10, and will end at noon on Feb. 17. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, during the election shall be deemed elected City Commissioner and shall serve for a term beginning with the first meeting after the certification of election results and expiring in April of 2030 unless such terms are changed by revisions to the City Charter. The election will be at-large and candidates won’t be registered to a specific political party.
Registered Dade City voters may cast ballots at the Dade City City Hall, 38020 Meridian Ave., beginning March 3 and ending on April 13, according to Dade City’s Municipal City Clerk, Angelia Guy.
https://www.hernandosun.com/2026/01/25/dade-city-election-scheduled-for-april-14/
NY-SD61L Spotlighting the upcoming special election for 61st Senate district
The Democratic and Republican candidates for the 61st Senate District are giving their final pitch to voters.
Democratic candidate Jeremy Zellner shares his experience as Erie County Board of Elections commissioner, emphasizing his role in early voting and election reforms. He highlights his top issues: reducing the cost of living, particularly through expanded child care programs, and protecting health care access amid federal attacks.
Republican candidate Dan Gagliardo is giving his final pitch to voters. Gagliardo discusses his campaign strategies, including knocking on 12,000 doors and engaging in phone calls and social media. He emphasizes his business experience and commitment to helping working families, highlighting issues like higher taxes and utility costs.
University of Buffalo associate professor Jacob Neiheisel also discusses the election. He advises candidates to focus on issues like affordability, health care and the local economy, which are top of mind for voters.
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/in-focus/2026/01/22/spotlighting-the-upcoming-special-election-for-61st-senate-district
TX-18: Harris County sued over CD-18 early voting closures as winter weather disrupts runoff election
A pair of voting rights organizations filed a lawsuit Sunday seeking an emergency court order to extend early voting in Harris County past Tuesday after severe weather forced the closure of polling locations in the runoff election for Texas' 18th Congressional District.
The Harris County Elections Department closed all early vote centers for the CD-18 special runoff election on Sunday and Monday, citing hazardous winter weather. In a statement, the department said the closures were a precaution to protect voters and election workers as freezing conditions affected the region. Early voting was slated to end Tuesday, and Election Day is Jan. 31.
"The safety of voters, election workers, and staff must come first," Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said in the statement, adding that the decision was made in coordination with state and local emergency management officials. The clerk’s office said it would continue to monitor conditions and provide reopening plans as weather improves.
The Harris County Clerk’s Office has not yet responded to a request for comment regarding the lawsuit.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/cd18-runoff-lawsuit-21314691.php
MI-SD35: GOP linked to group touting 'progressive champ' in key Michigan Senate race
Lansing — A group with ties to Republicans has been spending money to influence a Democratic primary race this month, spurring concerns from top Michigan Democrats that GOP forces might be misleading voters in a special election that could sway control of the state Senate.
ProgressiveMI formed a political committee in Michigan on Nov. 24 and has funded mailers and digital advertisements, promoting State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh of Saginaw in the 35th Senate District's contested Feb. 3 Democratic primary.
Some Democrats contended that Saginaw Fire Captain Chedrick Greene has a better chance than Pugh of winning the general election in the 35th District in the Tri-Cities region if he can emerge from the primary.
But ProgressiveMI has touted Pugh, in ads, as a "progressive champion" who can "make Medicare for all a reality."
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/24/michigan-state-senate-special-primary-pamela-pugh-progressivemi-chedrick-greene/88315192007/
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Detroit Area, MI
Home country: USA
Current location: San Francisco, CA
Member since: Wed Oct 29, 2008, 01:53 PM
Number of posts: 81,651