RandySF
RandySF's JournalFederal judge blocks Indiana's ban on use of student IDs for voting
A federal judge issued an order Tuesday blocking an Indiana law that banned the use of college-issued student identification cards for voting.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Young granted the preliminary injunction sought by groups that filed a lawsuit challenging the student ID ban soon after it was approved by the Legislature last year.
Young ruled that the challengers would likely succeed in their arguments that the law “imposes unconstitutional burdens on students and young voters in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.”
Students had been allowed to use identification cards issued by public universities at polling places to meet Indiana’s voter ID law under requirements that they included the voter’s name, photo and a valid expiration date.
https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/04/14/federal-judge-blocks-indianas-ban-on-use-of-student-ids-for-voting/
Pa. House panel approves proposal to give election workers a week to process mail-in ballots
County election officials would get up to a week to prepare mail-in ballots for counting under legislation now headed to the state House for consideration.
The process of removing vote-by-mail ballots from their envelopes has delayed election results since 2020, when Pennsylvanians first had the option to cast absentee ballots without an excuse for not voting in person.
Under Act 77, signed into law in 2019, county election workers have been allowed to begin pre-canvassing mail-in ballots only after polls open at 7 a.m. on Election Day. Election officials and county commissioners have consistently said more time is needed to ensure election results can be reported in a timely manner.
House Bill 37, introduced by Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre), would allow county boards of elections to meet up to seven days before an election to pre-canvass ballots.
https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/house-panel-approves-proposal-to-give-election-workers-a-week-to-process-mail-in-ballots/
Some Utah voters weigh unregistering because of new law lifting certain privacy protections
When David Yoder — a registered Utah voter living in South Jordan — got a letter from the lieutenant governor’s office earlier this month notifying of changes to Utah’s voter privacy law, he said he was left “fed up and frustrated.”
As an IT worker, Yoder told Utah News Dispatch he’s “very protective of my privacy,” and he knows how information like names and addresses can be used for scams or other malicious reasons. He’s also concerned about that information becoming more easily accessible during a time of heightened political tension and online vitriol on social media.
“I don’t want my name and address publicly available to anyone,” he said, while expressing concerns that he has a “real problem” with allowing that information to be “available for purchase.”
Even though the new law, SB153, criminalizes misusing the information — like posting the information online for free or otherwise — by making it a class A misdemeanor, Yoder worries that’s not going to stop it.
https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2026/04/14/some-utah-voters-weigh-unregistering-because-of-new-law-lifting-certain-privacy-protections/
Senate puts kibosh on Aug. 25 Medicaid election plan
OKLAHOMA CITY – Far right Republicans joined Democrats in the Senate to block plans to put major changes to Medicaid expansion on August’s low voter turnout ballot.
The decision potentially sets the stage for two dueling legislative questions regarding the future of Oklahoma’s Medicaid program to appear on November’s general election ballot.
Voters could be asked to consider House Bill 4440, which seeks to remove Medicaid expansion from the Oklahoma Constitution and put it in state statute, allowing lawmakers to alter it.
They could also be asked to vote on House Joint Resolution 1067, which would allow lawmakers to end coverage for an estimated 200,000 lower-income Oklahomans if the federal match were to drop below the current 90% matching rate.
https://oklahomavoice.com/2026/04/14/senate-puts-kibosh-on-aug-25-medicaid-election-plan/
District 5 runoff election results Here's who will be joining the Macon Board of Commissioners
MACON, Ga. — Voters from District 5 in Macon headed to the polls Tuesday to decide the runoff race for the Commissioner runoff election.
The seat opened up earlier this year, after District 5 Commissioner Seth Clark stepped down to explore a run as a Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor. Clark later dropped out of that race before official qualifying began.
Andrea Cooke and Edward Foster were the two candidates up for election, having received the most votes in March's special election.
In that March election, Cooke received 523 votes, good for 49.53% of the vote. If Cooke had received another 10 votes in that election, she would have won outright. Meanwhile, Foster received 205 votes, 19.4% of the vote.
https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/district-5-runoff-election-results/93-f3303d54-c1cd-41ad-843c-1beffdd54151
Jenna Fodness-Bondhus (?) wins CH School Board seat in special election
Jenna Fodness-Bondhus won the Columbia Heights Board of Education special election seat April 14 with 1,152 total votes (76.04%), according to results posted on the Anoka County elections website.
Her opponent, Adam Davis, garnered 363 total votes (23.96%).
Fodness-Bondhus will serve on the board for three years to finish out former board member Corenia Smith's term. Smith resigned from her position in October 2025, and Lorien Mueller was appointed by the board as her temporary replacement.
ABC Newspapers reached out to Davis and Fodness-Bondhus, but has not yet received a comment from either candidate.
https://www.hometownsource.com/abc_newspapers/community/columbiaheights/jenna-fodness-bondhus-wins-ch-school-board-seat-in-special-election/article_6dcf32ad-358e-4741-bb1e-c971edf5874f.html
Tacoma to include multi-million dollar road funding measure on primary election ballot
TACOMA, Wash. — As the adage goes, if at first you don’t succeed, ask the voters again. That’s the perspective the Tacoma City Council is taking for funding roads across the city.
The new proposal, which the council passed to send to the August 4, 2026 ballot, continues taxes passed in 2015, a $0.20/ $1,000 of assessed value and a 1.5% utility earnings tax.
https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/tacoma-include-multi-million-dollar-road-funding-measure-primary-election-ballot/PZIBLZKDEBFNVMODHVFXTD2IAU/?outputType=amp
Virginia Beach students to continue 10 extra minutes of school amid election-driven schedule change
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach students will continue to go to school for 10 extra minutes each day until June 8 after a motion to revoke the additional minutes failed on Tuesday.
The School Board previously voted to add 10 minutes to each day to compensate for an unplanned Election Day on April 21. That election, next Tuesday, is a referendum on a mid-cycle redistricting for the state’s congressional districts.
However, after outcry from parents, School Board Member Melinda Rogers put forth a motion this Tuesday to suspend Policy 6-13 and remove the additional 10 minutes from the school day. School Board Policy 6-13 states the school year will be at least 180 days, but that the school division can develop an alternate schedule as long as a minimum of 990 hours of instructional time is met.
After a discussion, Rogers’ motion failed by a vote of 4-6. Only Matt Cummings, Sharon Felton and Dr. Alveta Green joined Rogers in voting for the motion, while Michael Callan, David Culpepper, Vice Chair Carolyn Weems, Mark Bohenstiel, Rose Dwyer and Chair Kathleen Brown voted against it.
https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/virginia-beach/virginia-beach-students-to-continue-10-extra-minutes-of-school-amid-election-driven-schedule-change/291-f9956147-b590-42f0-ace8-a9e3c7d5cd63
Missoula voters to get school levy ballots this week for May 5 election
MISSOULA, Mont. — Missoula County Public Schools announced that registered voters in Missoula will begin getting ballots this week for the May 5 school operational levy election.
This will be an all-mail election and ballots are set to go out on Wednesday, April 15. Ballots sent back through USPS should be mailed by April 28 to allow time for delivery.
All ballots have to be returned to the Missoula County Elections Office or an Election Day ballot drop-off location by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5. The full list of drop-off sites are available on the Missoula County Elections website.
The ballot includes two funding requests tied to its general fund levies, one for the elementary district and one for the high school district. The district explained those levies would be paid for staff salaries and benefits, instruction, programs and daily school operations such as utilities, insurance, supplies and curriculum.
https://www.montanarightnow.com/missoula/missoula-voters-to-get-school-levy-ballots-this-week-for-may-5-election/article_f390c693-75a1-4f79-8ae9-389cbbabe953.html
Voters in Tuscaloosa choose new city councilor (?) in District 3 special election
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - A new member has been elected to Tuscaloosa’s City Council.
Richard Henry defeated Douglas Parrish in the special election held Tuesday to represent District 3.
According to the city’s website, Henry won the seat with nearly 1,400 votes.
District 3 covers much of the city north of the Black Warrior River.
https://www.wbrc.com/2026/04/15/voters-tuscaloosa-choose-new-city-councilor-district-3-special-election/
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