The VTT Midterm Election Newswire
There is a lot going on in the world of voting in general and the November midterms in particular. Here are some highlights:
Republicans Miscalculate on Redistricting: The GOP tried to game the system to gain an advantage for the midterms. The Democrats hit back and will break even–or even gain seats. The big test was a win this week in Virginia (Viginia Mercury).
Let the Kids Vote: Stringent voter ID laws are a backwards way of attempting to suppress the vote. A judge in Indiana is having none of it in a case that focuses on college students. (The Indiana Chronicle)
Voters Say No to War: President Trump is being hammered on the war in Iran, with 65% of respondents to a Quinnipiac poll saying that he is either a lot or somewhat to blame. (The Hill)
Voting is So Old Fashioned: An interesting takeaway from the “Evolution of the Youth Vote: Changing Gen Z Politics” panel hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Elections Research Center. One participant suggested that many young people see the way in which our elections are conducted as antiquated. (The Daily Cardinal)
Don’t Sleep on Local Elections: One irony of voting is that mundane local elections can have as big–or even bigger–day to day impact on the lives of folks than higher profile national votes. Municipal elections across central Texas are a good example. (KVUE)
Fighting Mail Voting Limits: Another potential change in the midterms elections is limits on mail-in voting. Maine has joined more than 20 states in a lawsuit challenging the president’s executive order. (The Maine Campus)
The People’s Voice: Ballet measures, such as a closely watched initiative in Virginia on April 21, are increasingly popular. Voting rights, election processes and redistricting are among the most popular issues. (Stateline)
Maryland Wins: The Maryland Senate has approved SB 255, which protects historically disenfranchised voters. It awaits the Governor Wes Moore’s signature. (Advancing Democracy Through Law)
SAVE and the States: The SAVE Act is not only a contentious issue at the national level. Republican governors in Florida, Mississippi, Utah and South Dakota have introduced legislation that mirrors what the GOP is trying to do in Washington. (The 19th News)
Good News for Dems on Midterms: People who study the relationship between special elections and the ensuring midterms suggest that the president’s lack of popularity and the general tendency for the party out of power to do well points towards a good November for the Democrats. (The Brookings Institute)
Datacenters are a Flashpoint: NPR suggests that the growing controversy about datacenters may make it a sleeper issue in the midterms. A datacenter can bring a lot to a community–and take a lot away. It’s an issue that cuts across party lines. (NPR)