The 12 Days of Ballotpedia might be over, but our work is just beginning! The 2026 elections are already underway. Filing deadlines have already passed in four states; we’re researching filing deadlines and candidates, and congressional primaries will begin in just a few weeks.

On Dec. 19, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed SB 293, which requires absentee ballots to be received by the close of polls on Election Day, except for military or overseas ballots. This change makes Ohio the 35th state to require ballots to be received by Election Day.

This year, we tracked 4,969 election-related bills and resolutions — surpassing the total number of bills in any year since we started tracking election legislation in 2022. Lawmakers passed 627 new election laws in 2025, more than in 2024 (440) but fewer than in 2023 (723).

As the year comes to a close, the 2026 election season is well underway. Over the last couple of months, the earliest 2026 candidate filing deadlines have passed in Illinois (Nov. 3), Arkansas (Nov. 12), and Texas (Dec. 8).

Happy Giving Tuesday! Today, your gift to Ballotpedia will be matched up to $25k. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, our team works hard to provide unbiased information on thousands of elections. Your support ensures every voter can make informed choices.

This Giving Tuesday, your gift to Ballotpedia will be matched up to $25k! Millions of voters rely on Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Survey, Sample Ballot Lookup, & candidate research to make informed decisions. Donate to ensure voters navigate every ballot with confidence.

To our wonderful community of fact-finders and political science enthusiasts: we are so thankful to you. All of us at Ballotpedia wish you a bright, peaceful Thanksgiving holiday.

Forty-five members of Congress—37 representatives and eight senators—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. That’s the most retirement announcements at this point in an election cycle since 2018.

On 11/4, voters in Greenbelt, MD, passed a non-binding referendum in favor of adopting ranked-choice voting for city council elections. If the Greenbelt City Council adopts an RCV system, it would be the 52nd locality in the United States that uses/is scheduled to use RCV in at least some elections.

November 4th was the 35th day of the federal government shutdown making it the longest shutdown in U.S. history. There have been 11 shutdowns in U.S. history that lasted for at least a day and resulted in agency closures and employee furloughs.

At least 15 incumbents lost in the state legislative elections in New Jersey & Virginia, with 6 New Jersey contests still uncalled as of 5:30 pm EST on 11/5. That’s the most general election incumbent defeats in an odd year since 21 were defeated in 2011. All 15 defeated incumbents were Republicans.

While most eyes were on major races last night, voters also made important decisions close to home. From tax policy to housing and election policy, local ballot measures were on ballots across the country. Here’s a thread of the results of some local ballot measures you may have missed:

Abigail Spanberger (D) defeated Winsome Earle-Sears (R) in the race to succeed incumbent Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who was term-limited. Spanberger’s victory, combined with Democrats holding their majority in the House of Delegates, created a new Democratic trifecta in the state.

The Ballotpedia page updates have begun as we start to see results across the country. We will be updating the thread below with noteworthy results: 🧵

Election Day 2025 is here!! If you haven't voted yet, here's a thread of our resources available to help you cast your ballot, including when and where to vote, and what's on your ballot. 🧵

We’re less than two weeks away from Election Day! Ballotpedia staff is preparing to cover 24 statewide ballot measures in six states, along with 188 local ballot measures. Out of all those ballot measures, our team has selected 10 of the most important and compelling ones in the country.

An important reminder as we head into election season! Between Sept. 2024 and Sept. 2025: 🗳️ 34 elections were decided by 10 votes or fewer ✋22 were decided by five votes or fewer 🤏 Since 2018, 660 elections have been decided by 10 votes or fewer

Using data provided in the United States Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates published in September 2025, & based on districts enacted after the 2020 census, there were 148 U.S. House majority-minority districts. This represented approximately 34% of the nation's 435 districts.

Proposition 50 became the 9th most expensive ballot measure on record in California, with five weeks until the election. As of Sept. 29, campaigns for and against the ballot measure had raised a combined $127.7 million.

Happy Fall!🍁As an important reminder, ten states have important voter participation dates and deadlines ahead of statewide general elections on Nov. 4. All 10 states listed below have either a statewide office or ballot measure on the ballot.

California voters will decide on Proposition 50 on November 4, 2025. In this video, we break down what Proposition 50 would do, the latest campaign finance numbers, and major endorsements on both sides. As of September 16, campaigns for and against Prop 50 have raised nearly $68 million.

Thirty-five members of the U.S. Congress—eight U.S. Senate members and 27 U.S. House members—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. Compared to previous election cycles, 35 is the most retirement announcements we have tracked at this point since 2018.

As of Sept. 4, the campaign committees for and against California Proposition 50 have raised a combined $41.4 million. Supporters raised $21.3 million, while opponents raised $20.1 million.

President Donald Trump (R) did not nominate, nor did the Senate confirm, any Article III federal judges in August 2025. Through the end of August, Trump has nominated 15 Article III judges in his second term, and the U.S. Senate has confirmed five.

So far this year, 29 of the 34 special state legislative elections resulted in the Democratic candidate running ahead of Kamala Harris' (D) performance in those districts in the 2024 presidential election.

During the 2024 term, SCOTUS issued opinions in 67 cases. SCOTUS reversed 47 lower court decisions (74.6%) and affirmed 16 decisions (25.4%). That's the highest reversal rate since the 2021 term, when SCOTUS reversed 54 lower court decisions (81.8%) and affirmed 12 decisions (18.2%).

California lawmakers approved Proposition 50 for the November 4, 2025, ballot, a measure that would redraw the state’s congressional districts before the 2026 midterm elections. If approved, the new map from Assembly Bill 604 would replace the Citizens Redistricting Commission’s 2021 map.

I'd be remiss if I did not mention @ballotpedia.org, too. They do an excellent job tracking special elections. This page in particular is invaluable ballotpedia.org/State_legisl...

28 members of the U.S. Congress—seven members of the U.S. Senate and 21 members of the U.S. House of Representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. ​​Compared to previous election cycles, 28 is the most retirement announcements we have followed at this point since 2018.

2024 had the second-most mail-in ballots cast nationwide, behind only 2020. In terms of raw numbers, 2024 had more ballots rejected than any election going back to 2016. The rejection rate of 1.2% is higher than in the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections.

30 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and D.C. offer public information on the registered voters within these states and territories. Of the states with available data, Democrats have the largest number of registered voters in 11 states & territories, Republicans in 11 states, & independents in 10.

Texas House Democrats have left the state to prevent a quorum for congressional redistricting

23 members of Congress—seven senators and 16 representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. Compared to previous years, this year has had the highest number of retirement announcements at this point since 2018.

Throughout June, Ballotpedia covered 900 elections in 20 states, 70% of which were uncontested. Ballotpedia defines an uncontested election as one where the number of candidates running is less than or equal to the number of seats up for election.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed House Bill 567 (HB 567) on July 10, repealing provisions of Proposition A, which voters approved in 2024. HB 567 repealed the paid sick leave requirements and the provision that tied future minimum wage increases to inflation.

The Senate has not yet confirmed any of President Donald Trump’s Article III federal judicial nominees through July 1, 2025, his first year of his second term in office. This is the fewest number of Article III judicial appointments through this point in all presidents’ 2nd terms since Bill Clinton.

Medicaid and SNAP work requirements in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:

On June 17, the Miami, Florida City Commission voted 3-2 in favor of proposed legislation that would move the city’s elections from odd to even years. The Commission must approve the legislation a second time for it to take effect, and a vote is scheduled for Thursday, June 26.

Had a great time talking with Frank Festa @ballotpedia.org this morning about the non-stop thrill ride that is the 2025 mayoral race! Catch the episode here before the next unexpected twist in the race makes it out of date. www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wCi...

On April 18, 2026, Louisiana voters will decide on an amendment to increase the judicial retirement age. Currently, the age is 70, and if a judge turns 70 during their term, they may finish the rest of their term before retiring. The amendment would raise the mandatory retirement age to 75.

On May 30, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would eliminate the American Bar Association’s (ABA) role in reviewing federal judicial nominees. The ABA is a nationwide voluntary professional association of attorneys.

On May 30, Kentucky Sen. Robin Webb announced that she was changing her partisan affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Following Webb’s announcement, Republicans have a 32-6 supermajority in the Kentucky Senate.

“The Senate presents some unique restrictions on reconciliation,” @michaelthorning.bsky.social told @ballotpedia.org. "The [Byrd] Rule is supposed to keep reconciliation focused on debt, taxes, and the debt limit.” 🔊 Learn more about the next steps for #reconciliation. bit.ly/3ZOAfr4

On May 27, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed Senate Bill 1027 (SB 1027), approving changes to the state's initiative and referendum processes. The bill passed in the Oklahoma Legislature with all Democrats voting against it and all but six Republicans voting for it. 🧵

Fifteen more state legislative special elections will happen this year in Mississippi—10 in the Mississippi Senate and five in the Mississippi House of Representatives—after a successful redistricting challenge that led to redrawn maps concluded this month.

On May 19, President Donald Trump (R) signed Senate Bill 146, also called the TAKE IT DOWN Act. According to the bill summary, the new law "generally prohibits the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, both authentic and computer-generated..."

Republicans control 12% more state legislative seats than Democrats, despite Democrats’ nationwide advantage in party membership. ⬇️

While the number of large cities using RCV has increased recently, more states have adopted legislation opposing its use. So far this year, five states—Arkansas, Kansas, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming—have adopted legislation banning RCV statewide.

On May 14, the Boston, Massachusetts city council voted 8-4 to approve a home rule petition to adopt ranked-choice voting (RCV) for city elections. The petition needs approval from Mayor Michelle Wu (D), who said she would sign the measure, before it goes to the state legislature for consideration.