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Elections

Close elections in recent years have revealed several flaws in the nation's election system and led to calls for reform. Paying for these reforms, many of which are mandated by the federal government, places additional stress on state budgets.

 

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elections: state legislation
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elections: state programs
Innovations Awards
Winner - Montana - 2005 - Voter Verification Service
Designed to enable citizens to vote under the new Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requirements, this program enables election administrators in all counties to use the Internet to search Montana Department of Justice’s driver record database to verify the identity of prospective voters who show up at the polls without identification.

 

 

 

elections: publications

2008
  1. Changes Ahead? Elections Could Alter Makeup of State Capitols Across U.S., Oct. 2008.
2006
  1. “Legislative Learning Curve: Many Believe Term Limits Rob Legislatures of Expertise,” State News, Aug, 2006.
  2. “Voter-ID Requirement Part of Ohio’s Election-System Overhaul,” Stateline Midwest, April 2006.
  3. “2006 State Capitols Guide,” State News, Jan. 2006.
2005
  1. “2004 Election Success and State Initiatives,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  2. “2004 Initiatives and Referendums,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  3. “2004 Judicial Elections,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  4. “2004 Legislative Elections,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  5. “2004 Lieutenant Governors’ Elections,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  6. Attorneys General Information Tables, The Book of the States, 2005.
  7. Auditors and Comptrollers Information Tables, The Book of the States, 2005.
  8. “Emerging Trends Shaping State Governments: 2005 and Beyond,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  9. Ethics Agencies Information Tables, The Book of the States, 2005.
  10. “Governors: Elections, Campaign Costs and Powers,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  11. “Gubernatorial Incapacity and Succession Provisions,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  12. Gubernatorial Information Tables, The Book of the States, 2005.
  13. Initiatives and Referendum Information Tables, The Book of the States, 2005.
  14. Legislature Information Tables, The Book of the States, 2005.
  15. Lobbying Information Tables, The Book of the States, 2005.
  16. Lieutenant Governors’ Information Tables, The Book of the States, 2005.
  17. “Secretaries of State and Election Reform in the States,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  18. Secretaries of State Information Tables, The Book of the States, 2005.
  19. “State Legislative Redistricting in 2003–2004: Emerging Trends and Issues in Reapportionment,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  20. “The Effects of Legislative Term Limits,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  21. “The Future of Political Parties in the States,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  22. “The ‘Good’ Legislature,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  23. Treasurers Information Tables, The Book of the States, 2005.
  24. “Trends and Issues in State Ethics Agencies,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  25. “Women in State Government:Historical Overview and Current Trends,” The Book of the States, 2005.
  26. Trends in America: Navigating Turbulence to Success, Dec. 2005.
  27. “Third Frontier Funding Gets OK from Voters; Reforms Rejected,” Stateline Midwest, Dec. 2005.
  28. “State Ethics and Lobbying Reform Roundup,” Issue Brief, Eastern Regional Conference, Aug. 2005.
  29. Trends in America: Charting the Course Ahead, June 2005.
  30. “The New Politics of Federalism,” Spectrum, Spring 2005.
  31. “Indiana, Wisconsin in Middle of Contentious Voter ID Debate,” Stateline Midwest, May 2005.
  32. “To Blog or Not to Blog?” State News, Feb. 2005.
  33. “10 Change Drivers for the Future,” State News, Jan. 2005.
  34. “Mind Your Manners: Can Legislative Civility Survive Polarized Voters and Contentious Politics?” State News, Jan. 2005.
  35. “2005 State Capitols Guide,” State News, Jan. 2005.
  36. “2004 Election Success and State Initiatives,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  37. “2004 Legislative Elections,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  38. “2004 Gubernatorial Elections,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  39. “2004 Lieutenant Governors’ Elections,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  40. “2004 Judicial Elections,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  41. “2004 Initiatives and Referendums,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  42. “2004 Elections and Women: An Analysis of Statewide and State Legislative Election Results,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  43. “Term Limits and Turnover in State Legislatures,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  44. “District Size Matters: Making Elections Safe,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  45. “Effects of Term Limits in Arizona: Irreparable Damages,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  46. “Effects of Term Limits in Arizona: New Legislative Leadership,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  47. “Effects of Term Limits in Arkansas: New Faces and New Ideas,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  48. “Effects of Term Limits in Michigan: Bureaucrats with More Power,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
  49. “Effects of Term Limits in Maine: More Power to the Executive Branch,” Spectrum, Winter 2005.
2004
  1. “Uneventful Election Day a Victory for States’ Voting Officials,” Stateline Midwest, Nov. 2004.
  2. “Midwestern Voters Reject Same-Sex Marriage, Gambling Expansion,” Stateline Midwest, Nov. 2004.
  3. “Mixed Messages: Both Parties Can Claim Victories in Region’s Legislative Races,” Stateline Midwest, Nov. 2004.
  1. Issue Brief: Statehouse and Governor Races in the Eastern Regional Conference, The Eastern Regional Conference, Nov. 2004.
  2. “Red States, Blue States: Despite Divisions, Pollster Says Most Americans Agree on Some Issues,” State News, Oct. 2004.
  3. “Election Year 2004,” State News, Oct. 2004.
  4. “States Adjust to Challenges, Opportunities Presented by Help America Vote Act,” Firstline Midwest, Oct. 2004.
  5. “Battle for Indiana House Highlights Regional Legislative Races,” Stateline Midwest, Oct. 2004.
  6. “In the Voters’ Hands: Decisions on Taxes, Gambling and Gay Marriage Will Be Made This Fall,” Stateline Midwest, Sept. 2004.
  7. “Life With Term Limits: Who Wins, Who Loses and Who Cares,” State News, Aug. 2004.

 

  1. “Howard Who?” State Government News, March 2004.
  2. “Fixing the Flaws in Elections,” State Government News, March 2004.
  3. Judicial Selection Methods in Southern States, Southern Legislative Conference, Feb. 2004.
  4. “State Snapshots: Impeachments and Removals of Governors,” State Government News, Feb. 2004.
  5. “2004 State Capitols Guide,” State Government News, Jan. 2004.
  6. “What’s in the Cards for 2004?” State Government News, Jan. 2004.
  7. “Iowa Caucuses Shape State Politics Along with Race for President,” Stateline Midwest, Jan. 2004.
  1. Special Report: Legislative Civility—Can It Survive Polarized Voters and Contentious Politics? The Council of State Governments–WEST, Winter 2004.
2003
  1. “2003 Elections Already Historic,” State Government News, Oct. 2003.
  2. “Facing the Gender Gap: Amidst Successes, Women’s Gains in State Legislatures Have Slowed,” State Government News, Oct. 2003.
  1. TrendsAlert: Judicial Democracy, Oct. 2003.
  2. “Cost of Judicial Campaigns is Rising,” State Government News, Oct. 2003.
  3. “Lawmakers Disagree over Path to Take Toward Election Reform,” Stateline Midwest, May 2003.
  4. “An Intern’s Wrong Move,” State Government News, March 2003.
  5. “2003 State Capitols Guide,” State Government News, Jan. 2003.
  1. Special Report: Western Lawmakers Meet the Media, The Council of State Governments–WEST, Winter 2003.
2002
  1. “Mixed Election Results Lead to Divided Government in Most States,” Stateline Midwest, Dec. 2002.
  2. “A Balancing Act: Key State Races in 2002 Could Impact Parties’ Power Bases,” State Government News, Oct. 2002.
  3. “Despite Some Progress, Officials Call for More Election Reforms,” Stateline Midwest, Oct. 2002.
  4. “Leadership Upheaval: 2002 Elections Will Spur Changes at the Top,” State Government News, Sept. 2002.
  1. Election Reform Recommendations: Final Report of the Midwestern Legislative Conference Elections Task Force, The Council of State Governments Midwest, Aug. 2002.
  2. “Term Limits,” State Government News, Aug. 2002.
  3. The Demographics of Redistricting in the South: A Perspective from the 2000 Census, Southern Legislative Conference, July 2002.
  4. “Trends and Issues in 2002,” State Government News, June/July 2002.
  5. “Congress Considers Election Laws,” State Government News, May 2002.
  6. “Political Pop-Ups Coming,” State Government News, April 2002.
  7. Election Policies and Reform in Southern States 2001, Southern Legislative Conference, Jan. 2002.
  8. “Term Limits Produce Changes,” State Government News, Jan. 2002.
  9. “Democrats Win Seats,” State Government News, Jan. 2002.
2001
  1. “Have You Spotted These Trends?” State Government News, Oct. 2001.
  2. “Comprehensive Election Reform Efforts Stall in Many States,” Stateline Midwest, Oct. 2001.
  3. “Slow Action on Ballot Reforms,” State Government News, June/July 2001.
  4. “Congress on a Slow Track,” State Government News, June/July 2001.
  5. “Court Clears the Air: Clean Air, States’ Rights Top Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decisions,” State Government News, April 2001.
  6. “Pointers for Election Reform,” State Government News, April 2001.
  7. “Women Find a Home in State Government,” State Government News, March 2001.
  8. “What’s Big in 2001,” State Government News, Feb. 2001.
  9. “Legislative Legacies: A New Generation of Leaders Follows in the Footsteps of Their Political Parents,” State Government News, Feb. 2001.
  10. “A Delicate Balance,” State Government News, Jan. 2001.
  11. “State Capitols Guide 2001,” State Government News, Jan. 2001.
  12. “The ‘States’ of Representative Democracy,” State Government News, Jan. 2001.
  13. “Time for a Change? Recent Election Causes Call for Better Voting Machines, Processes,” Stateline Midwest, Jan. 2001.
2000
  1. “Political Control Remains the Same after 2000 Elections,” Stateline Midwest, Dec. 2000.
  2. Drawing the Map: Redistricting in the South, Southern Legislative Conference, Aug. 2000.
  3. “Whew and Wow! 2000 Legislative Sessions Highlights,” State Government News, Aug. 2000.
  4. “Religious Issues and Elections,” State Government News, Aug. 2000.
  5. “Capitol Control: Stakes Are High in Races to Seize Midwestern Legislative Chambers,” Stateline Midwest, July 2000.
  6. “Up for the Count: States Prepare for the 2000 Census,” State Government News, April 2000.
  7. “Growing into Power: Hispanics Starting to Flex Political Muscles,” State Government News, March 2000.
  8. “Suffering for Lack of Suffrage: Disenfranchisement of Convicted Felons,” State Government News, March 2000.
  9. “Breaking Voting Barriers,” State Government News, March 2000.
  10. “Times of Change: Legislatures Deal With Term Limits,” State Government News, Feb. 2000.
  11. “Ways to Turn Out Voters,” State Government News, Feb. 2000.
  12. “Agenda 2000,” State Government News, Jan. 2000.
  13. “State Capitols Guide 2000,” State Government News, Jan. 2000.