YouTube video by Ask Raphaela

Five states could push a popular-vote pact past 270.

As part of a broader charter review, councilors debated whether a councilor who moves between wards but remains a city resident should continue serving the original ward, and whether school committee members and councilors should be barred from holding another city office simultaneously. Straw votes and legal questions about Massachusetts General Laws left the items held for further drafting.

Hosts and guests said Question 3's all-comers primary (ranked/jungle primary) was difficult for many voters to understand; several panelists said they voted no, citing unintended consequences seen in other states.

This proposal advocates for national standards in congressional redistricting to prevent partisan manipulation and discrimination. It emphasizes equal population representation, independent redistr…

After a fourth public hearing, the council voted to select draft Map 109 for the city’s transition to by‑district elections and directed staff to sequence elections so districts 2, 4 and 5 elect in 2028 and districts 1 and 3 in 2030; the ordinance will return for a second reading on Nov. 10.

Question 3 would eliminate separate party primaries for state offices and create an all-party primary where the top two vote-getters advance; supporters say it increases competition, opponents warn it can favor wealthy candidates and reduce representation.

Question 4 would allow eligible citizens to register or update their voter registration at their polling place on election day using specified proof-of-residence and a written oath; the measure would take effect Jan. 1, 2028, and the committee flagged operational and staffing needs.

Election directors and the Statewide Association of Election Officials recommended any new system be EAC‑certified to VVSG 2.0 before state use, include robust accessibility options and allow counties to perform basic maintenance to reduce vendor dependence and cost.

Council directed staff and the city attorney to draft a charter-resolution request to the state legislature to change the mayoral election from plurality to majority and to present a staff review of state law and peer-city practice at the Nov. 10 meeting, with a draft resolution to follow at the Nov. 24 meeting.

At a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, council president Shannon Harden and community leaders laid out arguments for Issue 8 (all-district voting) and Issue 9 (districts plus four at-large seats), weighing accountability, coalition-building and map redraw concerns ahead of the ballot.

Following guidance from the county clerk and analysis from the city clerk, the council voted to revise ordinance language so municipal elections will align with the May primary under West Virginia Senate Bill 50; council noted shortened transition terms and will publish a 30-day notice before the ordinance.

The Trump administration has stepped up efforts to challenge the integrity of elections and assert greater control over how they are conducted. Georgia has been at the center of that debate ever...

Speakers reminded members the League filed a lawsuit this spring alleging recent changes to vacancy-election laws are unconstitutional and encouraged members to review linked materials in the meeting chat and follow related state responses.

The Board was asked to package five local resolutions—staggered terms for Board of Elections and Magistrate Court, adjusting Board of Commissioners compensation to fixed amounts, requesting state regulation of private water systems, and authorizing an LHOST referendum—into a single legislative package for the Georgia General Assembly.

Senate joint resolution SJ253 would study whether Virginia should align state elections with the federal cycle and, if so, how to implement it; sponsor said implementation could take six to eight years and the committee voted to report the resolution.

Senate Bill 1,009 was substituted to remove provisions that would have expanded ranked-choice voting beyond current uses; the committee rejected an amendment that would have expanded the practice and then reported the bill with the substitute, 12-9.

Senate Bill 7 60, described as moving the deadline for receipt of absentee ballots to 5 p.m. on the third day after the election, was reported by the committee by a 10-9 vote after a subcommittee recommendation of 5-3.