Honolulu voter service centers are open ahead of the August 8 primary
Honolulu’s voter service centers opened July 27 for accessible voting, in-person voting and same-day registration before Hawaiʻi’s August 8, 2026 primary.
Politics & Government
Elections, public policy, government decisions, budgets, regulation, ethics, civil rights, and public administration.
-
-
Arizona gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs selects former state senator Sine Kerr as running mate
Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs announced July 31 that former Arizona state Sen. Sine Kerr will be his lieutenant-governor running mate in the first election using the state’s new office.
-
Sandra Aguilera becomes acting secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services
Sandra Aguilera became acting secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services on Aug. 1, following Reggie McNeil’s departure from the post on July 31.
-
Boise gives mayor emergency authority to restrict potable-water use during droughts
Boise City Council approved an ordinance July 1 allowing the mayor to limit lawn watering and other potable-water uses during a drought emergency.
-
Alaska Legislature enters fourth special session called by Gov. Dunleavy
Gov. Mike Dunleavy called the 34th Alaska Legislature into its fourth special session of 2026, which began July 27 and is listed as ongoing on the Legislature’s website.
-
Maine governor releases updated statewide elder-abuse roadmap
Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Elder Justice Coordinating Partnership have released the 2026 Maine Elder Justice Roadmap, updating the state’s 2021 plan for preventing, detecting and responding to elder abuse.
-
Ohio’s Keep Them Safe Act set to take effect Sept. 17
Ohio Senate Bill 273, the Keep Them Safe Act, is scheduled to take general effect Sept. 17, 2026. Its appropriations provisions took effect June 18, 2026.
-
Montgomery finalizes candidate field for Sept. 1 District 3 council special election
The City of Montgomery has announced the final qualified candidate list for the vacant District 3 City Council seat, with a special municipal election scheduled for Sept. 1, 2026.
-
Wilmington launches rent escrow program for tenants facing unsafe housing conditions
The City of Wilmington announced a rent escrow program July 21, 2026, for renters living in unsafe or uninhabitable conditions. Available city materials do not yet set out detailed participation rules.
-
Wichita’s proposed 2027 budget balances, but forecasts show deficits after 2027
Wichita’s proposed 2027 budget is break-even and keeps the mill levy unchanged, according to City Manager Dennis Marstall. City projections show annual shortfalls of up to about $8 million from 2028 through 2030.
-
Minneapolis weighs projected 2027 general-fund gap of up to $33 million
Minneapolis leaders are preparing for 2027 budget decisions amid a reported general-fund shortfall projection of up to $33 million. No tax increase or spending plan has been adopted.
-
NYC charter commission releases five government-reform proposals for ballot consideration
New York City’s Commission on Government Efficiency released five final charter-review proposals on July 23, outlining potential changes to permits, contracts, street projects and fiscal reserves that would require further election steps.
-
Rapid City advances municipal code overhaul for mayor and council rules
Rapid City’s June 1 City Council agenda listed Ordinance 6717 for first reading, proposing updates to city rules governing the mayor and Common Council.
-
Senate leaders unveil short-term funding deal aimed at keeping federal agencies open through early December
Senate leaders announced a short-term spending proposal Aug. 2 that would extend federal agency funding into early December, but the measure still needs Senate action and agreement with the House and White House.
-
Arizona counties receive new state funding to maintain accurate voter-registration rolls
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes announced new funding for county voter-registration list maintenance, bringing the amount made available since 2024 to more than $4.22 million.
-
Christine Erickson takes office as Sioux Falls mayor as budget and capital decisions approach
Christine Erickson became Sioux Falls’ 33rd mayor and its first woman elected mayor on July 17, as the City Council prepares for August budget hearings and September consideration of a proposed nearly $1.1 billion capital program.
-
Carson City voters face Sept. 4 deadline to opt out of automatic general-election mail ballot
Carson City voters seeking to opt out of automatically receiving a mail ballot for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election must submit a written request by Sept. 4, the city Elections Department says.
-
Chesapeake issues early-voting guidance for Aug. 4 primary
Chesapeake has published official guidance for the Aug. 4, 2026 primary, including early-voting locations, party-ballot rules and in-person provisional-voting information.
-
Jackson pauses data-center construction while drafting new regulations
Jackson City Council has paused data-center construction as the city drafts regulations, following a public hearing that drew concerns about limited room for residents to attend and speak.
-
Federal court permanently blocks challenged election-order provisions in Nevada-led case
Nevada and California co-led a multistate lawsuit that won a permanent injunction against several provisions of a presidential election executive order, according to the Nevada Attorney General’s Office.
-
Montgomery confirms candidates for Sept. 1 District 3 special election
Montgomery has announced the final qualified candidate list for the Sept. 1 special election to fill the vacant City Council District 3 seat.
-
Augusta posts 2026 election information as candidate qualification nears
Augusta-Richmond County’s official election materials set an Aug. 17-21, 2026 qualification window for candidates for mayor, State Court judge and the Augusta Commission.