From Doug Chapin:
+ The day had typical, isolated excitement but all in all the election system worked – as usual. The award for the jurisdiction who had the worst day was undoubtedly Durham, NC where morning problems led to polling extensions in a few precincts and a long night entering returns.
+ It was a mixed bag for incumbent Secretaries of State as Washington’s Kim Wyman was leading in her re-election bid while West Virginia’s Natalie Tennant was defeated by challenger Mac Warner.
+ There are also four new Secretaries of State: Jay Ashcroft in Missouri, Cory Stapleton in Montana, Maggie Toulouse Oliver in New Mexico and Dennis Richardson in Oregon.
+ In Florida, Mark Earley was elected election supervisor in Leon County, Alan Hays in Lake County and Sharon Harrington was unseated by Tommy Doyle in Lee County.
+ Alaska voted to link voter registration to the Alaska Permanent Fund.
+ Maine voted to approve ranked-choice voting.
+ Missouri voted to amend the state constitution to require voter ID.
From Every Voice:
- Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved a measure to reinstate contribution limits for state elections (though they unfortunately also supported a restrictive voter ID measure).
- In Multnomah County, Oregon, a contribution limits measure won with 88 percent of the vote.
- South Dakota voters approved IM-22 to increase transparency, reduce the power of lobbyists, strengthen enforcement measures, and empower everyday people through a small-dollar voucher program. The initiative faced stiff opposition from the Koch-backed group there.
- Voters in Berkeley, Calif. approved a measure to create a small-donor matching system for elections.
- Voters in Howard County, Md. approved a charter amendment that will now allow the county council to create a small donor program like neighboring Montgomery County passed a couple years ago. Council members are ready to go.
- Voters in Washington State approved an anti-Citizens United resolution.
- Voters in California appear poised to do the same, but it is one of several initiatives not officially called yet.
- In Speaker Paul Ryan’s home of Rock County, Wisc., 86 percent of voters approved an anti-Citizens United resolution. Several other communities in the state approved similar measures last night.
- Rhode Island approved an ethics reform initiative.
- In Alaska, voters will now be automatically registered to vote when they file their personal dividend fund form.
- Maine voters approved ranked-choice voting.