Special Election Archives | American Democracy Minute

Ohio Voters Defeat Republican Effort to Raise Citizen Ballot Initiative Passage to 60% in Pro-Voter Victory

August 9, 2023December 30, 2023

With an unofficial 57% to 43% margin, Ohio voters soundly defeated the effort by the Republican-majority legislature to raise the threshold for passage of citizen ballot initiatives. Issue one would have also required minimum numbers of qualifying signatures in 88 counties rather than the current 44.

Aug. 8 Referendum Changing Ohio’s Threshold for a Ballot Initiative to Win Holds a 112-Year-Old Precedent and Reproductive Rights in the Balance

August 1, 2023December 30, 2023

Early voting for Ohio’s Aug. 8th special election is robust, as voters consider raising the threshold for a ballot initiative to win to a 60% margin. At stake in Issue 1 is a 112-year-old precedent of a 50%+ 1 simple majority rule — and an attempt to derail a reproductive freedom ballot question slated for November’s election.

ADM for Aug. 16, 2022: Aug. 16 Alaska Primary Includes Special Election, Regular Primary, and Both Choose One & Ranked Choice Voting

August 15, 2022August 15, 2022

Alaska broke new ground in June with the first-ever “top-four” Congressional special primary to replace the late Rep. Don Young. This was the first time Alaskan’s used ranked choice voting, which winnowed down a field of 48 candidates to four, including former governor Sarah Palin, tech millionaire Nick Begich III, and legislator Mary Peltola. A fourth candidate dropped out.

American Democracy Minute for June 23, 2022: Forget Santa Claus; Alaska’s Special Election is Important as the Frontier for Election Reform

June 22, 2022June 22, 2022

You may have heard news reports about a special election in Alaska two weeks ago to replace U.S. Congressman Don Young, who died March 18th. Most press reports focused on the 48 candidates, including former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, and North Pole City Council member Santa Claus. But the next round of this election is more important for being a frontier in election reform.