Seven states postpone elections for state, municipal offices

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We've compiled the stop stories in state and local politics this week. For the full version of _The State and Local Tap_, follow the link below.

Read the full Tap online ([link removed])

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** KANSAS CLOSES PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR REMAINDER OF YEAR
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Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly ([link removed]) (D) announced the closing of K-12 schools across the state from March 23 through May 31, effectively ending the school year. As of the 2016-2017 school year, Kansas public schools served 494,347 students. Following the announcement, several of the state’s largest districts announced that they would explore distance learning options for the remainder of the year.

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Several other states announced cancellations beyond their initial closures. Oregon extended its closure from March 31 to April 28, Florida extended its closure from March 30 to April 15, and Wisconsin announced its closure initially scheduled through April 5 would now last indefinitely.

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So far, 45 of 50 states ([link removed]) have ordered a statewide school closure. The remaining states are leaving school closures up to local officials. Those 45 states served 48.4 million students during the 2016-2017 school year, accounting for 95.7 percent of the 50.6 million public school students in the United States.

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** INDIANA POSTPONES STATEWIDE PRIMARY TO JUNE 2
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Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) postponed the state’s primary election from May 5, 2020, to June 2, 2020. Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson also said she was recommending that the state suspend absentee voting rules in place so that all voters can vote absentee.

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On Wednesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) announced that the state would postpone its primary runoff election, originally scheduled for March 31, 2020, to July 14, 2020. In response, Secretary of State John H. Merrill announced the following changes to voter registration and absentee voting deadlines for the primary runoff:

* Voter registration deadline: June 29, 2020
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Absentee ballot application deadline: July 9, 2020

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Absentee ballot submission deadline (hand-delivered and postmarked): July 13, 2020

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To date, seven states ([link removed]) have postponed primaries or elections for state and municipal offices in response to the coronavirus outbreak. 

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Alabama ([link removed]) : March 31, 2020, to July 14, 2020

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Kentucky ([link removed]) : May 19, 2020, to June 23, 2020

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Indiana ([link removed]) : May 5, 2020, to June 2, 2020

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Maryland ([link removed]) : April 28, 2020, to June 2, 2020

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Missouri ([link removed]) : Municipal elections scheduled for April 7, 2020, postponed to June 2, 2020

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Ohio ([link removed]) : March 17, 2020, to June 2, 2020 (presidential and congressional primary)

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South Carolina ([link removed]) : Municipal elections scheduled for March or April suspended to sometime after May 1, 2020

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** KANSAS, PENNSYLVANIA, WASHINGTON AMONG STATES SUSPENDING IN-PERSON JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
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Supreme Courts in Kansas ([link removed]) , Pennsylvania ([link removed]) , and Washington ([link removed]) issued orders on Wednesday, March 18, suspending in-person proceedings statewide due to the coronavirus pandemic. As of March 19, thirty-two states have canceled juries, trials, and hearings to limit exposure to the disease.

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Arizona ([link removed]) and New Jersey ([link removed]) each amended the scope of their original orders. In Arizona, the state supreme court extended the period for rescheduling juries from March 31 to April 17. In New Jersey, the state supreme court extended its original order to suspend municipal courts for two weeks to include superior court proceedings, except in emergency situations.

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So far, 48 out of 50 states have enacted measures to minimize interaction with the public on a state or local level.

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** GEORGIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AMONG ELECTED OFFICIALS ANNOUNCING SELF-QUARANTINE 
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Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan ([link removed]) (R) announced a decision to self-quarantine after learning that state Sen. Brandon Beach ([link removed]) (R) tested positive for the virus. As a result, Georgia State Senate ([link removed]) members have been advised by the commissioner of public health to self-quarantine for two weeks.

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Four local officials from Wichita, Kansas, also entered a self-quarantine. Mayor Brandon Whipple ([link removed]) (D) and city council members Brandon Johnson ([link removed])) , Becky Tuttle ([link removed]) , and James Clendenin ([link removed]) announced their decision after attending a conference in Washington D.C. where at least two attendees later reported a positive diagnosis.

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To date, at least three state lawmakers, one mayor ([link removed]) , and two city council members have been diagnosed with the virus. 

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Click here ([link removed]) to read about more state and local officials that quarantined or tested for coronavirus.

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** HEARING ON COLORADO BALLOT INITIATIVES CANCELED, DELAYING SIGNATURE-GATHERING APPROVAL PROCESS
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The Colorado Title Board ([link removed]) 's meeting for March 18, 2020, was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting was rescheduled for March 25, 2020. The Colorado Title Board is responsible for determining whether a proposed citizen-initiated measure complies with the state's single-subject rule and developing a ballot title for the measure. Campaigns cannot begin collecting signatures for ballot initiatives without a ballot title. Seventeen initiative filings, including some different versions of the same proposal, were pending a hearing by the title board as of March 19. The signature deadline for initiatives to qualify for the November ballot in Colorado is August 3.

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** WASHINGTON LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION
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On March 19, 2020, Washington’s lieutenant governor Cyrus Habib (D) announced that he will not seek re-election and instead leave politics to join the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order.

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Habib was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 2012 and to the state Senate in 2014. Habib was elected lieutenant governor of Washington on November 8, 2016. 

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Washington’s lieutenant gubernatorial election ([link removed]) will take place on November 3, 2020. The primary is scheduled for August 4, 2020. The filing deadline is May 15, 2020. Current contenders for the position include Republican Joseph Brumbles and C. Mark Greene of the Citizen’s Party.

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** INITIATIVE PETITION DRIVE SUSPENDED FOR BAY AREA TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX INITIATIVE
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FASTER Bay Area announced in a statement that it was no longer aiming to put a sales tax increase initiative to fund public transportation before San Francisco Bay Area voters in November. The statement read, "With the global threat of COVID-19 hitting our community hard, we have had to re-evaluate our plans. Considering the uncertainty of the legislative season, the urgent need to focus all our attention on immediate challenge of COVID-19 and the complexity of what we are trying to accomplish with FASTER, it has been determined that we need to push out beyond the 2020 election cycle and continue our efforts on a different time frame.”

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Click here ([link removed]) to read about more ballot measure-related coronavirus pandemic news.

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** ILLINOIS HOLDS JUDICIAL, STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIMARIES 
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Illinois held a primary ([link removed]) on March 17, 2020, for the state Senate, state House, state supreme court, and state appellate court. The general election will be held November 3, 2020. The filing deadline was December 2, 2019.

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Twenty of the 59 Illinois State Senate ([link removed]) seats are up for regular election in 2020. Three Democratic primaries and nine Republican primaries for those seats were canceled after no candidates filed. Of the 17 Democratic primaries that were on the ballot, six were contested races and 11 were uncontested races with only one candidate. Of the 11 Republican primaries that were on the ballot, two were contested races, and nine were uncontested races with only one candidate. All 14 Democratic state Senate incumbents who ran for re-election advanced to the general election. No Republican state Senate incumbents ran for re-election in 2020.

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Illinois also held a special primary election ([link removed]) for the District 11 seat in the state Senate on March 17. Democrat Celina Villanueva, who was appointed to the seat in January 2020, was the only candidate to file and advanced to the November 3 special general election.

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All 118 seats in the Illinois House of Representatives ([link removed]) are up for election in 2020. Sixteen Democratic primaries and 56 Republican primaries for those seats were canceled after no candidates filed. Of the 102 Democratic primaries that were on the ballot, 22 had contested races. The other 80 were uncontested races with only one candidate. Of the 62 Republican primaries that were on the ballot, eight had contested races. The other 54 were uncontested races with only one candidate. Nine state House incumbents—three Democrats and six Republicans—did not run for re-election in 2020. Of the 109 incumbents who ran for re-election, 107 advanced to the general election. Democratic incumbents Yehiel Kalish and Yoni Pizer lost their primaries. Both had been appointed to their positions, meaning this was their first election.

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Two Illinois Supreme Court ([link removed]) seats were on the primary ballot on March 17. The Republican primary for the 1st District race was canceled after no candidates filed. Incumbent P. Scott Neville advanced from the Democratic primary, defeating six opponents. In the Republican primary for the 5th District race, David K. Overstreet defeated John B. Barberis Jr. for a place on the general election ballot. He will face Judy Cates, who advanced from the Democratic primary after running uncontested.

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The Illinois Appellate Court ([link removed]) also held primaries on March 17 for three seats. The Republican primaries for the 1st Division and 3rd Division seats on the 1st District Appellate Court were canceled as no candidates filed. The results of the Democratic primaries for those seats were pending as of March 19, 2020. In the Republican primary for the 5th District Appellate Court, Mark M. Boie defeated Katherine Ruocco. He will face Sarah Smith, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the November 3 general election.

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Ballotpedia also covered primary elections in Cook County ([link removed]) on March 17. The offices up for election included clerk of the circuit court, county state's attorney, county board of review commissioner, county water reclamation district board member, circuit court judgeships, and subcircuit court judgeships.

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In the Cook County state's attorney Democratic primary ([link removed]) , incumbent Kim Foxx defeated three challengers. With 97% of precincts reporting, Foxx received 50.2% of the vote. Bill Conway followed with 31.3%.

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Illinois has a Democratic state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers. Democrats have a 40-19 majority in the state Senate and a 73-44 majority in the state House. Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker was first elected to office in 2018.

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** INITIATIVE PETITION DRIVE SUSPENDED FOR CRIMINAL HISTORY AND SENTENCING INITIATIVE IN OKLAHOMA
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Sarah Edwards, president of Oklahomans for Sentencing Reform, announced, "Effective immediately, Yes on 805 will suspend all of its public activities, including signature gathering. The health and safety of our signature collectors and the public at large is our number one priority. We are doing our part to protect and support our communities by taking steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We’re confident in the status of the campaign and the strength of our movement, and look forward to fulfilling the will of Oklahoma voters by filing the signatures needed to put State Question 805 ([link removed]) on the 2020 ballot.” 

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The deadline to file signatures for ballot initiatives is September 4, 2020.

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Click here ([link removed]) to read about more ballot measure-related coronavirus pandemic news.  

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** RECLAIM IDAHO ENDS INITIATIVE SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN
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Reclaim Idaho ended its signature petition drive for an initiative ([link removed])) to increase the income tax rate for individuals with incomes above $250,000, increase the corporate income tax rate, and create and fund the Quality Education Fund. 

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The group said in a statement, "The very nature of the ballot initiative process requires one-on-one contact with thousands of voters, which is contrary to the advice and guidance being given by scientists and health officials all over the country." 

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Reclaim Idaho asked the state for permission to collect electronic signatures. Marissa Morrison Hyer, a spokesperson for Gov. Brad Little, responded, "Idaho statute does not allow for the suspension of rules regarding the physical collection of signatures, even in times of emergency." Signatures can be collected through April 30, 2020. 

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Click here ([link removed]) to read about more ballot measure-related coronavirus pandemic news.

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** CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD FOR STATE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE PASSES IN MAINE, COLORADO, AND UTAH
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The filing deadline ([link removed]) to run for elected office passed this week in Maine, Colorado, and Utah. Maine’s filing deadline was March 16, Colorado’s was March 17, and Utah’s was March 19.

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In Maine ([link removed]) , prospective candidates could file for the following state offices:

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State Senate (35 seats)

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State House (151 seats)

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In Colorado ([link removed]) , prospective candidates could file for the following state offices:

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State Board of Education (3 seats)

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State Board of Regents (3 seats)

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State Senate (18 seats)

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State House (65 seats)

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In Utah ([link removed]) , prospective candidates could file for the following state offices:

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State Senate (15 seats)

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State House (75 seats)

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Governor

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Lieutenant Governor

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Attorney General

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Auditor

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Treasurer 

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State Board of Education (8 seats)

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Maine, Colorado, and Utah’s statewide filing deadlines are the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th to take place in the 2020 election cycle. The next statewide filing deadline is on March 26, 2020, in Virginia.

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Maine and Colorado have Democratic state government trifectas, while Utah has a Republican state government trifecta. A trifecta ([link removed]) exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers.

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** BALLOT MEASURES UPDATE
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** 2020:
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Seventy-three statewide measures ([link removed]) in 29 states have been certified for the 2020 ballot so far.

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Eighteen of the certified measures are citizen-initiated measures. Fifty-four are legislative referrals. One is an automatic constitutional revision commission question.

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Three measures were on the March 3 ballot, one is on the April 7 ballot in Wisconsin, and the remaining 69 are on the November ballot.

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Three new measures were certified for the 2020 ballot last week, all of which were referred to the ballot by state legislators:

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Maryland Legislative Authority over State Budget Amendment (2020) ([link removed])

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Maine Transportation Infrastructure Bond Issue (June 2020) ([link removed])

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Maine High-Speed Internet Infrastructure Bond Issue (June 2020) ([link removed])

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Proponents of three additional ballot initiatives ([link removed]) in Alaska, Colorado, and Michigan submitted signatures, which are pending verification by state officials.

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** SPECIAL ELECTIONS
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So far this year, 37 state legislative special elections ([link removed]) have been scheduled in 18 states. Special elections have been held for 22 seats so far; heading into those races, Democrats had previously controlled 10 of the seats while Republicans previously controlled 12. One seat has flipped from Democratic control to Republican control. One seat has flipped from Republican control to Democratic control.

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In special elections between 2011 and 2019, one party (either Republicans or Democrats) saw an average net gain of four seats nationally each year.

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An average of 55 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past five even years (2010 ([link removed]) : 26, 2012 ([link removed]) : 45, 2014 ([link removed]) : 40, 2016 ([link removed]) : 65, 2018 ([link removed]) : 99).

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An average of 88 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past five odd years (2011 ([link removed]) : 94, 2013 ([link removed]) : 84, 2015 ([link removed]) : 88, 2017 ([link removed]) : 98, 2019 ([link removed]) : 77).

 
** UPCOMING SPECIAL ELECTIONS INCLUDE:
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March 31

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Massachusetts State Senate Second Hampden & Hampshire District ([link removed])

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Massachusetts State Senate Plymouth & Barnstable District ([link removed])

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Massachusetts House of Representatives Thirty-seventh Middlesex District ([link removed])

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Massachusetts House of Representatives Third Bristol District ([link removed])

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** STATES IN SESSION
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Thirteen states—Alabama, Alaska, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin—are in regular session ([link removed]) .
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