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Welcome to the Thursday, April 2, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Coronavirus update: Governments release some prison inmates due to the coronavirus outbreak
- Join the Ballotpedia Coffee Club
- Local Roundup
Updates on stories related to the coronavirus outbreak are current through Wednesday afternoon. Click here for the latest news.
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Coronavirus update: Governments release some prison inmates due to the coronavirus outbreak
Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage on how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. Our coverage includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and the effects those responses are having on campaigns and elections. Across the country, state and local governments have had a variety of responses with respect to jail and prison populations. The coronavirus outbreak has prompted state and local governments to release certain inmates early in an effort to slow the virus’ spread.
Ten states have taken steps at the state level to reduce their jail and prison populations so far. Recent actions include:
- Attorneys for California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Tuesday that inmates will be granted early release to reduce the prison population in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus within the state’s prison system. The state is considering releasing inmates who are serving terms for nonviolent crimes and were due to be released within 60 days. Releases will occur over the next few weeks.
- In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed an executive order on March 26 granting the director of the Department of Corrections "authority to release people within 180 days of their parole eligibility date, and suspended limits on awarding earned time, to allow for earlier release dates."
- So far, one governor, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) of Texas, has prohibited the release of specific populations due to the coronavirus. In his March 29 executive order, Abbott barred the release of inmates accused or previously convicted of violent crimes without paying bail.
Find out how your state is handling the release of inmates here.
Here are some other notable coronavirus-related updates since Wednesday's Brew:
- The Alabama legislature approved the suspension of all legislative activity through April 28.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued an executive order closing nonessential businesses and requiring individuals to remain in their homes except for essential activities. The order is effective from April 2 through April 30. It does not impact schools in the state, which were already closed through May 1.
- Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) issued a stay-at-home order effective from April 2 to April 30. Although schools in Maine had handled closures at a local level, this order extended closures statewide through April 30.
- Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) issued a stay-at-home order effective from April 1 to April 30. This also extended the statewide school closure from April 16 to April 30.
- Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) applied his previous stay-at-home order to the entire state. Wolf had extended his original stay-at-home order to 26 counties on March 30.
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) extended the closure of the state's schools from April 3 to May 4.
- West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (R) issued Executive Order 18-20, postponing West Virginia's statewide primary election from May 12 to June 9.
- Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General Hannah Jurss stated in a legal brief in a federal lawsuit seeking postponement of the state's April 7 election that Governor Tony Evers (D) would deploy members of the National Guard as poll workers to meet staffing needs at election sites.
- Judge William Conley, of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, conducted a video conference March 31 with attorneys involved in a lawsuit over the administration of the state’s election. According to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Conley indicated he did not think he could change the election date but believed he could offer significant other help for voters."
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Join the Ballotpedia Coffee Club
With much of the country engaged in some form of quarantine, this is the perfect time to try out a home-delivery coffee service. Coincidentally, we’ve been working on a co-branded program for a few months and it just so happens to be ready for release.
As readers of The Daily Brew, I already know that you enjoy the blend of coffee and politics. That's why I am excited to share the newest pairing of the two: The Ballotpedia Coffee Club. We’re teaming up with the coffee subscription service MistoBox to bring fresh coffee deliveries to your door and even more political information to your inbox.
Joining the Coffee Club is as easy as signing up for The Daily Brew. First, click the link below to answer a few questions about your coffee preferences and delivery schedule. Then, MistoBox will ship you a 12oz bag of freshly roasted coffee selected based on your answers. With each monthly shipment, you'll get an email with timely, nonpartisan political information, including primary election and voter registration reminders.
We’re making it simple to stay caffeinated and up-to-date on politics during this busy election year. Coffee Club members can feel good knowing a portion of their purchase goes to support Ballotpedia as we work to build the encyclopedia of American politics.
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Local Roundup
Over the last two days in the Brew, we’ve previewed Wisconsin’s state supreme court, presidential preference primary, and ballot measure elections. There are also local municipal and judicial elections in the state on April 7. Wisconsin's elections are expected to proceed as scheduled.
Milwaukee is holding general elections for mayor, city attorney, city comptroller, city treasurer, and all fifteen common council members. Incumbent Tom Barrett was first elected mayor in 2004 and has been re-elected three times since. He is running against Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor (D), who has served in the state legislature since 2003. Barrett finished first in Milwaukee's mayoral primary February 18 with 50% of the vote. Taylor finished second in the primary, receiving 31%. Although Milwaukee’s municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, Barrett was previously elected to the U.S. House and the state legislature as a Democrat.
Thirteen of 15 Milwaukee Common Council (the city council) members are running for re-election, and five of them are unopposed. Incumbents Grant Langley and Spencer Coggs are running for re-election for city attorney and city treasurer, respectively. The election for city comptroller is an open-seat race as incumbent Martin Matson did not seek re-election.
Milwaukee County is holding general elections for county executive, county comptroller, all 18 seats on the county board supervisors, and eight judges on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. State Assemblyman David Crowley (D) and state Senator Chris Larson (D) are running to succeed incumbent county executive Chris Abele, who is not running for re-election. Thirteen incumbents on the county board supervisors are running for re-election and all are unopposed.
Dane County is holding general elections for all 37 members of the county board of supervisors and a circuit court judgeship. Twenty-six incumbent supervisors are running for re-election with 24 of them running unopposed. Only five of 37 board of supervisors districts feature contested general elections.
Anchorage is holding an all-mail general election for six city assembly districts, two school board seats, 15 special district seats, and 13 local ballot measures. Voting in these races ends April 7. Municipal elections in Anchorage are officially nonpartisan. Five incumbent city assembly members are running for election and only one is unopposed. Among the ballot questions are measures that would:
- levy a 5% tax on alcoholic beverage retail sales and dedicate revenue from the tax for specific purposes.
- permit licensed retail marijuana stores to allow inhaling or smoking marijuana, in addition to eating marijuana edibles, within specified areas.
- increase the size of the city assembly from 11 to 12 members.
The coronavirus outbreak has not affected this election since there is no in-person voting. Election officials mailed ballots to registered voters March 17. Voters can return their ballot at one of 18 secure drop boxes or at the Anchorage Vote Center in city hall. Voters wishing to mail their ballot must have it postmarked by April 7 and it must be received by election officials by noon on April 17.
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