1. Comparing stances: Noteworthy presidential candidates on criminal justice
2. Explore Idaho elections
3. Explore Maryland elections

Comparing stances: Noteworthy presidential candidates on criminal justice

In this week’s feature comparing the four noteworthy presidential candidates’ stances on key issues, we’re looking at what the candidates say about criminal justice. As a reminder, to be considered noteworthy in the general election, candidates must appear on enough ballots to win a majority of the Electoral College.

In the past few weeks, we’ve also briefed our Brew readers on the candidates’ stances on abortion, China, DACA and Dreamers, and policing.

Joe Biden (D)

Joe Biden's campaign website lists the following criminal justice proposals: "Create a new $20 billion competitive grant program to spur states to shift from incarceration to prevention. Invest in educational opportunity for all. Expand federal funding for mental health and substance use disorder services and research. Expand and use the power of the U.S. Justice Department to address systemic misconduct in police departments and prosecutors’ offices. Establish an independent Task Force on Prosecutorial Discretion. Invest in public defenders’ offices to ensure defendants’ access to quality counsel. Eliminate mandatory minimums."

Howie Hawkins (G)

Howie Hawkins' campaign website lists the following positions on criminal and civil justice: "Monitor and Prosecute White Racist Terrorists. Federal Investigations of Local Police Misconduct. Community Control of the Police. End Mass Incarceration—Treat Drug Abuse as a Health Problem, Not a Criminal Problem. Legalize Marijuana. Decriminalize Personal Possession of Hard Drugs. Drug Treatment on Demand. Decriminalize Sex Work. Fight Corporate Crime. End Warrantless Mass Surveillance. Pardon Whistle Blowers and Political Prisoners.”

Jo Jorgensen (L)

Jo Jorgensen’s answers to a series of questions regarding criminal justice are summarized below. Click here to view the full questionnaire.

Jorgensen's campaign website states that communities should determine whether police officers are required to wear body cameras. She opposes the government hiring private companies to run prisons, solitary confinement for juveniles, mandatory minimums for people charged with drug possession, and the death penalty for drug traffickers. Her campaign website says convicted criminals should have the right to vote.

Donald Trump (R)

Donald Trump's campaign website states: "President Donald J. Trump and the Department of Justice are working with local law enforcement to protect American communities. The Department of Justice announced more than $98 million in grant funding through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services COPS Hiring Program to allow 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers. The Trump Administration expanded Project Safe Neighborhoods to encourage U.S. Attorney’s [sic] to work with communities to develop customized crime reduction strategies. The Department of Justice returned to their longstanding charging policy for federal prosecutors, trusting them once again to charge the most serious, readily provable offense."

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Explore Idaho elections

Continuing our 50 States in 25 Days series, today we’re looking at Idaho and Maryland. Here are the states we've highlighted so far, along with a map below summarizing the series:

• Alabama & Arkansas
• California & Texas
• North Carolina & Mississippi
• Illinois & Ohio
• Nebraska & Oregon
• Iowa & South Dakota
• Indiana & Pennsylvania

On the ballot in Idaho

At the federal level, Idaho voters will elect four presidential electors, one U.S. Senator, and two U.S. Representatives. All 35 seats in the state Senate and all 70 state House districts are on the ballot. Voters will also decide on one statewide ballot measure. Ballotpedia is tracking local elections taking place in Ada County.

Partisan data

• In 2016, Donald Trump (R) defeated Hillary Clinton (D) 59% to 28% in Idaho. Lyndon Johnson was the last Democrat to win the state in a presidential election in 1964.
• Idaho is one of 16 states without a Pivot County. Pivot Counties voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and Donald Trump (R) in 2016.
• Both of Idaho’s U.S. Senators—Mike Crapo and Jim Risch—are Republicans.
• Republicans represent both of the state’s U.S. House districts.
• Idaho’s governor, attorney general, and secretary of state are all Republicans, meaning it is one of 19 states with a Republican triplex. It has held this status since 1995.
• Republicans hold a 28-7 majority in the state Senate and a 56-14 majority in the state House. Because the governor is also a Republican, Idaho is one of 21 states with a Republican trifecta. Republicans gained a trifecta when they won the governorship in the 1994 elections.

Battleground races

Ballotpedia has not identified any battleground races in Idaho this year.

Ballot measures

• The Idaho Legislature referred one constitutional amendment to the Nov. 3 ballot. The amendment would remove language in the state constitution that allows the legislature to have between 30 and 35 districts and, instead, require the state to have 35 state legislative districts as it currently does. If approved, the amendment would require voter approval of a constitutional amendment to make any future changes to the number of legislative districts in the state.

Voting

• Idaho allows any voter to cast a ballot via absentee/mail-in voting.
• Witnesses or notaries are not required to sign absentee/mail-in ballots in Idaho.
• Absentee/mail-in ballots can be returned in person or by mail. In both cases, ballots must be received by the time polls close on Nov. 3. Click here to check the status of your absentee/mail-in ballot.
• In 2018, mail-in ballots made up 11.9% of the total vote.
• Idaho requires all voters to present photo identification at the polls. To learn more about Idaho's voter ID requirements, click here. 
• Early voting opens on Oct. 19 and closes on Oct. 30.
• Polls in Idaho are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Idaho is split between the Pacific and Mountain time zones.
• Idaho election law states ballots can’t be counted until after polls close.

Explore Maryland elections

On the ballot in Maryland

At the federal level, Maryland voters will elect 10 presidential electors and eight U.S. Representatives. Three Maryland Court of Appeals justices and four Maryland Court of Special Appeals justices are up for retention election. Voters will also decide on two statewide ballot measures. Ballotpedia is tracking local elections taking place in Baltimore—including 11 local ballot measures—and in six Maryland school districts.

Partisan balance in Maryland

• In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) defeated Donald Trump (R) 60% to 34% in Maryland. The last Republican to win Maryland was George H.W. Bush in 1988.
• Both of Maryland’s U.S. Senators—Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen—are Democrats.
• Democrats represent seven of Maryland’s U.S. House districts and Republicans represent one.
• Maryland’s governor and secretary of state are Republicans, while its attorney general is a Democrat. Maryland is one of 14 states with divided control. It has held this status since the election of Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2015.
• Democrats hold a 32-15 majority in the state Senate and a 99-41 majority in the state House. Because the governor is a Republican, Maryland is one of 14 states with divided control. It has held this status since the election of Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in 2015.

Battleground races

Ballotpedia has not identified any battleground races in Maryland this year.

Ballot measures

• The Maryland Legislature referred two constitutional amendments to the Nov. 3 ballot.
• Question 1 would authorize the legislature to increase, decrease, or add items to the state budget as long as the changes did not make the budget exceed the total of the governor’s proposed budget.
• Question 2 would authorize sports betting at certain licensed facilities.

Voting

• In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ordered the state board of elections to automatically send request forms to all qualified voters in the general election.
• Witnesses or notaries are not required to sign absentee/mail-in ballots in Maryland.
• Absentee/mail-in ballots can be returned in person or by mail. If returned in person, ballots must be received by Nov. 3. If returned by mail, ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 13 Click here to check the status of your ballot.
• In 2018, mail-in ballots made up 4.8% of the total vote.
• Maryland does not require all voters to present ID at the polls. Select voters, however, may be required to present ID at the polls (e.g., first-time voters who registered by mail without submitting identification). For more information, see here.
• Early voting opens on Oct. 26 and closes on Nov. 2.
• Polls in Maryland are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Maryland is in the Eastern time zone.
• Maryland election law states ballots can begin to be counted on Nov. 1.

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