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2017
Sept. 22, 2017, 6:48 p.m.
Did you know that you may have to vote again in your primary if no candidate gets more than half the votes? If not, you may want to find out if this applies to you.
For example, there’s been such a close race for Jeff Sessions’ vacant Senate seat in Alabama that the Republican primary in August did not determine a winner. A primary runoff between the top two Republican candidates, Roy Moore and Luther Strange, is scheduled for September 26.
In over 115 races that Vote Smart has already tracked in 2017, we have encountered other unconventional election practices that voters may not be aware of. Earlier this month, Mississippi held a nonpartisan primary election for its State House Dist. 102 seat that will be determined by a runoff election in October.
Most Americans participate in a first-past-the-post system where winners in primaries and general elections are decided by a “plurality”—the candidate with the most votes wins. Several cities and states across the nation, however, have adopted alternative election methods. Read on for a brief explanation of the unique election practices that are currently used at the state and federal levels.
Sept. 5, 2017, 9:59 p.m.
From "fire and fury", to "locked and loaded", and most recently "All options are on the table", the President has had some tough and controversial words for Kim Jong-Un and North Korea after several Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) tests and now a hydrogen bomb test. Some critics worry that these words have worsened the rising tensions with North Korea; other critics simply worry that Twitter may not be the best outlet to issue these statements. Those who defend him feel that Trump’s words should reflect North Korea’s actions.
While members of Congress have debated the President’s statements, sanctions on North Korea have been strongly supported in both the Capitol and the White House in 2017. Following nuclear tests, the death of Otto Warmbier, and sanctions on North Korea, we’ve seen that tensions between the US and North Korea have only continued to snowball.
This snowball has been rolling for far longer than 2017, however--while Americans threw literal snowballs celebrating New Year’s Day, Kim Jong-un issued a statement about his nuclear plans--setting the tone for the rest of the year. Skip forward 6 months and several missile tests and we arrive at another holiday--the 4th of July. As Americans launched fireworks in their backyards, North Korea celebrated by testing its first ICBM.
To visualize the series of events that followed, we have compiled a timeline below outlining the rising tensions between the US and North Korea since the launch and the statements made and actions taken as a result.
July 10, 2017, 7:21 p.m.
Republicans win five of the seven races in June, seats remain virtually unchanged. President Trump talks foreign policy.
2016
Sept. 9, 2016, 3 p.m.
Widely considered the most significant financial regulatory reform since the Great Depression, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) instantly became a debated political battle in Washington.
Aug. 18, 2016, 4:40 p.m.
Daily fantasy sports is a concept that is as tricky to say as it is to understand. It exists in a legal gray area that has remained unregulated for years. Recently, after several scandals that brought widespread public attention, legislators have attempted to define and regulate the practice.
Aug. 16, 2016, 3:01 p.m.
One of the most contentious issues in 2016 has been the question of gun control.
Aug. 1, 2016, 2:06 p.m.
Some legislators are beginning to act on the task of increasing the minimum wage, while others are actively trying to stop the increases.
May 17, 2016, 4:21 p.m.
Multiple “religious freedom” bills are currently capturing the attention of state legislatures across the country. “Religious freedom” bills are proposed legislation that call for religious organizations, businesses, and individuals to be protected from penalties for declining to provide services to individuals whose lifestyle conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs.
2014
Oct. 27, 2014, 5:54 p.m.
Today, Vote Smart released the results of the National Political Courage Test to VoteEasy at VoteSmart.org, giving North Carolina voters an invaluable resource for identifying their best political match November 4th. Twenty-two of the congressional and state legislative candidates passed the 2014 Political Courage Test.
Oct. 27, 2014, 5:33 p.m.
Today, Vote Smart released the results of the National Political Courage Test to VoteEasy at VoteSmart.org, giving Illinois voters an invaluable resource for identifying their best political match November 4th. Thirteen congressional, state legislative and gubernatorial candidates passed the 2014 Political Courage Test.
Oct. 27, 2014, 4:41 p.m.
Today, Vote Smart released the results of the National Political Courage Test to VoteEasy at VoteSmart.org, giving North Dakota voters an invaluable resource for identifying their best political match November 4th. Five of the congressional and state legislative candidates passed the 2014 Political Courage Test.
2013
April 19, 2013, 10:31 p.m.
After Wednesday's vote in the Senate on President Obama's proposed gun bill, the Internet was rife with mixed emotions.
Feb. 28, 2013, 4:27 p.m.
Immigration: it's an issue that's been on the minds of a lot of prominent people involved in politics lately.
Feb. 26, 2013, 5:09 p.m.
Six days after Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty to the misuse of campaign funds, voters in his long-held district go the polls to begin the process of finding a replacement.
Jan. 28, 2013, 6:40 p.m.
With new technology comes new debates and in 2012 many state legislatures attempted to regulate a relatively new industry they did not know much about.
Jan. 25, 2013, 7:05 p.m.
Throughout the past decade there has been a national trend of legislation on bullying.
2012
Dec. 1, 2012, 2:47 a.m.
Are you a student or recent graduate interested in contributing to Project Vote Smart's mission of providing factual, free and unbiased information on your elected officials? Then our National Internship Program is for you!
Nov. 28, 2012, 5:32 p.m.
The North Carolina General Assembly has biennial sessions with a regular long session in odd years and a short session held on even years.
Nov. 19, 2012, 10:23 p.m.
Over the past few years, the country has witnessed an abundance of legislation on both the state and national levels regarding same-sex marriage.
Sept. 28, 2012, 9:04 p.m.
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June 12, 2012, 6:53 p.m.
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May 23, 2012, 8:24 p.m.
Every election year, Project Vote Smart uses the Political Courage Test (PCT) to measure the willingness of candidates to provide their positions on key issues. Find out now if your candidates are currently being tested.
April 24, 2012, 2:45 p.m.
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2011
2009
July 29, 2009, 8:31 p.m.
2008
Feb. 1, 2008, 5:30 a.m.
