A menos de 60 días de las elecciones primarias de Pensilvania, un grupo no partidista está acelerando el ritmo para educar a las personas sobre el voto por correo y en ausencia. La boleta por correo, rediseñada, debutará en todo el estado en abril, para más de ocho millones de votantes registrados. Los materiales electorales tienen un código de barras, por lo que no se puede identificar a ningún votante individual, dice Jessica Myers de la Liga de Mujeres Votantes de Pensilvania. La nueva boleta tiene gráficos e instrucciones actualizadas para ayudar a los votantes a comprender el proceso de envío por correo.

"El sobre secreto tiene un fondo amarillo con una especie de marca de agua de color gris azulado que dice "Boleta Oficial Secreta". Hay algunos códigos de colores e instrucciones adicionales en el exterior del sobre, incluido dónde está la declaración de los votantes. Está preescrito con un '2-0', para que haya menos personas escribiendo sus fechas de nacimiento," mencionó también Myers.

Myers agrega que es recomendable que escriba la fecha en la que votó en la boleta antes de enviarla por correo o dejarlo en un buzón. Los habitantes de Pensilvania deben ser votantes registrados para solicitar una boleta por correo. La fecha límite para registrarse para votar es el 8 de abril y las solicitudes de boletas por correo deben recibirse antes del 16 de abril. Después de que el votante la complete y la envíe por correo, la boleta debe recibirse antes de las 8 p. m., hora del este, el día de las elecciones.

La directora ejecutiva de la Liga de Mujeres Votantes de Pensilvania, Amy Widestrom, dice que la integridad del voto es una prioridad absoluta y sostiene que el proceso electoral en Pensilvania es seguro. Añade que en elecciones anteriores, los análisis de más de 31 millones de votos emitidos no encontraron ninguna incidencia significativa de fraude electoral.

"Creo que solo se encontraron 21. La mayor parte de ellos fueron errores. La gente simplemente pensó que estaban votando en el lugar correcto, pero no fue así. Solo hubo cinco incidentes de intento real de fraude electoral entre 31 millones de votos emitidos. Por lo tanto, el fraude electoral no suele ser un problema," enfatizó además Widestrom.

Widestrom agrega que los votantes no están permanentemente en las listas de votación por correo o en ausencia, pero para permanecer en ellas durante el año, los residentes deben devolver el formulario de solicitud. Si no lo hacen, entonces el votante debe solicitar una boleta por correo o en ausencia para cada elección específica. La Liga también tiene un sitio web, 'Vote 411.org', donde las personas pueden ver una boleta de muestra antes de dirigirse a las urnas o enviarla por correo.

Texas lawmakers will return to Austin on July 21 for a special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott.

The 18 items on the agenda include redrawing congressional maps. Redistricting usually occurs every 10 years, following the census, but Abbott added the item to the agenda after the Department of Justice drew attention to four Democratic seats.

Christina Sanders, founder of the nonprofit PoliChic Engagement Fund, said Texas maps are already caught up in litigation.

"Some of the court cases that are still even pending from the maps that have not been drawn fairly and the potential impact of new maps in the middle of a census cycle," Sanders explained.

The Biden administration sued Texas, alleging the state's legislative and congressional district maps discriminate against Latino and Black voters. The Justice Department, under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the lawsuit earlier this year.

The seats targeted by the Justice Department are held by Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, and Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas. They are also focused on the vacant seat previously held by late Congressman Sylvester Turner. Following the 2023 legislative session, Abbott called four special sessions to pass a school voucher bill, which failed.

Sanders feels Abbott is using special sessions to push personal agendas.

"A special session would be for something like the flood that just occurred," Sanders argued. "It would be something that there is an emergency -- something immediate needs to happen at this moment -- because this policy for the state cannot wait."

Flood warning systems and communication are also on the agenda, along with hemp and THC legislation and changes to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test.

With the Independence Day holiday weekend here, North Dakotans might be out at parades, fireworks shows and barbecues. However, new polling indicates that many Americans are struggling to feel optimistic about the state of the country.

A new Gallup survey shows 58% of U.S. adults say they're proud to be an American. While there are some partisan splits, the overall percentage is a record low for the annual poll question.

Barbara Headrick, president of the League of Women Voters of North Dakota, said it's not surprising, given the sharp divides between the two major parties. But she feels there's something else at play.

"There is still an after effect, I believe, from the pandemic from that separation from each other that we had," she said.

That the pandemic was so politicized is another complicating factor that prevented the country from healing, Headrick said, adding that it's understandable some Americans are very concerned about various rights being taken away. However, she noted the U.S. has deep flaws throughout its history, and there are still many more rights afforded today than in past decades.

If heated rhetoric clouding U.S. politics has got you down, Headrick said, you can still show American pride through actions.

"Find a way to love your country by making it better," she said.

Headrick said it can involve showing support for civil workers or volunteering at a local homeless or animal shelter. She added that expressing pride through elections doesn't just involve voting, noting that there are opportunities to stay informed about how your local government is addressing pressing issues, such as affordable housing.


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A new Indiana law, starting today, allows school board candidates to list their political affiliation on the ballot.

Candidates may choose to register with a political party, as independents or not disclose any affiliation. Those who do not select will have a blank space next to their name and straight-ticket voting will not apply to school board races. Those opposed to the new law said it injects unnecessary politics into a role traditionally focused on education.

Leslie Jacobs, a school board member for the Fayette County School Corporation in Connersville, is against the new law.

"In my 10 years, I couldn't tell you the political leanings of anybody on my board. Never comes up," Jacobs explained. "Our discussions are purely about educational opportunities, picking a superintendent, looking at budget."

She warned requiring party labels might discourage qualified candidates from running. Supporters of the new law said it increases transparency.

Jennifer Blackburn, a school board member for the East Allen County Schools near Fort Wayne, also opposes the new law.

"The scenario that there are four candidates potentially running and three are Democrat, one is a Republican -- this last school board election -- none of us were opposed," Blackburn pointed out. "As big as our county is, there are not a lot of people running."

The law will first affect school board elections in November.


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