DOJ subpoenas election officials in states Trump disputed
December 6, 2022 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith has subpoenaed local election officials in Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Pennsylvania, asking for communications with or involving former President Donald Trump, his 2020 campaign aides and a list of allies involved in his efforts to try to overturn the results of the election.
South Korean lawmakers raise concerns over Chinese voters
December 6, 2022 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Members of South Korea’s ruling conservative party have proposed a bill that would place tighter restrictions on the voting rights of foreign permanent residents in local elections, which they insist is necessary to protect the country’s democracy from being undermined by Chinese voters.
India PM Modi’s home state Gujarat votes in key local polls
December 1, 2022 GMTNEW DELHI (AP) — Voters in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat cast ballots Thursday in crucial local elections, a vote that is seen as a barometer of his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s popularity ahead of a 2024 general election in India.
Taiwan president resigns as party leader after election loss
November 26, 2022 GMTTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as head of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party following local election losses on Saturday in which voters chose the opposition Nationalist party in several major races across the self-ruled island.
Connecticut Democratic official sentenced for ballot fraud
November 15, 2022 GMTSTAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — The former chairperson of a local Democratic Party in Connecticut must serve two years' probation and pay a $35,000 fine for fraudulently submitting absentee applications and ballots for dozens of people without their knowledge during a local election.
Bahrain websites attacked as it holds parliamentary election
November 12, 2022 GMTDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahrain voted Saturday in a parliamentary and local election just hours after hackers targeted government websites in the island kingdom that is in the midst of a decade-long crackdown on dissent.
Republicans win several House races in New York City suburbs
November 9, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives notched several wins in New York City’s suburbs, seizing a seat in an area once considered safely Democratic, defending others and appearing on the verge of picking up additional wins in districts the party hasn't won in years.
New poll workers raising concerns in Michigan, other states
November 2, 2022 GMTLANSING, Mich. (AP) — A shortage of poll workers has concerned local election officials in some parts of the country as the midterm elections approach.
Wisconsin courts won’t change rules for absentee ballots
November 2, 2022 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin appeals court and a circuit judge this week shot down attempts backed by liberals seeking orders that local election clerks must accept absentee ballots that contain partial addresses of witnesses.
Ohio seeks to become latest state to ban noncitizen voting
October 31, 2022 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Republicans in Ohio are promoting a measure on the Nov.
Slovakian regional, mayoral elections back the status quo
October 30, 2022 GMTBRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — The results of regional and local elections in Slovakia released Sunday showed that voters didn't use the ballot to punish the coalition government of Prime Minister Eduard Heger for high inflation driven by soaring energy prices.
EXPLAINER: Why might live election results fluctuate?
October 26, 2022 GMTWhy might live election results fluctuate?
The short answer: People make typos sometimes.
As local election offices across the U.S. count millions of votes on election night, they share the results with polling firms, which transmit them to viewers watching live on their TV, laptop or phone screens.
Missouri begins no-excuse early voting under new ID law
October 25, 2022 GMTJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri voters for the first time Tuesday began casting ballots before Election Day without having to provide a reason why they couldn't wait to vote in-person at their assigned polling places.
Conspiracy pushers target races for local election posts
October 25, 2022 GMTHow Michael Flynn goes local to spread Christian nationalism
October 18, 2022 GMTVENICE, Fla. (AP) — It was less than three weeks before the Sarasota County, Florida, school board election when the former White House national security adviser weighed in on the local political race.
Officials: People going door to door looking for voter fraud
October 13, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Voters in at least four Oregon counties — Douglas, Klamath, Lane and Columbia — have complained to local election officials about people knocking on their doors, questioning residents and looking for evidence of 2020 voter fraud.
Wisconsin Elections Commission deadlocks on poll watchers
October 10, 2022 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission couldn't agree Monday on what to tell the state's local election officials about how to handle poll watchers, including where they can stand as people register to vote and check in to receive their ballots.
Cambodian court sets massive fine for top opposition figure
October 8, 2022 GMTPHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A court in Cambodia on Friday imposed a heavy fine on a leading opposition politician after finding him guilty of defamation for saying that nationwide local elections in June were unfair.
Judge refuses to allow partial absentee addresses, for now
October 7, 2022 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Dane County judge refused Friday to issue a temporary order that would allow local election clerks to accept partial witness addresses on absentee ballots.
Falsehoods, harassment stress local election offices in US
October 6, 2022 GMTCARROLLTON, Ohio (AP) — With early voting less than three weeks away, Nicole Mickley was staring down a daunting to-do list: voting machines to test, poll workers to recruit, an onslaught of public records requests to examine.
Nevada county’s plans to hand-count early ballots challenged
October 4, 2022 GMTRENO, Nev. (AP) — A rural county in Nevada where conspiracy theories about voting machines run deep is planning to start hand-counting its mail-in ballots two weeks before Election Day, a process that risks public release of early voting results.
Maryland court says mail-in ballot count can start Saturday
September 30, 2022 GMTROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — A Maryland appeals court has rejected a request by Maryland’s Republican gubernatorial nominee to delay counting of mail-in ballots that could start as soon as Saturday.
An order Thursday by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals denied an emergency request by lawyers for Dan Cox to halt a plan allowing the counting of mail-in ballots before Election Day.
Michigan lawmakers approve early absentee ballot processing
September 29, 2022 GMTLANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan election officials would begin processing absentee ballots two days before the Nov. 8 election under legislation approved Wednesday in hopes of avoiding delays in counting, with absentee voting expected to remain a popular option.
Missouri judge weighing lawsuits over photo ID law
September 23, 2022 GMTJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Attorneys argued in court Friday over two lawsuits challenging a new Missouri law on voter photo identification and civic engagement rules.
Judge: Maryland can start counting mail-in ballots earlier
September 23, 2022 GMTANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A Maryland judge granted an emergency petition on Friday filed by the Maryland State Board of Elections to enable the counting of mail-in ballots earlier than they were during the state's July primary.
Mail ballot fight persists in key states, sure to slow count
September 20, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump and his allies seized on the drawn-out vote processing and counting in Pennsylvania during the 2020 election to fuel his false claims that fraud cost him victory in the battleground state — and election officials worry that a replay could be on the horizon in November's crucial Senate and governor's races.
Breaches of voting machine data raise worries for midterms
September 16, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Sensitive voting system passwords posted online. Copies of confidential voting software available for download. Ballot-counting machines inspected by people not supposed to have access.
Milwaukee mayor’s support for vote campaign draws backlash
September 14, 2022 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — A new privately funded get-out-the-vote initiative in Wisconsin’s largest and most Democratic city has the support of Milwaukee’s mayor, but Republicans say it’s an attempt by Democrats to improperly bolster turnout in the narrowly divided battleground state.
Lawsuit on recreational pot in Missouri nears end
September 8, 2022 GMTJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lawyers for a Missouri woman suing to block a recreational marijuana ballot measure panned the top state election official's involvement and claimed the proposal is unconstitutionally broad during Thursday court arguments.
Guidance approved for disabled Wisconsin absentee voters
September 7, 2022 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission approved guidance Tuesday for local election clerks making clear that voters with disabilities can receive help from others when mailing or delivering absentee ballots.
Video fills in details on alleged Ga. election system breach
September 6, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Two months after the 2020 presidential election, a team of computer experts traveled to south Georgia to copy software and data from voting equipment in an apparent breach of a county election system.
Election staff abruptly quits, upending rural Texas county
August 22, 2022 GMTFREDERICKSBURG , Texas (AP) — Part of why Terry Hamilton says he abruptly left his job running elections deep in Texas wine country is by now a familiar story in America: He became fed up with the harassment that followed the 2020 election.
Conspiracies complicate voting machine debate in Louisiana
August 13, 2022 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The need for Louisiana to replace its voting machines is not in dispute.
They are badly outdated — deployed in 2006, the year after Hurricane Katrina struck -- and do not produce paper ballots that are critical to ensuring election results are accurate.
Cambodia court charges opposition politician with defamation
August 11, 2022 GMTPHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A leading Cambodian opposition politician who publicly complained about alleged unfairness in June local elections has been charged with defamation, his lawyer said Thursday.
Arizona county that saw election snafu to waive city costs
August 11, 2022 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona county where the Aug. 2 primary election was beset with multiple issues that led to the firing of its election director will waive the costs for running municipal elections in 11 cities and towns and plans to hire an outside election expert to review what went wrong.
Concern that Nicaragua repression could be “model” in region
August 4, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega’s government has closed seven radio stations owned by the Roman Catholic church this week, as well as two other outlets serving the largely rural northern area with a history of opposition to his Sandinista National Liberation Front party.
2020 results denier to oversee voting in rural Nevada county
August 3, 2022 GMTRENO, Nev. (AP) — County commissioners in rural Nevada appointed a new top election official who has denied that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election and promises to implement plans to count every ballot by hand, in place of electronic vote tabulating machines.
Charlotte mayor wins, Wake sheriff loses in local elections
July 27, 2022 GMTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The mayor of North Carolina's largest city has won another term as mayor, while the top law enforcement officer in the state's largest county fell short in his reelection bid following a primary runoff.
Charlotte, Greensboro pick mayors as NC local elections held
July 26, 2022 GMTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — More than a dozen North Carolina municipalities or counties are choosing new elected officials, with some picking party nominees for the fall.
Voting precincts were slated to be open in these areas from 6:30 a.m.
Conspiracy-promoting sheriffs claim vast election authority
July 22, 2022 GMTTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The sheriff in Kansas' most populous county says he took it for granted that local elections ran smoothly — until former President Donald Trump lost there in 2020.
Now he's assigned detectives to investigate what he claims is election fraud, even though there has been no evidence of any widespread fraud or manipulation of voting machines in 2020.
New warrant issued for election-denying Colorado clerk
July 22, 2022 GMTGRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) — A new arrest warrant was issued Thursday for Colorado’s election-denying clerk, less than a week after the embattled official convinced a judge not to send her back to jail for improperly traveling out of state while awaiting trial on felony charges.
Senators propose changes to electors law after Capitol riot
July 20, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of senators agreed Wednesday on proposed changes to the Electoral Count Act, the post-Civil War-era law for certifying presidential elections that came under intense scrutiny after the Jan.
Election officials face security challenges before midterms
July 7, 2022 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Election officials preparing for the upcoming midterms face a myriad of threats, both foreign and domestic, as they look to protect voting systems and run a smooth election while fighting a wave of misinformation that has been undermining public confidence in U.S.
Early voting begins for July 26 city, county elections in NC
July 7, 2022 GMTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Early in-person voting began on Thursday for the July 26 local elections for positions to serve in over a dozen North Carolina municipalities or counties.
Threats testimony rings familiar for election workers
June 22, 2022 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — This week’s gripping testimony to Congress about threats to local election officials after the 2020 presidential election had a rapt audience far beyond Washington — secretaries of state and election clerks across the U.S who said the stories could easily have been their own.
Critics of new immigrant driver’s license law seek repeal
June 17, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — A just-passed state law allowing immigrants in the country illegally to obtain driver’s licenses in Massachusetts is now the subject of a repeal effort.
New Mexico prosecutor says GOP county must certify vote
June 17, 2022 GMTSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A standoff between a Republican-dominated county commission and New Mexico's Democratic secretary of state over the commission's conspiracy-fueled refusal to certify election results escalated Thursday with a threat from the state's top prosecutor.
Cambodian ruling party sues politician for criticizing vote
June 15, 2022 GMTPHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party has sued the vice president of the opposition Candlelight Party for $1 million in compensation for comments he made in an online interview alleging that this month’s local elections were unfair, a spokesman for the governing party said.
Mexico president’s party wins 4 of 6 governorships on ballot
June 6, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — The party of Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has continued its consolidation of power by winning four of the six governorships on ballot in local elections, according to electoral authorities.
Cambodian ruling party scores big win in local elections
June 6, 2022 GMTPHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Long-serving Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party easily topped the field as expected in local elections, an initial tabulation from the National Election Committee showed Monday.
Ruling party seems set to win Cambodian local elections
June 5, 2022 GMTPHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Early indications showed Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party headed for victory in local elections Sunday as people voted in large numbers for the first time since a 2018 general election that was widely criticized as unfair.
Cambodians vote in local election amid intimidation, threats
June 5, 2022 GMTPHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodians headed to the polls Sunday in local elections that are their first chance to vote since the ruling party of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen swept a 2018 general election that was widely criticized as unfair.
Voting rights protections passed in New York legislature
June 3, 2022 GMTALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York would make it easier to sue over discriminatory voting policies and require localities with a history of civil right violations to get approval before changing election rules, under legislation that passed the Democrat-controlled Assembly and Senate Thursday.
Ohio fall ballot will include proposed noncitizen voting ban
June 1, 2022 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohioans are poised to vote this fall on a proposal to expressly prohibit noncitizens from voting in local elections.
The proposed constitutional amendment previously passed the Ohio House over Democrats' objections.
Ohio GOP wants noncitizen voting ban on November ballot
May 25, 2022 GMTCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Republican state lawmakers in Ohio have fast-tracked a fall ballot measure that would expressly prohibit noncitizens from voting in local elections.
Montana primary voters must be registered by noon on June 6
May 18, 2022 GMTHELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montanans who want to cast a vote in next month's primary election must be registered with their county elections office by noon on June 6, under an order by the Montana Supreme Court.
Printing errors mar mailed ballots in Oregon, Pennsylvania
May 18, 2022 GMTPrinting mistakes will force local election officials in Pennsylvania and Oregon to redo thousands of mailed ballots, a laborious process that could delay results for some closely contested races in Tuesday's primaries.
Indiana legislative race with 6-vote margin going to recount
May 17, 2022 GMTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A recount will be held in a Republican primary race for a suburban Indianapolis legislative seat where the top two candidates are separated by six votes.
The recount announced Tuesday follows local election officials certifying results showing Hamilton County Council member Fred Glynn of Carmel with 1,844 votes, ahead of the 1,838 votes received by Suzie Jaworowski of Fishers.
Turkish court upholds key opposition politician’s conviction
May 12, 2022 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Hundreds of supporters of Turkey’s main opposition party protested in Istanbul Thursday over a high court ruling that upheld a prominent opposition politician’s conviction on charges including insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
2 Arkansas counties list wrong first name for Senate hopeful
May 11, 2022 GMTLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Senate candidate Jake Bequette filed a lawsuit Tuesday after two counties incorrectly listed his first name as “Jack" on their ballots for this month's Republican primary election, with early voting already underway.
Colo. secretary of state hopeful barred from election role
May 11, 2022 GMTDENVER (AP) — A Colorado judge has barred a Republican running for secretary of state from overseeing this year's election in her home county due to her role in breaking into election equipment and subsequent indictment.
UK Conservatives lose London strongholds, in blow to Johnson
May 6, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — Britain’s governing Conservatives suffered local election losses Friday in their few London strongholds and other parts of the U.K. — results that will pile more pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson amid ethics scandals and a worsening economic picture.
UK votes in local polls dominated by cost-of-living crisis
May 5, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — People in Britain voted Thursday in local elections that will decide the makeup of local authorities across the country — and possibly the fate of embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
UK lawmaker resigns after viewing porn in House of Commons
April 30, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — A British lawmaker from the governing Conservative Party has resigned after admitting he watched pornography on his phone in the House of Commons chamber.
Neil Parish, a member of Parliament since 2010, announced his decision Saturday after pressure from members of his own party who sought to defuse sleaze allegations before Britain holds its local elections on May 5.
Police speak to Scottish leader Sturgeon over mask slip-up
April 18, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — Police said Monday that they spoke to Scotland’s leader to remind her about sticking to coronavirus mask rules after she was filmed without a face covering indoors while on the election trail.
Missouri House OKs elections for transgender athletic bans
April 14, 2022 GMTCOLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The GOP-led Missouri House on Wednesday voted to allow local elections over whether to ban transgender girls from competing on K-12 girls' sports teams.
House members voted 89-40 in favor of adding Republican Rep.
Zuckerberg money won’t be in next round of aid for elections
April 12, 2022 GMTDENVER (AP) — The nonprofit that distributed most of the $350 million in donations from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to election offices in 2020 said Monday that it won’t disburse similar donations this year after backlash from conservatives suspicious that the contributions tilted the outcome of the presidential race toward Joe Biden.
Virginia GOP official accused of racist online post resigns
April 11, 2022 GMTRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Republican local elections official in Virginia has resigned, according to Gov. Glenn Youngkin's office, after being accused of posting a racist tirade on Facebook.
Colorado lawmakers advance bill to protect elections workers
April 7, 2022 GMTDENVER (AP) — A Colorado legislative panel advanced a bill Thursday to add protections for elections workers after hearing disturbing testimony about escalating threats that have prompted many to quit or take security training so they feel safe in their public-service work.
Georgia senators scrap proposal for more election rules
March 30, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Georgia senators are scrapping plans to seek further big changes in state election law, beset by strong opposition from local election officials who say their offices would be wrapped in needless red tape.
Palestinians hold local elections in occupied West Bank
March 26, 2022 GMTRAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinians voted in local elections in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, less than a year after President Mahmoud Abbas called off parliamentary elections that would have likely loosened his party's grip on power.
Ex-colleagues praise Youngkin’s elections commissioner
March 21, 2022 GMTRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has tapped a former local elections official and ex-aide to a far-right-wing state senator to serve as Virginia's elections commissioner. The move sparked criticism Monday from both Democrats and the GOP senator, while former colleagues of the nominee, Susan Beals, defended her as highly qualified.
Maryland announces new voting deadlines after primary delay
March 21, 2022 GMTANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland has new deadlines for registering to vote and to request a mail-in ballot, after the state's highest court moved the state's primary to July 19, the state elections administrator announced Monday.
Noem signs bill banning election donations like Zuckerberg’s
March 16, 2022 GMTPIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Wednesday signed a bill to bar state election officials from accepting donations for election operating costs, taking aim at Mark Zuckerberg's donations that in 2020 helped officials hold elections in the midst of the pandemic.
House votes to override veto of Brattleboro youth voting
March 13, 2022 GMTMONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont House on Friday voted to override Gov. Phil Scott's veto of a charter change in Brattleboro that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in the town's local elections.
Bill setting up early absente ballot count likely dead
March 7, 2022 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Republican-authored bill that would authorize local election clerks to begin counting absentee ballots a day earlier is likely dead.
Right now clerks can’t start counting absentee ballots until the day of the election.
Vermont governor vetoes youth voting in Brattleboro
February 28, 2022 GMTMONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont Gov. Phil Scott on Monday vetoed a bill that would have allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local elections in Brattleboro.
Scott, a Republican, wrote in his veto letter to lawmakers that there are inconsistencies in Vermont law on the age of adulthood and lowering the voting age in Brattleboro would make the problem worse.
Noncitizens to vote in local elections in 2 Vermont cities
February 28, 2022 GMTNoncitizens will be allowed to vote in local elections in two Vermont cities — Winooski and Montpelier — on Tuesday during the state's annual Town Meeting day.
In Winooski, a city of about 7,300 that is home to immigrants from around the world, 37 noncitizens had registered to vote by early Monday, according to the city clerk.
Attacks from within seen as a growing threat to elections
February 25, 2022 GMTElection officials preparing for this year’s midterms have yet another security concern to add to an already long list that includes death threats, disinformation, ransomware and cyberattacks — threats from within.
Wisconsin Elections Commission retracts ballot box guidance
February 16, 2022 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to retract its guidance that allowed for multiple absentee ballot boxes and for people other than the voter to return absentee ballots, in compliance with a state Supreme Court order.