On the Ballot

On this episode: Democratic Governor Tony Evers recently proposed adding a citizen initiative process to the state’s constitution. It’s been more than thirty years since the last state adopted the citizen initiative process in the 90s, so it’s unlikely that Wisconsin or any other state will do so this year. But Evers bringing it up is noteworthy on its own, considering how rare it is — and we thought the debate presented a great opportunity to look closer at Wisconsin’s ballot measure landscape. Tune in for details on some upcoming Wisconsin ballot initiatives — like the one coming in April seeking to add voter ID requirements into the constitution—as well as some surprising historical Wisconsin ballot measures.  Explore Wisconsin’s ballot measure history: https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_Ballot_Measures:_Historical_Ballot_Measures_Factbook  Hear more about Evers’ proposal:  https://www.wpr.org/news/evers-referendum-budget-citizens-vote-changing-law-wisconsin-constitution  Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode of our ‘Explained’ series: Interstate compacts are little-known yet powerful agreements that allow states to work together on critical issues like healthcare, occupational licensing, and transportation. These agreements help states streamline policies, reduce bureaucratic barriers, and even improve access to essential services. But how do they work, and why are they becoming more prominent in recent years?In this episode, we’re joined by Joana Da Silva-Gonzalez, Manager of Policy Initiatives at West Virginia University’s Knee Center. Joana specializes in state policy research and legislative trends, with a particular focus on workforce mobility, healthcare access, and regulatory frameworks. She breaks down the mechanics of interstate compacts, highlights recent legislative trends, and explains how these agreements are shaping the landscape of professions like medicine, social work, and education. Learn more about interstate compacts: https://ballotpedia.org/Interstate_compact  Check out West Virginia University’s Knee Center: https://csorwvu.com/  Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole. 

On this episode:With Incumbent Justice Ann Walsh Bradley retiring, the stakes in Wisconsin's April 1st election  to select her successor couldn’t be higher — determining whether the court maintains its current liberal majority or shifts to a conservative 4-3 split. The candidates, former Republican Attorney General and current circuit court judge Brad Schimel, and Dane County circuit court judge Susan Crawford, present voters with starkly different visions. With high-profile cases on issues like abortion rights and collective bargaining on the horizon—and following 2023’s record-breaking judicial race spending—all eyes are on Wisconsin once again. Wisconsin Public Radio’s State Capitol reporter Anya van Wagtendonk breaks it all down.Learn more about the election:https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_Supreme_Court_elections,_2025 Sign up for our Newsletters:https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: Did you know elections can sometimes get a "do-over"? From voter mistakes and administrative errors to natural disasters and electoral fraud, redo elections can happen for all kinds of reasons and work differently around the country. Ballotpedia’s Doug Kronaizl walks us through recent examples in Georgia, Indiana, and California, breaking down the legal and logistical challenges involved. Learn what triggers a redo election, how candidates adjust their strategies, and why these unique elections might be a sign that the system is working as intended.Sign up for our Newsletters:https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: In some analyses, 2024 was called the year of the challenger, with a variety of global elections seeing prominent leaders, incumbents, or establishment figures lose. Here at  Ballotpedia, we talk often about state legislative elections, which shape governance at the most fundamental level. And in 2024, state legislative elections saw much of what we have seen over the past few decades - the year of the incumbent, with more than 90% of incumbents winning re-election. In 2024, we saw —303 in total across 44 states. This was the fewest incumbent defeats in any even year since 2016 — but, it also happened to be the second consecutive election cycle where more incumbents were defeated in primaries than in general elections.  So what does this say about the shifting dynamics within parties? And how do these losses impact legislative control and policy-making in key states? Read our analysis: https://ballotpedia.org/Incumbents_defeated_in_state_legislative_elections,_2024  Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates  Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia. *On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode:There are only two gubernatorial offices on the ballot in 2025, in New Jersey and Virginia.  The incumbents in both races—Phil Murphy (D) in New Jersey and Glenn Youngkin (R) in Virginia—are term-limited, meaning that both states will have new Governors at the end of the year.  We’re still a long way out from those elections, but since they’re the only two on the calendar for 2025, we wanted to offer an early glimpse into the marquee candidates, the issues that’ll drive their campaigns, what the stakes are for each major party in both states, and how national politics might factor into who winds up having an edge.  Our guests include: Brandon Jarvis of the Virginia Scope Politico’s Matthew Friedman, who writes their NJ playbook Check out our overview of the this year’s races in VA and NJ: https://ballotpedia.org/Gubernatorial_elections,_2025  Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates  Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia. *On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: Not every law or amendment makes it to the ballot overnight. In Virginia, proposed constitutional amendments must pass through two legislative sessions—with an election in-between—before voters have their say. This year, lawmakers are considering measures on abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and restoring voting rights for individuals with felony convictions, but their fate might depend on what happens in the next election. Hear us break down Virginia’s amendment process, explore similar systems in states like Pennsylvania and Nevada, and explain how legislative action today shapes the choices voters will see in future elections.  Learn more about how this process works in VA: https://news.ballotpedia.org/2025/01/27/virginias-two-session-rule-for-constitutional-amendment-house-of-delegates-election-could-affect-the-future-of-proposed-amendments-on-abortion-marriage-and-voting/  Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates  Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia. *On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

Dr. Elaine Kamarck, the founding director at the Brookings Institution and key leader of the Clinton-era National Performance Review, revisits the push to make government more efficient. She discusses the parallels between her work in the '90s and the current efforts surrounding the Department of Government Efficiency. The conversation highlights the complexities of federal budget management, the symbolic hurdles of reform, and the critical need for strategic communication and cooperation among government employees to achieve meaningful change.

On this episode: The budget reconciliation process occurs if Congress passes a budget resolution for the fiscal year that gives reconciliation instructions. It’s used to override the filibuster and expedite the approval of a package of legislation in Congress that changes spending, revenues, or the debt limit — making it an ideal tool for the Trump administration to advance their agenda. These bills require a simple majority (51 votes) instead of the three-fifths majority (60 votes) usually needed in the Senate to bring bills to a vote and approve them.  Here’s a breakdown of how it works, where it originated, and how it’s been used in recent years in packages like 2018’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act or 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act.  Visit our portal for an in-depth look at the process: https://ballotpedia.org/Budget_reconciliation_in_U.S._Congres Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates  Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia. *On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: Every year, state lawmakers consider thousands of bills that would change how Americans vote and how officials administer elections. Most states — 44  — have already started their legislatives sessions and are hard at work crafting legislation. Over the past 3 years, 35% of ALL election administration bills were introduced by mid-February. We thought it’d be a great time to preview what we’re looking out for this year when it comes to election-related legislation and take a break from all of the presidential and federal news that’ll unfold this week.  Read our end-of-year report from December previewing what to look out for this year: https://ballotpedia.org/State_of_Election_Administration_Legislation_2024_Year-End_Report:Looking_ahead  Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates  Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia. *On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.