Welcome to the Monday, April 8, Brew.
By: Briana Ryan
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Fewer election-related bills approved this year than in 2023, more than in 2022
- Joe Biden (D) has second-lowest cabinet turnover among 21st century presidents
- Update on 2024 ballot measure certifications
Fewer election-related bills approved this year than in 2023, more than in 2022
States have enacted fewer pieces of election-related legislation this year than in 2023 but more than in 2022. One hundred-five bills have been approved as of April 4, compared to 139 in 2023 and 78 in 2022.
Analyzing the partisan breakdown of bill sponsorship, Democrats have sponsored 17 of the bills enacted so far, more than in 2023 (16) but less than in 2022 (20). Republicans have sponsored 45 of the bills enacted so far, fewer than in 2023 (84) but more than in 2022 (35). States have approved more bills with bipartisan sponsorship this year. Twenty-six of the bills approved so far have had bipartisan support compared to 21 in 2023 and 14 in 2022.
Twenty-five of the election-related bills passed this year are in states with Democratic trifectas, more than the 17 in 2023 and the 23 in 2022. States with Republican trifectas have enacted 68 bills this year, fewer than the 96 in 2023 but more than the 32 in 2022. In states with divided governments, fewer bills have been enacted this year (12) than in 2023 (26) and 2022 (23).
To see all enacted legislation this year, click here. To get the latest updates on election policy around the country, including nationwide trends and recent legislative activity, sign up for Ballotpedia’s Ballot Bulletin.
Joe Biden (D) has second-lowest Cabinet turnover among 21st century presidents
Joe Biden (D) currently has the second-lowest Cabinet turnover among presidents who have served since 2001. Four of Biden’s Cabinet secretaries and Cabinet-level appointees have resigned from his administration so far. George W. Bush (R) had the lowest Cabinet turnover as of April 8 in the fourth year of his presidency, with three Cabinet-level resignations. Barack Obama (D) had eight Cabinet-level resignations, and Donald Trump (R) had 18.
These numbers include the 15 main Cabinet secretaries and other Cabinet-level positions like vice president and White House chief of staff. The number of Cabinet-level positions can vary from administration to administration. In addition to the main 15 Cabinet secretaries, there are 11 Cabinet-level positions in the Biden administration. There were nine in the Trump administration, eight in the Obama administration, and six in the Bush administration. See the chart below for resignations by type of Cabinet position.
Across all four administrations, Trump is the only president to have members of his Cabinet resign in the first year of his presidency. As of April in the fourth year of their presidencies, Biden had the most resignations in his third year (2), Trump had the most in his second year (8), and Bush had the most in his third year (2). Obama’s second and third years are tied for the most resignations during his administration at three each.
Update on 2024 ballot measure certifications
For 2024, 87 statewide ballot measures have been certified for the ballot in 30 states. An average of 81 measures were certified at this point in even-numbered years between 2012 and 2022. An average of 157 measures were certified in even-numbered years from 2012 to 2022.
Here’s an update on the ballot measure activity during the past two weeks.
Seven ballot measures were certified in eight states:
- Colorado Remove Right to Bail in First Degree Murder Cases Amendment
- Georgia Appropriations of Federal Legal Settlement Funds Amendment
- Georgia Creation of Tax Court Amendment
- Georgia Local Option Homestead Property Tax Exemption Amendment
- Georgia Personal Property Tax Exemption Increase Measure
- Georgia Statewide Homestead Property Tax Exemption Increase Measure
- Idaho Citizenship Requirement for Voting Amendment
Signatures have been submitted and are pending verification for one initiative in California:
In Maine and Massachusetts, enough signatures were verified for seven indirect ballot initiatives to appear before their respective state legislatures:
- Maine Limit Contributions to Super PACs Initiative
- Massachusetts App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative
- Massachusetts Authorization of State Auditor to Audit General Court Initiative
- Massachusetts Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Initiative
- Massachusetts Regulated Access to Psychedelic Substances Initiative
- Massachusetts Repeal Competency Assessment Requirement for High School Graduation Initiative
- Massachusetts Unionization and Collective Bargaining for Transportation Network Drivers Initiative
In Maine and Massachusetts, initiated state statutes are indirect. This means the legislature has the option to pass the initiative outright. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. In Maine, when legislators take no action or reject the initiative, it is put on the ballot for voters to decide. In Massachusetts, petitioners collect a second round of signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.
The most recent signature deadline for citizen initiatives was Feb. 15, in Utah. Signatures were filed for one initiative, but the number of signatures filed was less than the requirement.
The next signature deadline is May 1, in Idaho, where two ballot initiatives have been proposed—one to legalize medical marijuana, and another to create a top-four ranked-choice voting (RCV) system.
The following chart shows the number of ballot measures certified each week of an even-numbered year.
