Idaho leaders urged to address systemic failures following prison abuse reports
InvestigateWest reporters uncovered years of sexual abuse by women’s prison guards prompting calls for independent investigation
State of Democracy
Oregon open primaries supporters start fresh with 2024 ballot measure
Nonaffiliated voters are the largest bloc but are currently barred from voting in most primary elections
Lobbying email from Oregon secretary of state’s office raises eyebrows in Salem
The email to customers asked them to support the office’s budget request
Despite setbacks, far-right extremists are winning positions in mainstream Northwest politics
Militia groups, Christian nationalists, anti-vaccine activists and other conspiracy theorists in the Pacific Northwest have all started working together and are forging new connections with the formal political class.
As election deniers target the U.S. voter database, WA worries
Washington state isn’t pulling out of the Electronic Registration Information Center, but the impact might still be felt here.
Wyden, Blumenauer try again to export Oregon mail voting, automatic registration to rest of U.S.
Mail voting has grown in popularity since the COVID pandemic began
Could 2023 be the year Oregon restores voting rights to people with felony convictions?
Similar efforts stalled in 2021 and 2022, but civil rights groups are optimistic about their chances
All former WA prisoners can now vote. So far, few have
Of the 24,000 residents with felony records now able to vote, just 414 did so last fall. Advocates hope to increase registration and voter education.
Oregon teen’s activism could lead to lower voting age
Rep. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, agreed to sponsor a constitutional amendment
Idaho’s Republican primary is already closed — but the party may close it off even more
New rule would bar voters if they’ve been active with other parties in past two years
Suit: WA should stop ‘unlawful’ signature reviews that disenfranchise voters
The state’s ballot procedure disproportionately rejects votes from young voters and people of color