National Conference of State Legislatures

Speaker announcement 📢: Joanne Cashman of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education will be speaking at the 2024 NCSL Legislative Summit in Louisville, KY. For more info or to register: http://NCSL.org/Summit #NCSLsummit

It’s easy to confuse poll workers with poll watchers. Poll workers are the three-quarters or a million friends and neighbors who serve temporarily during elections. They check voters in at polling places, and they show them how to use the voting equipment. Poll watchers on the other hand, usually represent their political party at the polls. In most cases, they receive training on proper procedures in advance. While they cannot interfere with voters or voting, they can alert an election official if they see anything unusual. Learn more in this Elections Defined Video Series: https://bit.ly/3xJTVlh

We are pleased to share that Brian Clapier, senior vice president for programs at Foster America, will be speaking at this year's legislative summit! For more info or to register: http://NCSL.org/Summit #NCSLsummit

Communications Director Casey Rife has moved up through the ranks from Senate Page to legislative fellow to her current position within the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus, and is using her role to work toward equitable policy solutions that benefit constituents across Ohio. Congratulations on receiving the Legislative Information and Communications Staff #LegislativeStaff Achievement Award, Casey!

From legislative intern to a full-time position in the Utah Senate, Legislative Assistant Paige Stevens assists seven majority senators and enjoys the often unpredictable nature of her position. Congratulations on receiving the Legislative Information and Communications Staff #LegislativeStaff Achievement Award, Paige!

In this issue of #CapitoltoCapitol: checkout NCSL’s congressional review act tracker, an update on the 2024 Farm Bill, and more. Read more: https://bit.ly/3S91OYi

From national parks to amusement parks to ballparks, countless destinations exist in every state to round out a travel bucket list. Adventure seekers can go west for natural lands galore, east for sand and waves and to the heartland for family-friendly lakeshores and water parks. Expect plenty of history and culture in the mix. Read more in this week's #MapMonday: https://bit.ly/3xNEb0L

Each state has its own law on when processing can begin. Most states, and especially those with a high volume of absentee voting, allow pre-processing to begin before Election Day. Other states wait until all the ballots are in on Election Day to start processing absentee ballots. This is one reason why some states have slower results reporting than others. Learn more in this Elections Defined Video Series: https://bit.ly/3RSUrUR

On this episode, NCSL sat down with Jill Reinmuth, staff director for the Office of Program Research in the Washington House; Eric Nauman, principal fiscal analyst for the Minnesota Senate; and Sabrina Lewellen, assistant Secretary of the Arkansas Senate and the current NCSL staff chair. The three legislative leaders discussed how procedures changed in the aftermath of the pandemic, what they learned personally about leadership and how their staff performed under the extraordinary challenges of the health emergency. Tune in: https://bit.ly/3S4nuVC

Christy McCormick with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (@us.eac) sat down with NCSL to discuss what election officials and legislatures can do to support voters’ trust in the election process. Read more: https://bit.ly/4bUI1mN