Maine passes ranked-choice voting
Under the election overhaul, ballots are counted at the state level in multiple rounds. Last-place candidates are eliminated until a candidate wins by a majority.
2016 C.E.
The first Latina senator ever is coming to Washington
Catherine Cortez Masto’s victory in the Nevada Senate race makes her the first Latina senator.
Georgia elects first openly gay man to state legislature
Voters in Georgia’s House District 101 did something no other district in Georgia has ever done: They elected an openly gay man to the state legislature. Sam Park will serve portions of Gwinnett County, Georgia starting in January.
Californians vote to legalize recreational use of marijuana in the state
Voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 64, making California the most populous state in the nation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
Colorado voters approve minimum wage increase to $12 an hour
Colorado voters decided to join other states by voting to raise the minimum wage in the state, in steps, between 2017 and 2020 after passage of Amendment 70 on Tuesday.
Gun-safety initiative heads to big win in Washington
With broad support across both sides of the Cascade Mountains, Initiative 1491, a gun-safety ballot measure, won easily.
Oregon elects the nation’s first openly bisexual governor
The people of Oregon have elected the nation’s first openly bisexual governor.
Voters approve minimum wage increase to $13.50 in Washington state
Washington’s low-wage workers can expect to earn at least $13.50 an hour by 2020 under a ballot measure that won Tuesday night.
Germany is building the world’s first wind turbines with built-in hydroelectric batteries
Wind blows. Water falls. But for the first time, one is now powering the other. Engineers in Germany are storing water for hydroelectricity inside wind turbines allowing the towers act like massive batteries once the wind stops blowing.
Arizona sheriff officially charged with criminal contempt in racial profiling case
Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been arresting undocumented immigrants with no state charges against them. He has now been charged with criminal contempt.