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Results for " vote " 5,484 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle

Where to vote early in Polk County

Need to vote early in Polk County? Here’s where the satellite locations are and when they’re open.

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Oct 18 • 8:52 PM EDT • Politics • kcci.com
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Democrats lead across polls as Trump’s approval rating dips

An RNC official says the president’s rallies this month are aimed at getting Republican voters to the polls, even as his approval sits near record lows.

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Oct 18 • 8:00 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
5 things I think I think about the St. Pete Mayor’s race, with 14,000 ballots in and early voting opening Monday

The mail vote is running at 2024’s pace from a smaller pool, and the party math already tilts Crist.

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Oct 18 • 7:30 PM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com
Early voting expands Monday in Chicago, suburban Cook County and across the suburbs

Photo identification is not required but it can be helpful if there is a question about voter registration, address or signature.

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Oct 18 • 7:07 PM EDT • Politics • nbcchicago.com
BUTCH’S BLOG: Unhealthy Health Care

Unhealthy Health Care Lately I’ve had to deal with some health problems—skin carcinomas to be precise. Too much sunning in my youth on the waves and beaches of New Jersey. My mother used to slather us with Coppertone. Wear hats, I say. And use that high SPF sunscreen. But for me, the horse is already way out of the barn. I’ve had two surgeries now, painful, but successful, one more to go. But I’m not here to whine. I’m lucky. I will survive. And, importantly, I have health insurance. Many are not so lucky. When the bill came from the clinic,...

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Oct 18 • 4:47 PM EDT • Health • tillamookcountypioneer.net
Latino voters helped put Trump back in the White House. What's their next move?

The path to a U.S. House majority runs through heavily Latino districts in states such as Arizona, Colorado and Texas, where Democrats are counting on disaffected Trump supporters to swing back their way.

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Oct 18 • 4:46 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
Saginaw's No Kings rally urges residents to vote early

Nationwide rallies on Saturday, including one in Saginaw, urged people to vote early and use the midterm elections to make their voices heard, with organizers emphasizing nonpartisan participation, accessibility, and

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Oct 18 • 4:12 PM EDT • Politics • abc12.com
Amazon, data centers and the race for Oregon governor

Amazon is stepping up political spending and community pledges in Oregon as voters and gubernatorial candidates push for a data center moratorium.

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Oct 18 • 4:00 PM EDT • Politics • klcc.org
Trump endorses embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection

Israelis are set to vote Oct. 27, in the first national elections since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

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Oct 18 • 12:18 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
Vance faces tough questions on Iran war, immigration and more in CBS town hall

The string of sharp queries, some from voters who said they had supported him and President Donald Trump, previewed the rocky path Vance may face trying to answer for the administration’s record if he runs for president himself in 2028.

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Oct 18 • 11:25 AM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
California Politics 360 full episode | California, US government clash over voter rolls

The Trump administration sued California election officials this week. They asked a judge to block the state from counting mail-in ballots from people the federal government has identified as “likely” non-citizens until their status can be confirmed.

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Oct 18 • 11:25 AM EDT • Politics • kcra.com
Voter roll fight in California ramps up weeks before election

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli defended the Trump administration's lawsuit against California election officials, alleging that 20,000 non-citizens who are documented immigrants are registered to vote and have received mail-in ballots, just weeks before the upcoming election.

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Oct 18 • 11:25 AM EDT • Politics • kcra.com
Malia Cohen explains why she should be reelected State Controller

California State Controller Malia Cohen is seeking reelection for an office that is responsible for the state's checkbook at a time when voters across the nation are focused on waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer money.

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Oct 18 • 11:25 AM EDT • Politics • kcra.com
Tripp Skipper: What Alabama Republicans should remember about Doug Jones and Roy Moore

I regularly talk with elected officials, business leaders, farmers, and everyday voters. Many are longtime Republicans who have helped elect conservative candidates for decades. They’re frustrated.

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Oct 18 • 9:00 AM EDT • Politics • al.com
Netanyahu condemns Magal's 'monkey' remark against Eisenkot, calls out opposition

Netanyahu condemned Magal's insult to Eisenkot but accused the opposition of double standards for attacking Likud voters. Ben-Gvir defended Magal.

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Oct 18 • 8:45 AM EDT • Politics • jpost.com
Latino voters helped put Trump back in the White House. What's their next move?

The path to a House majority on Capitol Hill runs through heavily Latino districts in states such as Arizona, Colorado and Texas.

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Oct 18 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • wsls.com
Latino voters helped put Trump back in the White House. What's their next move?

The path to a House majority on Capitol Hill runs through heavily Latino districts in states such as Arizona, Colorado and Texas.

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Oct 18 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • ksat.com
'Spooky Scary Politics: A Stand-Up Night' combines politics and comedy on campus

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and EMU student Katie George performed stand-up comedy acts at "Spooky Scary Politics: A Stand-Up Night" hosted by Eastern Votes.

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Oct 18 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • easternecho.com
Political parties ‘not doing their homework’ with young voters, IU advocates say

Young people have consistently turned out to vote less than their older counterparts.

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Oct 18 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • idsnews.com
Oklahoma voters, your family's politics don't have to be yours

Family political traditions are meaningful, but you should evaluate your own needs before casting your ballot.

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Oct 18 • 7:30 AM EDT • Politics • oklahoman.com
Killeen voters to decide on 8 charter amendments

Killeen voters will have the opportunity to consider eight proposed amendments to the City Charter during a special election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

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Oct 18 • 7:00 AM EDT • Politics • kdhnews.com
I’m a vote for ‘none of them’

I have voted in every election since I turned 18. Except when a race was uncontested, I have always filled out the entire ballot. Not this year. For the first time, I’m leaving an office blank. Let me begin by congratulating Phil Weiser on becoming Colorado’s next governor. Yes, it’s a certainty. Even if they […]

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Oct 18 • 7:00 AM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
'He's everywhere': Carl DeMaio's push to make the GOP relevant again

Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, a conservative from San Diego County, has become a prominent voice for state Republicans. His vehicle this election is Proposition 39, the voter ID measure.

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Oct 18 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • latimes.com
Trump's immigration crackdown tests Republicans' hold on Texas voters

The race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is hotly contested and enormously expensive, with total ad spending topping $500 million.

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Oct 18 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • latimes.com
Oregon's governor struggles for reelection despite blue tide

In Oregon, a progressive bastion, voter discontent has incumbent Tina Kotek on the defensive. Her struggle shows the perils of incumbency this angry election season.

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Oct 18 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • latimes.com
In tight Texas Senate race, Trump's immigration crackdown tests Republicans' hold on voters

The race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is hotly contested and enormously expensive, with total ad spending topping $500 million.

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Oct 18 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
Rural voters in Kansas want practical solutions not politics

A new survey shows rural voters prioritize practical issues like health care and cost of living over partisan debates.

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Oct 18 • 5:04 AM EDT • Politics • cjonline.com
In Ohio, a solidly GOP district is upended by domestic violence allegations

Several Republican voters who spoke to USA TODAY are still supporting Rep. Max Miller of Ohio despite allegations of domestic violence.

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Oct 18 • 5:01 AM EDT • Politics • usatoday.com
Video: Will Rural Voters Sit Out the Midterms?

Lisa Lerer, a national political correspondent, travels to a cattle auction in Calhan, Colo., to see if economic anxieties are affecting the loyalty of rural voters to the Republican Party.

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Oct 18 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Oxford residents to vote on cannabis business cap Nov. 3

A number of Oxford residents are fed up with the perception that Main Street/Route 26 has become a cannabis corridor not reflective of the community's values.

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Oct 18 • 4:00 AM EDT • Business • sunjournal.com
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Democrats lead Republicans in House vote choice as Trump's approval rating hits record low: ABC/Post/Ipsos poll

Half or more Americans call every household purchase category measured "unaffordable."

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Oct 18 • 12:01 AM EDT • Politics • abcnews.com
Trump approval hits record low, handing Democrats a clear midterm edge

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a new low and support for Democrats in the race for control of Congress rising, as inflationary pressures contribute to the acrid mood among voters, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll.

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Oct 18 • 12:01 AM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com
‘These are really tough times’: House Republicans confront voter fury over Trump’s Washington in final midterm stretch

GOP operatives conducting a focus group in a traditionally red Midwestern state this month were shocked by what they heard from Republican voters.

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Oct 18 • 12:00 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
At latest No Kings rally in Seattle, thousands say, ‘Your vote matters’

Thousands filled Seattle Center on Saturday in protest of President Donald Trump, while also learning about voting rights and more ahead of the 2026 midterms.

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Oct 17 • 10:10 PM EDT • Politics • seattletimes.com
Alberta separatists say they'll keep fighting after independence vote

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — One of Alberta’s leading separatists vowed Saturday to continue the independence movement even if voters reject a proposal Monday to begin the process of leaving Canada, decla...

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Oct 17 • 9:23 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
Durand voters to decide $30.29M school bond this November

Durand Area Schools voters will decide on a $30.29 million bond proposal on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot that would pay for safety, infrastructure and building upgrades across the district,

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Oct 17 • 8:42 PM EDT • Politics • abc12.com
Trump ramps up attacks on Dems in tight races

President Trump is intensifying personal and Islamophobic attacks on Democratic candidates in several states as Republicans worry about a voter-enthusiasm gap ahead of the November 3 elections. CNN’s Alayna Treene reports from a rally in Northern Kentucky.

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Oct 17 • 8:00 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
State of Texas: Tight races test voters, parties and a new political map

The race for U.S. Senate is the biggest story in Texas politics, and it's getting nationwide attention. Campaign spending between Ken Paxton and James Talarico is on pace to set records, and the race ...

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Oct 17 • 7:00 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
State of Texas: Tight races test voters, parties and a new political map

The race for U.S. Senate is the biggest story in Texas politics, and it’s getting nationwide attention. Campaign spending between Ken Paxton and James Talarico is on pace to set records, and …

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Oct 17 • 7:00 PM EDT • Politics • kxan.com
Facing Realities: Christian Nationalism, From Local Messages to Political Action - by Jessica Mitchell

Part 3.d -- Faith can guide someone’s vote, their decision to run for office, or their objections to a school board’s action. The question becomes more

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Oct 17 • 6:55 PM EDT • Politics • arkvalleyvoice.com
'No Kings' protesters rally against Trump, urge voters to turn out

‘No Kings’ demonstrators rallied across Michigan Saturday, protesting Trump administration policies and urging people to vote.

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Oct 17 • 5:44 PM EDT • Politics • freep.com
The Republican governor candidates walking back some of their abortion stances

The candidates’ retreat suggests that, even as reproductive rights fade from the national spotlight and polls show voters are far more likely to prioritize cost-of-living concerns, the political ramifications of pushing for new abortion restrictions remain substantial.

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Oct 17 • 5:23 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
Trump touts his power at Kentucky rally to energize voters ahead of midterm elections

President Donald Trump is emphasizing his influence during his second term at a rally in Kentucky.

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Oct 17 • 3:44 PM EDT • Politics • clickondetroit.com
Trump touts his power at Kentucky rally to energize voters ahead of midterm elections

President Donald Trump is emphasizing his influence during his second term at a rally in Kentucky.

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Oct 17 • 3:44 PM EDT • Politics • ksat.com
Trump touts his power at Kentucky rally to energize voters

President Donald Trump is emphasizing his influence during his second term at a rally in Kentucky.

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Oct 17 • 3:44 PM EDT • Politics • journalgazette.net
No Kings rallies across U.S. urge voters to cast ballots ear...

No Kings rallies across the country on Oct. 17 urged Americans to vote early ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Demonstrators emphasized the power of the ba...

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Oct 17 • 3:31 PM EDT • Politics • afro.com
‘No Kings Vote Early’ rally in Fall River draws a crowd

About 60 protesters against the Trump administration lined both sides of William S. Canning Boulevard, bundled up against cold winds.

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Oct 17 • 3:08 PM EDT • Politics • heraldnews.com
'No Kings' rallies across U.S. urge voters to cast ballots early

The hundreds of planned events were being billed as nonpartisan

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Oct 17 • 1:48 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
'No Kings' rallies across U.S. urge voters to cast ballots early

The hundreds of planned events were being billed as nonpartisan

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Oct 17 • 1:48 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
Byron Donalds launches 50-stop bus tour to 'meet voters where they are'

The GOP ticket is hitting the road.

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Oct 17 • 1:10 PM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com
Power & Politics: Vote 2026 - One-on-one with Democratic candidate for NJ's 7th Congressional District Rebecca Bennett

Democratic candidate for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District Rebecca Bennett joins the show this week.

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Oct 17 • 12:20 PM EDT • Politics • longisland.news12.com
Trust TV on Instagram: "“Pilgrimage is a strategy to win votes ahead of 2027 Elections” – Analyst speaks on clerics in politics & the battle for Influence Watch Full Interview: https://youtu.be/oBu4CqReTV0 #trusttvnews #insidethenorth"

1 likes, 0 comments - trusttv_news on October 17, 2026: "“Pilgrimage is a strategy to win votes ahead of 2027 Elections” – Analyst speaks on clerics in politics & the battle for Influence Watch Full Interview: https://youtu.be/oBu4CqReTV0 #trusttvnews #insidethenorth".

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Oct 17 • 11:18 AM EDT • Politics • instagram.com
Nationwide No Kings protests push for historic early voting results

Millions of Americans are expected to gather in big cities and small towns and vote early on Saturday, Oct. 17, in a continuation of the popular No Kings protests.

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Oct 17 • 10:57 AM EDT • Politics • centraloregondaily.com
A bitter Michigan Senate race rattles Jewish and Muslim voters already on edge over the war in Gaza

Michigan’s closely contested Senate race has become deeply personal for some voters | WWJ Newsradio 950

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Oct 17 • 9:31 AM EDT • Politics • audacy.com
A bitter Michigan Senate race rattles Jewish and Muslim voters already on edge over the war in Gaza

Michigan’s closely contested Senate race has become deeply personal for some voters.

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Oct 17 • 9:31 AM EDT • Politics • wsls.com
😐 Neutral (0%)
Big dollars and strange twists in Northeast Seattle statehouse race

An unusual legislative race in the 46th District pits a seasoned lawmaker against a political novice and is testing voters' much-discussed hunger for change.

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Oct 17 • 9:00 AM EDT • Politics • seattletimes.com
Campaigns already know a lot about voters. AI could change what they do with it.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping familiar campaign practices in Minnesota and beyond. Whether it can sway more votes is less certain.

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Oct 17 • 7:00 AM EDT • Politics • startribune.com
Fans predict Michigan won’t cover vs Penn State

Will Michigan cover vs. Penn State? Here’s how fans voted.

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Oct 17 • 6:00 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Montana’s House battleground: Can 2 political newcomers overcome party politics?

The fight for Montana’s 1st District tests whether candidates can use their backgrounds to connect with voters and avoid being shaped by national politics

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Oct 17 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • deseret.com
Why is a New York-based betting site donating to Idaho politicians?

A donation doesn’t necessarily buy a vote, a Boise State political science professor said. But it “gets you a foot in the door.”

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Oct 17 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • idahostatesman.com
Mark Ruffalo calls Gavin Newsom's billionaire tax stance 'disqualifying' ahead of California vote

Mark Ruffalo slammed Gavin Newsom for opposing California's billionaire wealth tax, calling it "disqualifying" for anyone with ambitions for higher office.

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Oct 17 • 5:16 AM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com
Can left or right extremes solve Europe’s housing crisis?

Housing costs have brought about a political crisis in Spain and are fueling political change across Europe. Voters are turning to the far left and far right for radical change in the way living space is regulated.

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Oct 17 • 4:25 AM EDT • Politics • dw.com
Healthcare costs top survey of Americans’ biggest economic concerns, followed by gasoline, food, utilities

The cost of healthcare is the top economic issue for voters, according to a recent national survey, as politicians in Arkansas and across the U.S. prepare to make their final pitches ahead of the November midterm elections.

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Oct 17 • 12:00 AM EDT • Health • arkansasonline.com
Michigan Proposal 2 aims to limit corporate money in politics

Michigan voters will decide in November whether to overhaul the state’s campaign finance laws through a citizen-led ballot initiative that would ban utility companies and certain government contractors from donating to state candidates.

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Oct 16 • 10:45 PM EDT • Politics • clickondetroit.com
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Political violence: How justifications influence voter approval

What happens when political violence is presented as a justified response to threat or injustice coming from an out-group? A study by Ursula Daxecker, director at the Max Planck Institute for Politics ...

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Oct 16 • 9:00 PM EDT • Politics • phys.org
Tony Lo Sasso on healthcare costs as a top issue for voters

Tony Lo Sasso on how the issue of healthcare is shaped by mergers and rising premiums.

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Oct 16 • 8:21 PM EDT • Health • pbswisconsin.org
Alberta early-voter surge suggests edge for Canadian side

CALGARY, Canada — More than 1 million people have already cast their ballots in Alberta’s referendum on separation from Canada, signaling strong voter turnout that pollsters say may favor the

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Oct 16 • 7:56 PM EDT • Entertainment • thederrick.com
Maine voters are unhappy over political climate as they cast early ballots in midterm elections
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Oct 16 • 7:48 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
DOJ says California officials who process ballots from suspected noncitizens risk prosecution

The Trump administration is escalating its fight with California ahead of next month's midterm election, warning that local officials who process and tabulate ballots submitted by suspected noncitizen voters are putting themselves at risk of criminal investigation and potential prosecution.

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Oct 16 • 7:30 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
OPINON: A vote for progress over politics

As the father of four young children the Talbot County Public School system, I am a strong supporter of public schools. I’d love to see all schools succeed, because at

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Oct 16 • 7:03 PM EDT • Politics • stardem.com
Staff Turnover and Missing Funds: A Tumultuous Week at Trump’s White House

With just over two weeks remaining before the midterm elections, things inside the White House are turbulent. Even though President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot, he is top of mind for many as they head to the polls. Republicans across the country are already working to persuade voters not to ...

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Oct 16 • 5:10 PM EDT • Politics • usnews.com
Horse carriage drivers rally against ban ahead of vote to end industry

A full council vote on the bill is scheduled for Oct. 22.

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Oct 16 • 4:10 PM EDT • Politics • ny1.com
Obama's star power gets a reality check from Black voters in crucial Senate race: 'It's a turn-off'

Barack Obama's endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed drew mixed reactions from Detroit Black voters, with undecided residents saying it didn't move the needle.

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Oct 16 • 4:07 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
North Carolina could play a key role in this year's midterm elections

Midterm election results in North Carolina could significantly influence the state and shape the national political landscape, says John Dinan, a Wake Forest University professor of political science. Dinan explains what North Carolinians will see on the ballot, the importance of key candidate contests and the potential ripple effects on the state and federal levels.…

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Oct 16 • 4:05 PM EDT • Politics • news.wfu.edu
Gov. Ferguson may not get a pay raise next year

Voters established the salary commission in 1987 to end the practice of politicians deciding their own pay.

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Oct 16 • 4:03 PM EDT • Politics • seattletimes.com
Belief in change matters more than political anger when it comes to voting intentions, study suggests

With the 2026 midterm elections around the corner, voters may be feeling everything from excitement to fear. But how might anger motivate political activism and, ultimately, influence who turns out to ...

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Oct 16 • 4:00 PM EDT • Politics • phys.org
Russia Appears to Step Up Efforts to Influence U.S. Voters

One campaign has created social media posts focusing on U.S. support for Israel to sow discord ahead of the midterm elections.

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Oct 16 • 2:17 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Judicial retention | Judges on the ballot in 2026

This November, voters statewide will decide whether to retain 123 judges for terms ranging from four to 10 years. Unlike other races on the ballot where multiple candidates are seeking a single position, judicial retention requires voters to select either “yes” or “no.” Here are answers to some common questions about retention elections. Q: How […]

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Oct 16 • 2:00 PM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
The many barriers young adults must overcome to vote: A research-based reporting guide

This guide from SciLine offers insights, tips, and story ideas to help journalists report on Generation Z’s voting habits.

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Oct 16 • 1:00 PM EDT • Politics • journalistsresource.org
World time to drop the leap second from May 2027

Global timekeepers have voted to end the practice of adding extra seconds to UTC, citing risks to computer systems and the prospect of the first-ever negative leap second.

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Oct 16 • 12:49 PM EDT • Technology • euronews.com
Indiana voters reveal their biggest concerns in new poll
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Oct 16 • 12:49 PM EDT • Politics • wthr.com
Cook Political Report moves 11 more House races toward Democrats

The election prognosticator says more races are becoming competitive in traditional GOP strongholds because of voter frustration with the economy.

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Oct 16 • 12:45 PM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com
Hometown’s Best: Vote for your favorite Southwest Virginia live music, entertainment, or sports venue finalist in 2026

The search is on for Southwest Virginia’s favorite live music, entertainment, or sports venue, and the finalists for this year’s Hometown’s Best have officially been announced.

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Oct 16 • 12:35 PM EDT • Entertainment • wsls.com
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Hometown’s Best: Vote for your favorite place to watch sports in Southwest Virginia

The search is on for Southwest Virginia’s favorite place to watch sports, and the finalists for this year’s Hometown’s Best have officially been announced.

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Oct 16 • 12:33 PM EDT • Sports • wsls.com
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Hometown’s Best: Vote for your favorite Southwest Virginia pet care business finalist in 2026

The search is on for Southwest Virginia’s favorite locally owned pet care business, and the finalists for this year’s Hometown’s Best have officially been announced.

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Oct 16 • 12:31 PM EDT • Business • wsls.com
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Trump wants the midterms to be all about him. Based on Democrats' ads, they are happy to oblige

Many of the Democrats' ads accuse Republican opponents of siding with the president over voters, particularly on issues like tariffs and the Iran war, which they blame for jacking up costs.

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Oct 16 • 12:28 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
🙂 Positive (35%)
Greensboro bank makes rival bid for Durham's historic M&F

A rival offer could preserve the historic Black-owned bank's identity ahead of an Oct. 20 vote.

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Oct 16 • 12:17 PM EDT • Business • axios.com
High-Signal Publisher
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?

Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.

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Oct 16 • 10:32 AM EDT • Health • yourlocalepidemiologistca.substack.com
Opinion: Before you vote for Chicago’s school board, ask candidates these four questions

Voters deserve to know how each candidate for the Board of Education would actually govern, say two Chicago-area professors.

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Oct 16 • 10:00 AM EDT • Business • chicagobusiness.com
Scientists have just voted to abolish leap seconds

Since 1972, officials have added 27 leap seconds to the universal clock, but in a meeting this week in France they have decided to abandon the practice

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Oct 16 • 9:59 AM EDT • Science • newscientist.com
Sweden’s Left Faces a Political Deadlock

In September, Swedish voters defeated a governing coalition that the far right had propped up. But the Center Party is now blocking a new government because it wants to keep Left Party ministers out o...

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Oct 16 • 9:53 AM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
Sweden’s Left Faces a Political Deadlock

In September, Swedish voters defeated a governing coalition that the far right had propped up. But the Center Party is now blocking a new government because it wants to keep Left Party ministers out of the cabinet.

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Oct 16 • 9:53 AM EDT • Politics • jacobin.com
Healey and Minogue made their final pitches to voters in a tense debate. Here are 4 takeaways.

The two clashed over housing costs, public accountability, abortion access, immigration enforcement, and energy policy.

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Oct 16 • 9:31 AM EDT • Politics • boston.com
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (9%)
wow
66%
ahah
34%
On the issues: can the economy tip the Nevada governor’s race?

Joe Lombardo and Aaron Ford are competing to convince Nevada voters they have the better plan to address jobs, housing costs and inflation.

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Oct 16 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • reviewjournal.com
Republicans are spending millions to oust a Democrat who won by 187 votes. Should he worry?

Adam Gray won California’s closest House race by 187 votes in 2024. Now, Republicans are spending millions trying to reclaim the Central Valley seat.

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Oct 16 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • calmatters.org
Big Tech and Big Business are spending millions to block progressives on the California ballot

Groups funded by Meta, Google, and cryptocurrency billionaires have spent millions trying to sway voters, especially in races with two Democrats on the ballot

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Oct 16 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • calmatters.org
Two of California's most powerful politicians still haven't weighed in on Prop 40

Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi have yet to weigh in on the most divisive ballot measure before California voters: Prop 40, likely for the same reason that Gavin Newsom opposes the measure.

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Oct 16 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
‘LaPolitics’ Q&A: Scrutinizing the costs of powering Meta

LaPolitics: The Louisiana Public Service Commission recently voted down its administrative law judge’s order that would have required Meta to disclose how it calculated job projections and electricity needs for its Richland Parish data center project. Is the PSC overruling an ALJ unusual? Logan Burke, executive director with the Alliance for Affordable Energy: The commission […]

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Oct 16 • 7:44 AM EDT • Business • businessreport.com
Adam Schiff Warns AI-Generated Political Ads Are Making It Harder to Know What’s Real Ahead of Midterm Elections: 'Congress Can't Afford to Sit on the Sidelines'

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned that deceptive artificial intelligence-generated political advertisements could mislead voters and interfere with elections, urging Congress to address the growing t...

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Oct 16 • 7:30 AM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
26% of Americans say creator content has influenced their vote

The battle for voters in the 2026 midterm elections is playing out on the TikTok For You Page, as creators influence Americans.

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Oct 16 • 7:30 AM EDT • Politics • businessinsider.com
🙂 Positive (50%)