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The flier sent to Montana voters by political scientists at Stanford University and Dartmouth College to study voter interest in nonpartisan races. Fliers were also sent to voters in California and New Hampshire.

The flier sent to Montana voters by political scientists at Stanford University and Dartmouth College to study voter interest in nonpartisan races. Fliers were also sent to voters in California and New Hampshire. Stanford University/Dartmouth College hide caption

itoggle caption Stanford University/Dartmouth College

The Stump

Political Scientists Find A Guinea Pig: Montana

by S.V. Date

To see if it affected voter interest, researchers sent fliers to Montana voters ranking their nonpartisan Supreme Court candidates by ideology. State officials did not appreciate the experiment.

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A ballot measure in Maine over bear-baiting has drawn ads from both sides of the debate, including this one from the Maine Wildlife Conservation Council, which opposes the measure.

A ballot measure in Maine over bear-baiting has drawn ads from both sides of the debate, including this one from the Maine Wildlife Conservation Council, which opposes the measure. Maine Wildlife Conservation Council/YouTube hide caption

itoggle caption Maine Wildlife Conservation Council/YouTube

Bear-Baiting And Big Races Drown Portland, Maine, In Campaign Ads

A combination of candidates, a controversial ballot measure and cheap ad rates have made Portland very popular. There are even ads running for a neighboring state's U.S. Senate race.

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Illinois state Rep. Mike Bost argues about gun legislation in 2013. Bost's angry rants have become a campaign issue in his race against Democratic Rep. Bill Enyart for Enyart's U.S. House seat.

Illinois state Rep. Mike Bost argues about gun legislation in 2013. Bost's angry rants have become a campaign issue in his race against Democratic Rep. Bill Enyart for Enyart's U.S. House seat. Seth Perlman/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Seth Perlman/AP

Ranting And Throwing Papers: An Angry Candidate Runs For Congress KRCU-FM

by Jacob McCleland

State Rep. Mike Bost's rants on the Illinois House floor are the stuff viral dreams are made of. Bost says he has good reason to be upset, and wants voters to share his anger.

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In her revised dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg clarified that photo ID cards issued by the Veterans' Affairs are "an acceptable form of photo identification for voting in Texas."

In her revised dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg clarified that photo ID cards issued by the Veterans' Affairs are "an acceptable form of photo identification for voting in Texas." Cliff Owen/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Cliff Owen/AP

Justice Ginsburg Revises Texas Voter ID Dissent, Then Announces It

The U.S. Supreme Court is correcting its own record. That's not exactly rare, but Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the first justice to call the public's attention to her own mistake.

Florida Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Adrian Wyllie told the Miami Herald, "I'm a middle-class guy. I face the same problems that Floridians are facing. I'm not living in an ivory castle like Rick Scott and Charlie Crist."

Florida Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Adrian Wyllie told the Miami Herald, "I'm a middle-class guy. I face the same problems that Floridians are facing. I'm not living in an ivory castle like Rick Scott and Charlie Crist." Brendan Farrington/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Brendan Farrington/AP

A Guide To Third-Party Candidates

by Amita Kelly

With many candidates pulling 5 to 15 percent in the polls and appealing to voters who disdain both parties, the establishment campaigns have more a few reasons to worry.

Democrat Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor of Florida (left), and Rick Scott, the current Republican governor of Florida, listen to the moderators during a gubernatorial debate on Friday. The two are facing off in a tight race that's fueling a barrage of negative campaign ads.

Democrat Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor of Florida (left), and Rick Scott, the current Republican governor of Florida, listen to the moderators during a gubernatorial debate on Friday. The two are facing off in a tight race that's fueling a barrage of negative campaign ads. Lynne Sladky/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Lynne Sladky/AP

Florida Governor's Race: Familiar Faces, Big Money, Brutal Ads

Incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Scott is facing off with former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist — who's now running as a Democrat. The race is close, expensive and nasty, with a deluge of attack ads.

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Jason Carter, the eldest grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, is running to become Georgia's next governor.

Jason Carter, the eldest grandson of former President Jimmy Carter, is running to become Georgia's next governor. Erik S. Lesser /Landov hide caption

itoggle caption Erik S. Lesser /Landov

The Stump

Grandpa Jimmy Carter Casts A Shadow Over Ga. Governor's Race GPB

by Jeanne Bonner

Jason Carter has his eye on the governor's mansion. If he wants to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, former President Jimmy Carter, he has to be careful how he uses that legacy.

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Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez is a top candidate to be the next attorney general, according to sources familiar with the process.

Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez is a top candidate to be the next attorney general, according to sources familiar with the process. T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images hide caption

itoggle caption T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images

Labor Secretary Eyed As White House Searches To Replace Attorney General

The White House effort to replace Attorney General Eric Holder is happening largely in the shadows. But Labor Secretary Thomas Perez is emerging as a top candidate for the post.

Iowa's Westside Conservative Club holds breakfast meetings at a Machine Shed restaurant outside Des Moines. Longtime GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley spoke at a recent breakfast.

Iowa's Westside Conservative Club holds breakfast meetings at a Machine Shed restaurant outside Des Moines. Longtime GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley spoke at a recent breakfast. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

itoggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images

Ducking Social Issues, GOP Struggles To Keep Conservatives Close

Republicans are expecting to do well in November, and one thing they're not doing this election is emphasizing social issues. That choice is causing some frustration among core supporters.

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On the campaign trail, Amanda Renteria talks often about her parents, who were migrant farmworkers in the Central Valley.

On the campaign trail, Amanda Renteria talks often about her parents, who were migrant farmworkers in the Central Valley. Courtesy Amanda Renteria for Congress hide caption

itoggle caption Courtesy Amanda Renteria for Congress

Identity Politics Center Stage In California's Central Valley Campaign

The race for the 21st Congressional District seat pits two relatively young, up-and-coming politicians against one another. And the politics of identity and immigration aren't as simple as they seem.

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President Obama, is watched by Mark Miller, back second from left, Ellyn Miller, and their son Jake Miller, left, as he signs the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, into law in the Oval Office this spring. The Democratic and Republican parties complained to the Federal Election Commission that the law took away public funding for their political conventions.

President Obama, is watched by Mark Miller, back second from left, Ellyn Miller, and their son Jake Miller, left, as he signs the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, into law in the Oval Office this spring. The Democratic and Republican parties complained to the Federal Election Commission that the law took away public funding for their political conventions. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Follow The Money

FEC Greenlights More Convention Cash For Political Parties

by S.V. Date

The Federal Election Commission approved a request from the Democratic and Republican parties to replace lost public funding with more donations from individuals — up to $32,400 per person per year.

Adreanne Lewis signs up for a photo ID at a senior center in Arlington County, Va., with the help of Bill Sands, outreach coordinator for the county registrar.

Adreanne Lewis signs up for a photo ID at a senior center in Arlington County, Va., with the help of Bill Sands, outreach coordinator for the county registrar. Pam Fessler/NPR hide caption

itoggle caption Pam Fessler/NPR

Rules For Provisional Ballots All Over The Map

People who don't have the right ID or who run into other problems at the polls are often told to vote a provisional ballot. But the rules governing these ballots vary, and many are never counted.

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Rapper Lil Jon appears in a new ad for Rock the Vote's 2014 campaign. The organization was founded to get Generation X engaged in politics, and is adapting its tactics to reach millennials.

Rapper Lil Jon appears in a new ad for Rock the Vote's 2014 campaign. The organization was founded to get Generation X engaged in politics, and is adapting its tactics to reach millennials. Courtesy of Rock the Vote hide caption

itoggle caption Courtesy of Rock the Vote

Millennial Voters Are Paying Attention — So Why Don't More Vote?

Young people showed major interest in voting in 2004 and 2008. Since then, their numbers have fallen off as the political system has become gridlocked.

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Jennifer Melsop and Erika Turner, from Centreville, Va., embrace after they were officially pronounced married. Virginia began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples just hours after the Supreme Court's action.

Jennifer Melsop and Erika Turner, from Centreville, Va., embrace after they were officially pronounced married. Virginia began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples just hours after the Supreme Court's action. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Stunning SCOTUS Move Widens Same-Sex Marriage To 30 States

The U.S. Supreme Court Monday stepped out of the gay-marriage debate — at least for now. But the court's decision not to decide will have an immediate and dramatic effect.

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Republican strategist Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS group is planning to spend at least $23 million in key Senate races in the final two months of the campaign. The group is a tax-exempt non-profit and is allowed to keep the names of its donors secret.

Republican strategist Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS group is planning to spend at least $23 million in key Senate races in the final two months of the campaign. The group is a tax-exempt non-profit and is allowed to keep the names of its donors secret. Rich Pedroncelli/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Rich Pedroncelli/AP

Follow The Money

Democrats Winning Big Money, GOP Winning Big Secret Money

by S.V. Date

Democrats have the biggest-spending superPAC so far in Senate Majority PAC, but that could be overshadowed by secretly funded Republican-leaning groups Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity.