AGP Executive Report

Local Elections & Campaigning: Malaysia’s Barisan Nasional says it will focus on its agenda in Johor and avoid attacks on rivals, with candidate lists nearing final approval ahead of a July 11 polling day. Direct Democracy & Immigration: Switzerland votes Sunday on a constitutional cap of 10 million people by 2050; supporters say it eases housing and services pressure, while critics warn it could restrict asylum and free movement with the EU. Election Integrity & Oversight: South Korea’s parties are pushing to overhaul the National Election Commission after ballot shortages disrupted June 3 local voting, with debate now touching possible constitutional changes. Election Security in Practice: Canada’s elections watchdog fined a Hamilton poll worker $1,250 after he voted twice in 2021, underscoring how rare fraud is but also how closely ballots are tracked. Political Accountability & Media: A French watchdog report accuses Israeli firm BlackCore of meddling in elections via online disinformation, including targets in Scotland, France, Angola, Togo, and New York City. State & Local Results: Millsboro voters re-elected Ron O’Neal to Town Council District 2, while other seats were either uncontested or filled by the only candidate. International Politics: Peru’s election race is poised to bring Keiko Fujimori back to power after a razor-thin contest.

UK Politics: The Makerfield by-election is turning into a leadership test for Keir Starmer, with Andy Burnham signaling he could move fast to challenge the PM if he wins. Election Integrity & Rules: Fiji’s Unity Fiji warns against changing voting rules too close to the next election, saying it could damage trust. Voter Access & ID: Arizona lawmakers advanced a ballot measure requiring photo ID for voting, including mail ballots, raising concerns about disenfranchising eligible voters. Democracy & Turnout: Nigeria’s COPAC urged ADC to hold a national candidate summit ahead of 2027 polls, while Yiaga Africa flagged low turnout and communication issues during Ekiti’s BVAS mock accreditation. State-Level Ballot Battles: Georgia lawmakers face a July 1 deadline over QR codes on printed ballots, and Virginia Republicans voted to nullify Lynchburg’s firehouse primary results. Campaigns & Parties: Malaysia’s PH named Arthur Chiong Sen Sern as its first Johor candidate, while Hungary’s Viktor Orbán was re-elected Fidesz leader despite April election defeat. Civic Participation: New York voters are already using early voting ahead of the June 23 primary.

Election Integrity & Fraud Claims: Trump and top Republicans are again pushing unsubstantiated fraud claims about California’s primary, while the LA U.S. Attorney’s Office opened multiple election-fraud investigations tied to the state’s vote-counting. Voter Access & Ballot Curing: Imperial County, California, reminded voters to “cure” ballots with missing or mismatched signatures by June 24. Election Law Changes: Arizona lawmakers advanced the Arizona Secure Elections Act to the statewide ballot, tightening rules on citizenship, ID requirements, foreign spending, and mail-ballot requests. Midterms Watch: A North Carolina U.S. Senate race moved from “toss up” to “lean D” in a new likely-voter poll. Ranked-Choice Counting: Maine has started counting ranked-choice ballots for governor and a key House race. Local Elections & Planning: Sierra Vista, Arizona, approved the Vista 2040 General Plan for voter consideration in November. Civic Participation: Colorado’s primary turnout gap is highlighted as many unaffiliated voters skip June primaries that shape November choices. International Disinfo: Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney was targeted by coordinated fake social media activity linked to an Israeli firm, according to a French agency. Democracy Under Pressure: Ohio authorities raided an organizing group tied to major 2024 voter registration efforts, seizing computers.

Election Access & Deadlines: Pima County, Arizona is urging residents to register for the July 21, 2026 primary before June 22, with early voting starting June 24 and absentee deadlines set for late June. State-Level Party Politics: In Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is pushing Pakatan Harapan for a fresh mandate, while Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun warns PH leaders not to “betray” the coalition if they’re not picked as candidates. Runoff Voting Watch: Georgia’s early voting for statewide runoffs is ending Friday, after a judge tossed an election-night lawsuit over access to a vote tabulation operations center. Election Integrity Disputes: Nevada and other places are seeing ballot-counting and eligibility fights, including an Alaska elections official threatening to disqualify a Senate challenger over a name/eligibility issue. Campaign & Media Power: The U.S. DOJ antitrust division reportedly approved David Ellison’s $110bn takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, raising fresh concerns about political influence over major news outlets. Voter Sentiment: A Rasmussen survey finds 51% of likely voters want ballots counted within 24 hours after polls close. Labor & Democracy: Wisconsin nurses at St. Mary’s in Madison voted to unionize, a major workplace election with national attention.

Election Administration & Dates (Malaysia): Malaysia’s Election Commission set Johor’s state polls for July 11 (nominations June 27; early voting July 7) and Negeri Sembilan for Aug. 1 (nominations July 18; early voting July 28), with campaign periods set at 14 days and costs estimated at RM86.8m and RM80.6m. Election Integrity Fight (Armenia): Armenia’s opposition alliance Strong Armenia asked the election commission to annul June 7 results after the commission invalidated two polling stations, a move that could shift parties below parliament thresholds; Prosperous Armenia and others are also pushing legal challenges. Runoff Voting (Georgia): Georgia early voting for the June 16 runoff ends Friday, with more than 325,000 voters already cast; voters can vote at any early site in their county with photo ID. Recount Request (Indiana): Indiana state Sen. Liz Brown asked the recount commission member overseeing her primary recount to recuse himself, citing campaign contributions to her challenger after a 14-vote loss. Voter Access & Rules (Louisiana): Louisiana begins a week of early voting Friday ahead of a June 27 election, including separate GOP and Democratic primaries for the U.S. Senate seat. Elections & Democracy Messaging (Nigeria): President Tinubu warned that democracy fails when citizens doubt elections, urging INEC, security agencies, and parties to keep Ekiti and Osun polls peaceful and credible. Politics Meets Pop Culture (U.S.): A White House UFC event tied to Trump’s birthday is drawing attention to how politics and sports are colliding in public view. Labor & Elections (U.S.): Nurses at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin voted to unionize, setting up contract talks under federal labor law.

Election Integrity & Access: New York AG Letitia James is rolling out an Election Protection Hotline for the June 23 primary, with help for mail and in-person voting problems. Voting Systems Under Scrutiny: Maricopa County’s ballot scanner dispute is back in the spotlight after surveillance video showed it being removed and later replaced, fueling authority fights. Primary Results & Runoffs: Nevada’s primary is setting up November matchups, including Gov. Joe Lombardo vs. AG Aaron Ford and CD2’s David Flippo vs. Teresa Benitez-Thompson. Local Governance & Services: St. Tammany voters rejected streetlight funding renewals, meaning lights in three districts will go dark. Campaign Finance & Power: Kenya’s 2027 election spending is expected to be record-high as campaign finance rules remain stalled, keeping elections expensive and exclusionary. Party Politics: A judge refused to block Kansas officials from dissolving No Labels Kansas, pushing the dispute to a meeting and next steps. UK Politics: Dan Jarvis was named UK defense secretary after Al Carns quit over defense spending plans.

Election Security & Local Polling: Philippines police in Eastern Visayas launched “Kamurayaw,” deploying 302 officers to potential BSKE hotspots to keep the 2026 barangay and SK vote orderly. Voter Guidance & Ballot Integrity: Maryland’s primary is June 23, with early voting June 11–18; officials are still dealing with replacement ballots after some mail voters got the wrong party ballot. Union Power in Elections-Adjacent Work: Pebble Beach caddies will vote June 18 on unionizing after a shift from contractors to employees, with a petition pushing for Unite Here Local 19. Campaigns, Parties, and Internal Fallout: South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party faces calls for chair Jung Chung-rae to resign after the June 3 local elections, while police raided election watchdog offices amid a ballot shortage scandal. Global Election Watch: Peru’s runoff is razor-thin—Keiko Fujimori leads by about 650 votes with some ballots flagged for judicial review. U.S. Politics & Primaries: Maine’s Democratic Senate primary went to Graham Platner, setting up a fall race vs. Susan Collins. Voter Tools & Tech: A UK AI voter guide drew 5,000 users in two weeks to match voters with candidates based on manifestos.

Election Integrity & Voting Rules: Ohio Republicans advanced a last-minute plan to require photo ID for absentee voting starting in 2027, with limited exemptions for military, overseas, medical, disability, and religious reasons. Federal Election Oversight: DOJ officials told reporters they haven’t found a mass fraud conspiracy in Los Angeles elections, while still warning targeted prosecutions could follow. Local Election Administration: Union County, Ky. is facing a court review after a ballot coding error sent one voter the wrong ballot style in a May primary. Campaign & Candidate Scrutiny: Maine Democrats rally behind Senate nominee Graham Platner after a primary win, even as controversy over his past behavior and online posts continues to dog the campaign. International Politics With U.S. Stakes: Armenia’s pro-West government won its parliamentary election amid allegations of pressure and irregularities, with the U.S. president publicly congratulating PM Nikol Pashinyan. Middle East: Israel’s Likud says Benjamin Netanyahu will seek re-election despite Trump publicly questioning whether he would run. Voter Prep & Access: Maryland’s gubernatorial primary is set for June 23, with early voting running June 11–18 and mail deadlines approaching June 16. Local Ballot Measures: Slidell, La. will ask voters in December on seven charter revision proposals, including changes to how certain vacancies are handled.

Election Integrity & Administration: South Korea’s election commission cut the ballot-printing minimum from 60% to 50% via internal sign-off without a formal meeting or minutes, a change now tied to ballot shortages that disrupted voting. Legal Battles Over Voting Rules: New Hampshire’s citizenship affidavit option returns for voters after a federal judge struck down parts of a law that removed affidavits—now only citizenship can be proven that way at the polls. Campaigns Under Scrutiny: Fiji’s Electoral Commission is urged to review pre-election government spending that critics say could cross into vote-buying. Party Politics & Power Plays: In Malaysia, PAS ended cooperation with Bersatu but says ties remain; analysts warn the split could weaken the opposition in Johor and Negeri Sembilan. Contested Elections Abroad: Armenia’s opposition and international observers trade accusations over the fairness of the parliamentary vote as recounts and legal challenges continue. Voter Access & Logistics: New York election officials urge voters to mail ballots early after USPS postmark changes could affect when ballots are dated. Local Results: Minot, North Dakota voters kept Mayor Mark Jantzer and elected three new council members.

Election Integrity Clash (Georgia): The Justice Department argues Georgia can remove voters from the rolls during the 90-day “quiet period” for federal elections if the state acts on flagged, individual cases—setting up a direct fight over what protections mean in practice. Election Administration (Arizona): Maricopa County officials accuse recorder Justin Heap’s office of improperly seizing election equipment and documents while votes were being counted, raising chain-of-custody concerns. Primary Challenges (West Virginia): Del. Laura Kimble will formally challenge her GOP primary loss by six votes, alleging ballot counts don’t match registered Republican voters in a closed primary. Maine Senate Stakes: Maine voters head into a high-salience Senate primary where partisan loyalty is tested; a Reuters/Ipsos poll finds most voters won’t switch over candidate controversies. California Vote Counting Pressure: As California’s slow mail-ballot count continues, the U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on late-arriving ballots could force changes before November. Local Voting Glitches: A Linn, Missouri mayoral race triggers a special election after some residents received the wrong ballot style in April. Immigration & Voting Policy (U.S.): DHS directs ICE to deport undocumented people who illegally vote, tying election fraud enforcement to citizenship verification.

Election Integrity & Voting Access: South Carolina’s primaries are in full swing with 319,000+ ballots already cast and polls open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; the state’s open primary means you can vote in either party’s primary but not both, which could shape who survives to runoffs. Campaign Money & Power: A Democratic group, American Bridge 21st Century, is launching a $50M ad push to flip House and Senate seats, aiming at GOP-held districts as Democrats try to close fundraising gaps. State Election Rules: Colorado clerks are starting to mail ballots for the June 30 primary, with deadlines and rules for unaffiliated voters. Legal Battles Over Ballots: Nigeria’s Labour Party is suing INEC over alleged exclusion from an Enugu North by-election after nomination portal problems. International Elections: Armenia’s PM Nikol Pashinyan claims victory in a vote seen as a test of Russia’s influence, while Peru’s runoff remains razor-thin with 94% counted. Local Governance: South Korea’s president called last week’s local election results a “warning” after a ballot shortage in Seoul.

Armenia Election Fallout: Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract won about 49.8% in Sunday’s parliamentary vote, securing a majority as turnout neared 59%, while the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc took about 23.3%; opposition leaders rejected the results and alleged irregularities amid reports of arrests and pressure. Election Integrity Fight in the U.S.: A top DOJ prosecutor raised fraud concerns about California’s vote-by-mail system, while Senate Democrats warned DOJ is quietly stepping back from election-protection work; meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump’s “rigged” rhetoric but admitted it’s “impossible to prove.” State Election Rules Watch: Wisconsin’s new elections chief says only pending court orders could change rules for upcoming elections, and Oklahoma rolled out new “I Voted” stickers for its June 16 primary. Local Voting Deadlines: South Carolina shattered early-voting records for its June 9 primaries; Louisiana reminded voters of June 23 absentee deadlines for the Aug. 6 election. Canada Referendum Prep: Alberta elections officials kicked off hiring for an Oct. 19 referendum on separation, needing tens of thousands of workers. Voter Access & IDs: Nagaland issued strict voter ID rules for June 16 town council bye-elections, limiting who can enter polling places.

Peru Presidential Runoff: Peru’s vote count is still too close to call as ONPE reports Fujimori leading with 84%+ counted, while Ipsos quick counts show a statistical tie (Sánchez 50.3% vs Fujimori 49.7%), with rural ballots still expected to narrow the gap amid reports of isolated irregularities in Lima. Armenia Election Overhaul: Armenia’s pro-West Civil Contract party is leading and says it will form government, with preliminary results putting it at about 49.8% and four political forces set to enter parliament; the vote is widely framed as a test of Pashinyan’s pivot away from Russia and a push for peace with Azerbaijan. Kosovo Coalition Crunch: Kosovo’s Vetëvendosje won the early election with about 43% but fell short of governing alone, leaving coalition talks after low turnout and a third election in 16 months. US Voting Integrity Fight: California’s slow vote counting and voter-roll audit disputes are fueling distrust, while Trump again walked out of an NBC interview after being pressed on “rigged election” claims. Election Rules Watch (Indiana): Indiana closed-primaries efforts are back in focus after a recount push over alleged crossover voting, reigniting debate over who gets to participate in primaries. Switzerland Population Cap: A “Swiss Brexit” referendum to cap the population at 10 million is set for 14 June, with business groups warning of economic harm if it passes. Local Governance & Crime: Ahead of DC’s primary, voters say crime and homelessness remain top concerns, with policing capacity and staffing shortages driving the debate.

Armenia Parliamentary Vote: Armenia’s Central Election Commission says polling closed normally and turnout hit 58.97% by 8:00 PM, with 1,476,597 ballots cast out of 2,503,976 registered voters; the CEC chair also says power outages and late voting after polling closed didn’t affect results, though turnout could shift slightly after final checks. Election Integrity Fight: Armenian authorities reported dozens of alleged violations and detentions, while opposition figures and outside observers described the vote as highly problematic; the CEC also reported electronic voting results and certified protocols. U.S. Election Rhetoric: President Trump walked out of NBC’s “Meet the Press” after being pressed on claims that California elections are “rigged,” escalating a broader dispute over election fraud allegations and vote counting. Kosovo Snap Polls: Early results from Kosovo’s third election in 18 months show Kurti’s Vetëvendosje leading with lower turnout than last December, keeping coalition questions in play. Malaysia Politics: Barisan Nasional leaders framed Johor’s state election as a national “blue wave” test, while Sabah Pakatan Harapan announced leadership restructuring ahead of the next general election. UK Labor Party Tensions: The GMB union voted against consulting members on disaffiliating from Labour, amid fears it could boost Reform UK.

Armenia Parliamentary Vote: Armenians are voting in a high-stakes election that could shape the country’s Westward tilt versus continued ties with Russia, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan casting his ballot and church leaders urging voters to back Armenia’s future; turnout was reported at about 14.5% by late morning, while election officials said two commission leaders and a secretary were detained overnight and a suspect was arrested for alleged election-rights obstruction. Allegations of Vote-Buying: Armenia’s anti-corruption authorities say a candidate linked to the “Strong Armenia” bloc allegedly offered bribes in Lori Province, leading to detentions. Kosovo Snap Election: Kosovo is holding its third election in 16 months after parliament failed to elect a president, with Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje seen as the favorite but needing opposition support to break the quorum deadlock. Peru Runoff: Peru votes for a new president again—its ninth in 10 years—after a first-round race between Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez, with crime and instability driving a tight, potentially slow-to-resolve result. U.S. Election Integrity Fight: A new report highlights Republican candidates for governor who rejected the 2020 election results, raising concerns about how they could influence state election administration. South Korea Ballot Shortage Protests: Thousands in Seoul keep demanding a rerun of local elections after ballot shortages, with election officials resigning amid the fallout.

California Elections Under Scrutiny: U.S. prosecutors and the DOJ are probing possible election fraud as California’s vote count drags on, while Trump and allies keep pushing “cheating” claims. South Korea Local Vote Crisis: Thousands protested ballot shortages after the election commission said papers ran out at dozens of polling stations; the election chief resigned and protesters demand a rerun. California Governor Race: Democrat Xavier Becerra won his way to the November general election, setting up a matchup likely against Steve Hilton or Tom Steyer. Armenia Parliamentary Vote: Authorities arrested six opposition candidates ahead of Sunday’s election, with the race framed as a choice between closer ties to the West or Russia. Peru Runoff Sunday: Peruvians vote for president in a second-round showdown between Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sanchez amid security fears and prior irregularity allegations. Pakistan Gilgit-Baltistan Voting: Polls open Sunday across 24 constituencies with heavy security, as parties and independents battle for seats. Malaysia Johor Election Setup: Malaysia’s police and election machinery are ramping up for Johor’s state election after the assembly was dissolved. India Rajya Sabha Nominations: Parties filed candidates for biennial Rajya Sabha seats, with the June 18 vote looming.