Gracie Stockton

Studies have shown that teaching officers to de-escalate confrontations can reduce violent encounters, but many states don’t mandate it. 

After Congress failed to aid local election offices, a nonprofit provided critical funds — including $350 million from Mark Zuckerberg — that paid for staff, ballot-scanning machines, protective gear, and rental space that helped the presidential election run surprisingly smoothly.

The critical swing state that had a disastrous April primary endures a divisive election with long lines at the polls and battles in the courts — all amid a raging coronavirus outbreak. Yet voter turnout has been surging.

Election officials in cities across the country had ballots delayed or go missing in the mail.