On this episode: Ballotpedia CEO and Founder Leslie Graves joins host Norm Leahy to dig into a concept that doesn't get nearly enough attention: self-governance at the local level. Leslie wonders whether one of the biggest threats to American democracy isn't what dominates national headlines, but rather decades of declining civic participation in school boards, city councils, and town meetings. They also get into a fresh example of local engagement in action: voters in Festus, Missouri, who just booted their entire city council over a data center vote.

Read Leslie’s Column: https://ballotpedia.org/From_the_desk_of_Leslie_Graves

Check out our complete office hours series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtP8LWIl9mMO2t_0SXnYhwMv6HHgIoL75

Are you running for office, or struggling to find information for a candidate? Send them our Candidate Connection Survey or take it yourself: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection

Looking to get involved? Learn more about volunteer opportunities with Ballotpedia here: https://ballotpedia.org/Support:Volunteer

Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6

Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates

Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.

*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: Ballotpedia CEO and co-founder Leslie Graves joins host Norm Leahy to talk redistricting — what's driving the wave of mid-decade map changes ahead of the 2026 midterms, and why the same line-drawing logic that shapes congressional races also determines which school your kids attend. They also get into the history of the gerrymander, the debate over independent redistricting commissions, and whether any of it is actually fair.

Read Leslie’s Column: https://ballotpedia.org/From_the_desk_of_Leslie_Graves

Check out our complete office hours series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtP8LWIl9mMO2t_0SXnYhwMv6HHgIoL75

Are you running for office, or struggling to find information for a candidate? Send them our Candidate Connection Survey or take it yourself: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection

Looking to get involved? Learn more about volunteer opportunities with Ballotpedia here: https://ballotpedia.org/Support:Volunteer

Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6

Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates

Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.

*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: Primary season is officially underway in America, and Ballotpedia founder and CEO Leslie Graves joins host Norman Leahy to break down what the early 2026 results actually tell us. They dig into how primaries vary widely from state to state — open, closed, jungle, caucus, convention — and why that complexity can leave voters confused when they cross state lines. They also explore how off-cycle elections affect turnout, how an active redistricting cycle is reshaping the playing field ahead of November, and why local and down-ballot races may have more influence over everyday life than the marquee contests dominating the headlines.

• https://news.ballotpedia.org/2026/02/20/introducing-a-new-ballotpedia-project-for-americas-250th-anniversary-the-blueprints-of-democracy/

• https://ballotpedia.org/America_250_Blueprints_of_Democracy

• Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6

• Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates

Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.

*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.