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Votebeat has a new look — and a public health sister site

Three logos in red, blue and pink on a white background.
Votebeat, Healthbeat, and Chalkbeat logos. (Civic News Company)

Welcome to Votebeat’s new website!

If you’re a regular reader, you might have noticed that things are looking a little different here. Nothing about our stories or functionality of the site has changed, but we’ve got a new look that we hope you appreciate: simple, modern, and proudly showcasing the journalism you know and value.

Our new color palette is aimed at bringing visual energy and eye-catching urgency to our pages, wherever readers may see them out in the world. You’ll notice the rebranding on our newsletters, social media accounts, and online news platforms too.

Votebeat’s makeover also brings a consistent visual identity across the news orgs under the Civic News Company brand and coincides with the launch of a new sibling site. Meet Healthbeat, officially launching today to cover public health.

Healthbeat reporters will be digging into issues that shape our collective well-being, from infectious diseases to air and water quality and food safety. And they will be bringing the Votebeat (and Chalkbeat) model of national and local reporting to bear on public health at a time when it’s badly needed. Healthbeat will start with bureaus in New York City and Atlanta as well as national reporting in partnership with the great folks over at KFF Health News.

I hope you will check them out, starting with editor in chief Charlene Pacenti’s introduction to Healthbeat’s work. You can also sign up for Healthbeat’s newsletters here.

— Chad Lorenz

The Latest

A technical committee will soon review proposed changes to certification guidelines for voting systems. Local officials worry about the potential cost — and the impact on public faith.

The state’s in-house system has limitations that make it impractical for big cities. A committee is looking at commercial alternatives.

The voters were warned they would be moved to the inactive list if they didn’t respond. The Recorder’s Office said it was a printing error.

Groups like Rank MI Vote want the state to adopt the method that was just used in New York City’s mayoral primary.

If approved, the accord would close out four years of litigation over a 2021 law that drew a challenge from groups representing voting rights groups.

Confrontation shapes up as a preview of next year’s gubernatorial contest, in which the secretary of state is a leading contender.