Toll road

Florida election officials have outlined the key dates voters need to know ahead of the 2026 midterm. The deadline to register to vote, or to update a name, address, or party affiliation, is Oct. 5. Voters who want to cast a mail-in ballot must request one by Oct. 22. Early voting runs from Oct. 24 through Oct. 31, with Election Day set for Nov. 3.

To be eligible, a voter must be a U.S. citizen and Florida resident at least 18 years old, not be deemed mentally incapacitated for voting purposes, and not have an unrestored felony conviction. Registration can be completed online, at tax collector's offices that issue Florida driver's licenses or state ID cards, through designated voter registration agencies, or by mail. Local supervisors of elections, including in Leon County, are extending office hours on the registration deadline day to accommodate last-minute registrants. Turnout for Florida midterms historically trails presidential-year turnout significantly, with the 2026 ballot set to decide the governor's race, legislative control, and congressional seats.

These deadlines matter for prediction markets tracking turnout and registration trends ahead of Florida's competitive 2026 races.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey is calling on Illinois to eliminate tolls entirely and cancel an upcoming toll increase, arguing higher costs will worsen inflation and burden residents and businesses. Motorists face a 45-cent toll increase, with commercial vehicle tolls rising 30%, the largest hike in Illinois Tollway history. The increase was approved as part of last year's $1.3 billion statewide transit bill funding tollway construction and transit systems including Metra, Pace, and the CTA.

Bailey did not detail how the state would replace lost toll revenue or fund the transit measure without the increase, though he argued lower costs would keep residents and businesses in Illinois, generating revenue over time. Gov. JB Pritzker dismissed the proposal as fiscally unrealistic, saying Bailey misunderstands the state budget, though he acknowledged not having reviewed full details. Both candidates are expected to appear at the Illinois State Fair this week, as the 2026 gubernatorial race continues to take shape.

New Hampshire's legislature has overridden Gov. Kelly Ayotte's vetoes to enact two laws raising costs for out-of-state visitors. A new 10-year transportation plan increases tolls for drivers paying cash or using an E-ZPass issued outside New Hampshire, while those with a funded New Hampshire E-ZPass account avoid the hike. Starting in January 2027, the Hampton toll on I-95 rises from $2 to $4, Bedford and Hooksett tolls double from $1 to $2, and the Spaulding Turnpike tolls in Dover and Somersworth increase from 75 cents to $1.50. It marks the first statewide toll increase since 2007.

A separate law will roughly double state park parking fees for out-of-state visitors, from $4 to $8 for most parks, with supporters citing heavy use by Massachusetts residents. Ayotte called the toll increase a tax hike on state residents, though both overrides passed with bipartisan support. Out-of-staters can avoid higher tolls by obtaining a New Hampshire E-ZPass regardless of residency.