A conclave begins Wednesday to elect the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, a successor to Pope Francis who died in April at the age of 88. NBC News covers the Papal conclave at the Vatican.

Republican state lawmakers succeeded last week in their nearly decade-long quest to wrest control of the elections board away from the governor's office and to give themselves power over the board.

Republican state lawmakers succeeded last week in their nearly decade-long quest to wrest control of the elections board away from the governor's office and to give themselves power over the board.