Welcome to the Friday, January 5, Brew.
By: Samuel Wonacott
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Voters decided 264 local ballot measures in 29 states in 2023
- All 50 states have confirmed the dates for their 2024 statewide primaries and presidential nominating contests
- #FridayTrivia: How many bills and resolutions related to direct democracy did state legislatures enact in 2023?
Voters decided 264 local ballot measures in 29 states in 2023
The start of a new year is a perfect time to take stock of what happened in the previous one. We did just that a few days ago, when we looked at the 385 bills and resolutions related to initiatives, referendums, and recalls that state lawmakers proposed in 2023. Today, let’s continue that theme, with a focus on the local ballot measures we covered in the country’s 100 largest cities and the state capitals that fall outside that category.
In 2023, we covered 264 local measures in 29 states. The 264 local measures we covered this year is about a 31% increase from 2021, when voters in the top 100 cities and state capitals decided 202 local measures (they approved 141 and rejected 61).
In 2023, voters approved 219 (82.95%) of the measures and rejected 45 (17.05%). Eleven (4.16%) were citizen initiatives, while city councils, school districts, or other local governing bodies referred the other 253 (95.83%) to the ballot.
Ballotpedia also covered all local measures in California and all statewide ballot measures in the country. Only the California measures in the top 100 largest cities were included in this report. You can read an analysis of California’s local ballot measures here.
Within our coverage scope, Texas, with 80, had the most measures. Texans approved 62 and rejected 18. Arizona, with 32, had the second-highest number. Voters there approved 26 and defeated six.
What topics did these measures address? A little of everything, from bond issues and taxes to marijuana, abortion, elections, and housing. Here’s a sample:
- Bond issues were the most prevalent topic, with 93 measures (35.23%). On May 9, for example, voters in the Westside Community School District, in Nebraska, approved a measure allowing the district to issue $121 million in bonds to pay for school infrastructure and security enhancement projects. The vote was 63.5% to 36.5%.
- Sixty-three measures (23.86%) concerned local taxes. In August, King County, Washington voters approved Proposition 1, a tax to finance facilities and services for veterans, seniors, and servicemembers.
- Thirty-four (12.88%) concerned city, county, or district governance, local budgets, and public officials. Burlington, Vermont, voters approved Question 6, which authorizes ranked-choice voting (RCV) in elections for mayor, school commissioners, and ward election officers (use our RCV hub to learn more about this voting system, including the other states and municipalities that have adopted it).
- Abortion was also on local ballots this year. In San Antonio, Texas, residents voted 71.63% to 28.37% to reject Proposition A, which, among other things, would have prohibited the police from enforcing abortion laws. Voters in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, voted 76.91% to 23.09% to approve an advisory question that supports repealing “a state law that bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy without exception for rape, incest, or the health of the patient.”
Click below to read more about 2023’s local measures.
All 50 states have confirmed the dates for their 2024 statewide primaries and presidential nominating contests
The 2024 election cycle technically began last November, when filing deadlines for statewide and presidential primary candidates passed in Alabama and Arkansas. But with Iowa’s presidential nominating caucus only 10 days away, it’s safe to say primary season has begun.
Here are the most recent announcements since our last update in December:
- Connecticut will hold its statewide primary on Aug. 13. The candidate filing deadline for this primary is June 11.
- Georgia will hold its statewide primary on May 21. The candidate filing deadline for this primary is March 8.
- Maine will hold its statewide primary on June 11. The candidate filing deadline for this primary is March 15.
- New Jersey will hold its statewide primary and its presidential preference primary on June 4. The candidate filing deadline for these primaries is March 25.
- Pennsylvania will hold its presidential preference primary on April 23. The candidate filing deadline for this primary is February 13.
- Utah will hold a presidential preference primary on March 5. Republicans will hold a separate presidential caucus on the same day. The Democratic candidate filing deadline for this primary was Dec. 1. The Republican candidate filing deadline for this caucus was December 15.
- Wyoming Democrats will hold their presidential caucus on April 13. Wyoming Republicans will hold their presidential caucus on April 20. The candidate filing deadline for this primary varies by party.
- Puerto Rico will hold its primary on June 2. There is a two-part candidate filing deadline for this primary with 50% of required signatures due on Jan. 31 and the remaining signatures due by Feb. 15.
When we zoom out to look at the big picture, we find that 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia have announced the dates for their 2024 statewide primaries.
Separately, 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Democrats Abroad have announced the dates for their presidential nominating contests. Democrats in American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands have confirmed the dates for their presidential nominating contests as well, but their Republican counterparts have not.
New Hampshire will hold its presidential primary on Jan. 23, making it the season’s first primary. Last year, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) voted for South Carolina to hold the first presidential primary in 2024. However, New Hampshire election officials have cited a state law requiring their primary to occur at least a week before similar elections. Consequently, President Joe Biden (D) will not appear on the New Hampshire primary ballot.
We’ll continue bringing you regular updates on 2024 primary dates and deadlines. Click the link below to learn more.
#FridayTrivia: How many bills and resolutions related to direct democracy did state legislatures enact in 2023?
In the Wednesday Brew, we looked at the bills and resolutions state lawmakers introduced and enacted last year related to ballot initiatives, referendums, and recalls.
Using our legislation database, we found that, throughout 2023, lawmakers introduced 385 bills and resolutions regarding direct democracy—an increase from the 286 proposed on average between 2018 and 2022. We also found that the number of enacted bills and resolutions in 2023 exceeds the previous five-year (2018-2022) average of 32 bills.
We’re continually updating our legislation database with the latest election administration-related bills in all 50 states. Click here to use our Election Administration Legislation Tracker to learn about bills affecting direct democracy—and other aspects of the electoral system—in your state.
How many bills and resolutions related to direct democracy did legislatures enact in 2023?