Welcome to the Friday, January 26, Brew.
By: Samuel Wonacott
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Fifty-five statewide measures certified for the ballot in 25 states in 2024
- Stadium tax measure for Kansas City Chiefs and Royals will appear on the April 2 ballot
- #FridayTrivia: How many state legislative districts changed partisan control in special elections since 2010?
Fifty-five statewide measures certified for the ballot in 25 states in 2024
Throughout the year, we’re bringing you regular updates on the latest statewide ballot measure certifications. Here’s where things stand in the last few days of January.
So far, 55 statewide ballot measures have been certified for the ballot in 25 states—one less than the average (56) for this point in election cycles from 2012 to 2022. An average of 157 were certified in even-numbered years in that period.
Campaigns in Alaska, Michigan, and Florida submitted signatures to election officials for the following measures:
- Alaska Minimum Wage Increase and Paid Sick Leave Initiative
- Alaska Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative
- Florida Marijuana Legalization Initiative
- Florida Right to Abortion Initiative
- Michigan $15 Minimum Wage Initiative
Those measures are pending signature verification or other pre-certification actions. Election officials in Massachusetts and Washington verified enough signatures for the following 11 indirect initiatives to go to their respective legislatures for further action:
- Massachusetts App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative
- Massachusetts Authorization of State Auditor to Audit General Court Initiative
- Massachusetts Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Initiative
- Massachusetts Regulated Access to Psychedelic Substances Initiative
- Massachusetts Repeal Competency Assessment Requirement for High School Graduation Initiative
- Massachusetts Unionization and Collective Bargaining for Transportation Network Drivers Initiative
- Washington Initiative 2081, Parental Right to Review Education Materials, Receive Notifications, and Opt Out of Sexual-Health Education Initiative
- Washington Initiative 2109, Repeal Capital Gains Tax Initiative
- Washington Initiative 2111, Prohibit Income Taxes Initiative
- Washington Initiative 2113, Police Vehicular Pursuits Initiative
- Washington Initiative 2117, Repeal Carbon Cap and Invest Program Measure
Washington has preliminarily certified Initiative 2124, the Opt-Out of Long-Term Services Insurance Program Initiative, to the legislature pending a final signature count.
An indirect initiative means the legislature has the option to pass the initiative outright. Lawmakers have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. In Michigan and Washington, when legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide. In Alaska, the legislature can pass a bill that is substantially similar to the initiative, rendering the initiative void. In Massachusetts, petitioners collect a second round of signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.
In Florida the process is direct—the initiative goes to the ballot after signature verification and other official actions.
The next signature deadline is Jan. 29, in Maine, where signatures could be filed for an initiative related to campaign contribution limits. At least 67,682 valid signatures must be filed.
Click the link below to read more about 2024 statewide ballot measures.
Stadium tax measure for Kansas City Chiefs and Royals will appear on the April 2 ballot
Speaking of ballot measures, let’s check in on a local one in Missouri.
On April 2, voters in Jackson County will decide on a ballot measure to renew a sales tax that would fund stadium improvements for the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals.
The Jackson County Legislature voted 8-1 to place the measure on the ballot on Jan. 8. County Executive Frank White (D), a former professional baseball player, vetoed the measure, saying the tax would “generate over $2 billion from our residents, yet there is no clear understanding or assurance regarding the teams’ commitments and contributions to the county. It’s not a good deal for taxpayers and I cannot support an agreement that is not in their best interest.”
The county legislature voted 7-2 on Jan. 22 to override White’s veto.
Jackson County Legislator DaRon McGee (D) said, “County Executive White wanted to takeaway that choice from voters and fortunately thanks to overwhelming support from our citizens including business, labor, nonprofit and other community organizations we prevailed and can now proceed to do the important work ahead.”
The measure would renew an existing 0.375% sales tax, which expires in 2031, for an additional 40 years through 2071.
The stadium leases for the Chiefs and Royals also expire in 2031. The Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals have not negotiated new leases or development agreements with Jackson County.
Voters approved the existing 0.375% sales tax on April 4, 2006. The original ballot measure approved the tax for 25 years.
This is the first tax or other incentive for sports stadiums to go on the 2024 ballot. There were at least two in 2023. In Tempe, Arizona, voters rejected a redevelopment plan for a professional sports franchise and entertainment district. In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, voters approved a sales tax measure to fund a downtown arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder, a professional basketball team.
Click here to learn more about this year’s local ballot measures. Click below to read more about the Jackson County sales tax measure.
Keep reading
#FridayTrivia: How many state legislative districts changed partisan control in special elections since 2010?
In the Thursday Brew, we looked at the two state legislative districts that’ve changed partisan control in special elections this year. In New Hampshire on Jan. 23, Michael Murphy (R) defeated Edith Tucker (D) in the special election for New Hampshire House of Representatives District Coos 6. The week before, in Florida on Jan. 16, Tom Keen (D) defeated Osceola County School Board Member Erika Booth (R) in a special general election for Florida House District 35.
Since 2010, there have been a total of 989 special state legislative elections, including eight this year. As of Jan. 25, a total of 27 have been scheduled for 2024.
How many of those elections resulted in a change in partisan control?