Voters in Arizona and Nebraska will decide on competing ballot measures related to electoral systems and abortion, respectively, on Nov. 5
On Nov. 5, Nebraska voters will decide on competing abortion measures, while Arizona voters will decide on competing measures related to electoral systems.
In Nebraska:
- Initiative 434 would prohibit abortions after the first trimester, except for medical emergencies or cases related to rape or incest.
- Initiative 439 would establish a “fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability, or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.”
When Nebraska voters approve two conflicting measures, the measure with the most affirmative votes supersedes the other one at points of conflict.
Voters in Arizona will decide on two constitutional amendments related to electoral systems.
- Proposition 133 would add the existing system of partisan primaries to the Arizona Constitution.
- Proposition 140 would require primaries in which candidates, regardless of partisan affiliation, appear on a single ballot and a certain number advance to the general election, such as top-two or top-four primaries.
In Arizona, when voters approve two competing ballot measures of the same type (both are constitutional amendments), the measure that receives the most votes supersedes the other at points of conflict.
More than half of elected state supreme court seats are up for election this year
Thirty-three states are holding elections for their supreme courts in 2024. In total, 82 of the 158 elected seats on state supreme courts are up for election. Of these seats:
- 61 are held by nonpartisan justices
- 15 are held by Republican justices
- Six are held by Democratic justices
States have varying methods for selecting their supreme court justices. Of the states that elect justices, eight hold partisan elections for judges, 13 states hold nonpartisan elections, and 20 states hold retention elections. Illinois uses both partisan elections and retention elections.
Ballotpedia’s top 15 ballot measures and trends to watch on election day
On Wednesday, we released our top 15 ballot measures and trends to watch on election day. These 15 ballot measures cover issues including abortion, electoral systems, citizenship, redistricting, criminal justice, marijuana, energy, and education.
Democrats and Republicans endorse competing candidates in Kentucky’s nonpartisan Supreme Court election
In Friday’s Brew, we previewed the Nov. 5 race for Kentucky’s Supreme Court 5th District. Pamela R. Goodwine and Erin Izzo are running in the general election. Kentucky’s seven-justice Supreme Court is officially nonpartisan. However, Democrats and Republicans have both endorsed and donated to opposing candidates, with Democrats endorsing Goodwine, and Republicans endorsing Izzo.