Our top 10 ballot measures to watch on Nov. 4
With two weeks to go until Election Night, our staff is busy preparing to cover 24 statewide ballot measures in six states, along with 188 local ballot measures.
Voters will decide 24 statewide ballot measures on Nov. 4. We published our list of the 10 most important and compelling in the country. Click the links below to learn more about each measure:
- California Proposition 50: Use of Legislative Congressional Redistricting Map Amendment
- Maine Question 1: Require Voter Photo ID and Change Absentee Ballot and Drop Box Rules Initiative
- Maine Question 2: Extreme Risk Protection Orders to Restrict Firearms and Weapons Access Initiative
- Colorado Propositions LL and MM: Funding for Healthy School Meals for All Program Measures
- Texas Proposition 3: Denial of Bail for Certain Violent or Sexual Offenses Amendment
- Texas Proposition 15: Parental Rights Amendment
- Texas Proposition 16: Citizenship Voting Requirement Amendment
- Texas Propositions 2, 6, and 8: Prohibit Certain Taxes Amendments
- New York City Question 6: Move City Elections to Even-Numbered Years Charter Amendment
- New York City Questions 2, 3, and 4: Expedited Housing and Land Use Review Charter Amendments
This year’s statewide ballot measures were written at the highest reading level since 2017
Including those happening on Nov. 4, there are 30 total statewide ballot measures in 2025. According to our new report, voters in some states will need the equivalent of a doctoral degree to be able to understand the ballot language used to summarize these measures.
The language for those 30 measures was written at an average readability grade level of 21, equivalent to a doctorate degree. That’s the highest level since 2017, when we started following the data.
Click the link below for a full breakdown of ballot measures readability.
A look at mayoral elections happening on Nov. 4
Nineteen of the 100 most populous U.S. cities are holding mayoral elections on Nov. 4. Seventeen of these cities have Democratic mayors and two have Republican mayors.
Twelve state capitals, including nine that fall outside of the top 100 most populous cities, are also holding mayoral elections on Nov. 4. Eleven of these cities have Democratic mayors and one has a Republican mayor.
Ballotpedia identified six mayoral elections happening in the 100 most populous cities on Nov. 4 as battlegrounds. Three mayoral elections – in Minneapolis, Minnesota, New York, New York, and Seattle, Washington – are among our top 10 elections to watch this year.
The Wednesday, October 22nd, Daily Brew covered the mayoral races happening this year. Click the link below to read more.