Campaigns raised more than $1.3 billion in the 2024 ballot measure cycle

By

Ballotpedia staff

Welcome to the Thursday, Feb. 27, Brew. 

By: Briana Ryan

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

  1. Campaigns raised more than $1.3 billion in the 2024 ballot measure cycle
  2. Maine voter ID citizen initiative will appear on the November ballot unless lawmakers enact it
  3. Join the Ballotpedia Society today to help us keep voters informed in 2025 and beyond!

Campaigns raised more than $1.3 billion in the 2024 ballot measure cycle

Campaigns supporting and opposing the 159 measures on statewide ballots in 2024 raised more than $1.3 billion—the most for an even-year election in the past four cycles.

Here’s a look at the five states whose ballot measures raised the most in 2024.

  1. The 11 measures in California raised $392.7 million, or slightly less than a third of the 2024 total
  2. The six measures in Florida raised $315.4 million, or  24.3%
  3. The eight measures in Missouri raised $108.4 million, or 8.2%
  4. The four measures in Washington raised $57.6 million, or 4.4%
  5. The 13 measures in Arizona raised $54.8 million, or 4.2%

In 2022, the top three states were California (65.8%), Michigan (9.3%), and Massachusetts (6.5%). In 2020, the top three states were California (61.6%), Illinois (10.0%), and Massachusetts (5.0%). 

Now, let’s look at the year’s two most expensive campaigns.

Florida’s Amendment 3 was the most expensive campaign. Voters defeated the measure, which would have legalized recreational marijuana. Campaigns supporting the measure raised $153.8 million, while the opposition raised $33.6 million. 

  • The marijuana dispensary company Trulieve was the largest donor to the support campaign, contributing $144.6 million. Trulieve was also the largest individual donor for any measure in any state in 2024.
  • Citadel CEO Kenneth Griffin was the top donor to the opposition campaign, contributing $12 million. 

California’s Proposition 33 was the second-most expensive campaign. Voters defeated the measure, which would have allowed cities and counties to limit housing rent. Campaigns supporting the measure raised $50.7 million, while the opposition raised $125.1 million. 

  • The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which sponsored the measure, was the largest donor to the support campaign, contributing nearly $50 million. 
  • The California Apartment Association was the top donor to the opposition campaign, contributing $88.8 million.

Proposition 33 is also California’s third-most expensive measure since 1999, behind Proposition 22 ($224.2 million) in 2020 and Propositions 26 and 27 ($463.4 million) in 2022.

Now, let’s check out the three donors who contributed to the most ballot measures campaigns.

  1. The Sixteen Thirty Fund contributed at least $22.2 million to 10 campaigns supporting or opposing ballot measures related to abortion, minimum wage and sick leave, ranked-choice voting (RCV), and redistricting. The results aligned with the group’s position on six measures.
  2. The Fairness Project contributed $24.8 million to eight campaigns supporting or opposing ballot measures related to abortion, minimum wage, and paid sick leave. The results aligned with the group’s position on six measures.
  3. The National Education Association contributed $17.0 million to seven campaigns supporting or opposing ballot measures related to education, school choice, and taxes. The organization’s position was successful on all seven measures.

Finally, let’s examine the financial data behind the notable trends we saw on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Voters decided on 11 abortion-related measures—the most on record for a single year. Ten addressed state constitutional rights to abortion, and one proposed limiting the timeframe for when an abortion can be performed. Voters approved measures in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland,  Missouri, Montana, New York, and Nevada while defeating measures in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

  • Florida Amendment 4, which voters defeated, was the most expensive of the 11 abortion-related measures. Campaigns supporting and opposing the measure raised a combined $135.2 million. It would have provided a state constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability. Amendment 4 surpassed last year’s Ohio Issue 1, which provided for a state constitutional right to abortion. Campaigns supporting and opposing that measure raised a combined $89.9 million.
  • Campaigns supporting the 10 measures that addressed constitutional abortion rights raised a total of $256.5 million, while opponents raised $32.5 million. Supporters of the measure in Nebraska that limited the timeframe raised $12.7 million, while opponents raised $15.9 million.

Voters decided on six measures related to ranked-choice voting (RCV). Measures in Colorado, Idaho,  Nevada, and Oregon would have enacted RCV. Voters rejected all four. One measure in Alaska would have repealed RCV in the state, but voters defeated it. Another measure in Missouri prohibited the use of RCV. Voters approved it. Supporters of RCV raised $76.7 million in 2024. RCV opponents raised $4.5 million.

Keep reading

Maine voter ID citizen initiative will appear on the November ballot unless lawmakers enact it

Speaking of ballot measures, here’s an update on a measure that might appear on the 2025 ballot.

On Feb. 19, the Maine Secretary of State’s Office announced that the campaign Voter ID for ME collected enough signatures to place a citizen initiative requiring photo voter identification, among other changes, on the November ballot unless the Maine Legislature approves it first. The campaign submitted 86,904 valid signatures, while a minimum of 67,682 valid signatures was required. 

Maine is one of 15 states that does not currently have a voter ID requirement.

There are two possible next steps:

  1. The state legislature can approve the initiative. If the governor signs it, it will take effect like any other law passed by the legislature.
  2. The state legislature can reject the initiative or take no action. If the governor vetoes it and the veto is not overridden, the initiative will be placed on the November ballot for voters to decide.

The initiative would require voters to present a photo ID for in-person and absentee voting. The secretary of state would provide free photo ID cards to voters who don’t have a driver’s license. Voters with a religious objection to being photographed could sign an affidavit to be exempt from the requirement. The initiative would also make other changes to the state’s voting policies, which include:

  • Repealing a provision allowing immediate family members to return absentee ballots to a secure dropbox.
  • Removing a provision allowing municipalities to request additional drop boxes within a municipality.
  • Requiring a bipartisan team of election officials to collect the contents from drop boxes rather than municipal clerks.
  • Repealing a provision allowing senior citizens to sign up to receive an absentee ballot automatically before each election.
  • Requiring voters to submit a written application to the registrar of their municipality to request an absentee ballot. Applicants would also need to include a copy of their photo ID or provide their driver’s license or non-driver ID card number. 
  • Eliminating the option to request an absentee ballot by phone.
  • Removing a provision allowing voters to automatically receive absentee ballots for each election without submitting a separate request.

State Rep. Laurel Libby (R), who supports the initiative, said, “The will of the Maine people is clear. The need for voter ID is clear. It’s time to act … It’s going to make folks feel that faith—that their voice matters and that democracy is intact in Maine.”

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D), who opposes the initiative, said, “Reading this bill, I have many concerns. Reasonable people can agree to disagree about whether specific types of voter ID should be shown when you go to vote … but the citizen’s initiative presented to us today has so much more that is really problematic.”

Currently, 35 states require voters to present an ID to vote at the polls on Election Day, but most states provide some exceptions to these rules. The map below details the voter ID requirements in each state.

Maine is one of nine states with an indirect initiative process, meaning citizen initiatives with enough valid signatures go to the state legislature before appearing on the ballot. If the legislature approves the initiative, it becomes law. The initiative goes on the ballot if the legislature does not act or rejects it.

Maine’s voter ID initiative is one of two active statewide initiative campaigns in the state. The other, an initiative regarding Extreme Risk Protection Orders for firearms, also submitted signatures in January.

Keep reading

Join the Ballotpedia Society today to help us keep voters informed in 2025 and beyond!

Every day, we hear stories about how voters like you use Ballotpedia to make informed decisions about who and what is on their ballot—decisions that shape schools, communities, and local governments. One reader told us last year, “I used Ballotpedia daily in the 2024 election. I appreciate you!” This is the power of nonpartisan, accessible information, and it’s what the Ballotpedia Society, our community of monthly donors, makes possible.

Ballotpedia’s 2025 initiatives are already in motion.  With your monthly contribution of $25, $50, $100, or an amount meaningful to you, we’ll cover more than 32,000 elections this year, and help the voters casting ballots in those races make informed, confident choices.

As a Ballotpedia Society member, you’ll enjoy insider updates, exclusive webinars, and the pride of knowing you’re helping voters across the country. Please – click here and become a part of this select group of supporters who are making a difference in our democracy. 

Thank you for your dedication to informed voting!

Donate today