Author: Jackie Mitchell
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Number of local ballot measures in the 100 largest cities and state capitals has increased every election cycle since 2018
In 2024, Ballotpedia covered local measures that appeared on the ballot for voters within the top 100 largest cities in the U.S. and in the state capitals not among the 100 largest cities. There were 502 local measures across 37 states on the ballot for voters in the top 100 largest cities and state capitals…
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North Carolina legislature sends constitutional amendment to 2026 ballot requiring photo ID to vote, including by mail
The North Carolina State Legislature approved a constitutional amendment to require photo identification to vote by mail or by other means, rather than only for voters voting in person. The amendment will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. In North Carolina, voter ID is currently required for those voting in person but is not required…
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Minimum wage set to increase in 23 states and D.C. in 2025 by an average of $0.75
In 2025, the minimum wage will increase in 23 states and Washington, D.C. The increases range from $0.25 in Montana and Ohio to $2.15 in Michigan. The 2025 increases come from state laws adopted in the past that provided for incremental increases and inflation adjustments as well as voter approval of minimum wage increase ballot…
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Louisiana voters to decide on four constitutional amendments addressing taxes, courts, and criminal justice on March 29, 2025
The Louisiana State Legislature approved bills for four constitutional amendments on Nov. 22, 2024. Voters will decide them on March 29, 2025. The constitutional amendments address the state’s tax structure, state courts, judicial elections for vacant seats, and juvenile criminal justice policies. Changes to state tax policy and government budget House Bill 7 would revise…
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Louisiana voters to decide on four constitutional amendments on Dec. 7
Voters in Louisiana will decide on four constitutional amendments on Dec. 7. The amendments address topics related to state courts, state legislative procedures, and property tax sales. They each received support from a majority of legislative Republicans and Democrats. Amendment 1 would make changes to the judiciary commission and discipline of judges, including: Amendment 2…
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California, Massachusetts become first states to reject minimum wage increase ballot measures since 1996
Ballot measures to increase the minimum wage were consistently approved from 1998 to 2023, with 24 measures passing during this period. In 2024, voters in California and Massachusetts broke the trend by rejecting proposals to increase minimum wages, the first such defeats since 1996. In California, voters rejected Proposition 32, which would have increased the…
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Voters decided 12 education-related ballot measures on Nov. 5, rejecting three measures that would have expanded school choice policies
Voters decided on 12 education-related ballot measures—the most in 18 years—on Nov. 5. The ballot measures covered various education-related topics, including school choice programs, non-public education, standardized testing, school board elections, and school governance and funding. Measures were on the ballot in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Rhode Island,…
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2024 ballot initiatives reach record-high cost per signature, exceed combined $172 million for signature drives
Since 2010, Ballotpedia has tracked signature costs for ballot initiative campaigns, and this year marks the highest average cost-per-signature recorded so far. A ballot initiative is a citizen-initiated ballot measure. Signatures are collected to place the proposals on the ballot. In 2024, the average cost-per-required-signature (CPRS) rose to $14.87, up from $12.97 in 2022 and…
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Voters in five local jurisdictions, including D.C., voting on ranked-choice voting (RCV) measures on Nov. 5
Voters in five cities will decide local ballot measures related to ranked-choice voting (RCV) on Nov. 5. Measures to adopt RCV are on the ballot in Richmond, California, and Oak Park, Illinois. The largest jurisdiction to vote on ranked-choice voting on Nov. 5 is the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., Initiative 83 would establish…
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Arkansas medical marijuana initiative found not to meet signature threshold, leaving 57 citizen-initiated measures for 2024
The last ballot initiative pending signature verification for the election on Nov. 5, 2024—Arkansas Issue 3—failed to make the ballot, according to Secretary of State John Thurston. The total number of statewide ballot measures certified for elections in 2024 is 160. Several measures are facing litigation, which could result in them being voided before the…