Author: Jackie Mitchell
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Signatures submitted for Washington initiative to allow parents to review educational materials and opt child out of sexual-health education
Let’s Go Washington, a committee sponsoring six citizen-initiated ballot measures for 2024, submitted signatures for a second initiative—Initiative 2081—on Dec. 12. State Rep. Jim Walsh (R-19) sponsors the six initiatives, along with Let’s Go Washington. Initiative 2081 would allow parents to review educational materials, receive certain notifications, and opt their children out of sexual health…
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Oklahoma City will vote on measure to levy a 1% sales tax to fund new Oklahoma City Thunder basketball arena on Dec. 12
Voters in Oklahoma City will decide on a ballot measure that would levy a 1% sales tax to fund a new arena for the city’s NBA basketball team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 1% sales tax would be levied for a period of six years beginning on April 1, 2028, and would replace the existing…
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Signatures submitted for Washington initiative to repeal the state’s 2021 Climate Commitment Act and prohibit carbon cap-and-trade programs
On Nov. 21, Let’s Go Washington, a committee sponsoring six citizen-initiated ballot measures, submitted signatures for one of them—Initiative 2117. The initiatives would appear on the ballot at the general election in Nov. 2024. Initiative 2117 was designed to prohibit carbon tax credit trading and repeal provisions of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA),…
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Colorado top-four ranked-choice voting initiative to be filed targeting 2024 ballot
Voters in Colorado could decide on a ballot initiative to adopt top-four ranked-choice voting in Nov. 2024. Kent Thiry, the former CEO of DaVita, said he plans to file the ballot initiative, which would change state executive, state legislative, and congressional elections. The new electoral system would go into effect beginning in 2026. The initiative…
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Voters in six states decided on 32 constitutional amendments in 2023, the highest number of constitutional amendments during an odd-numbered year since 2003
In 2023, voters in six states decided on 32 constitutional amendments—the highest number of constitutional amendments on the ballot during an odd-numbered year since 2003. Voters approved 27 of the 32 proposed constitutional changes in 2023 for an approval rate of 84.38%. During odd-numbered years since 2007, an average of 23 constitutional amendments appeared on…
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Louisiana voters will decide on four constitutional amendments on Nov. 18
Louisiana voters will decide on four constitutional amendments on Nov. 18, 2023. Amendment 1 would provide that the governor’s deadline to act on a bill is based on the legislative session in which the bill was passed rather than whether or not the legislature is in session. It would also allow the legislature to consider…
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Colorado voters have rejected 68% of TABOR ballot measures over the last 30 years
Colorado voters have rejected 68% of ballot measures requiring a statewide vote under the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, also known as TABOR. In 1992, Colorado voters approved Initiative 1, which created a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights in the Colorado Constitution. The Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) requires voter approval for all new taxes,…
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Comparing Ohio Issue 2 to the last marijuana legalization initiative in Ohio—Issue 3 of 2015
Voters in Ohio will decide on an initiative, Issue 2, to legalize marijuana on Nov. 7. Issue 2 is not the first marijuana legalization that has been on the ballot in Ohio. In 2015, Ohio voters rejected an initiative, Issue 3, with 64% voting against the measure. The two initiatives differ in how facilities would…
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Costs to collect signatures for state ballot initiatives in 2023 were higher than the average for the previous five odd-year cycles
In 2023, $12.95 million was expended on signature drives for seven citizen-initiated ballot measures, including six that voters will decide on Nov. 7. Earlier in 2023, voters decided on a ballot initiative in Oklahoma. The average cost for the signature drives amounted to $1.85 million, ranging from $75,341 for Oklahoma State Question 820 to $6.65…
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Voters in Republican trifectas have rejected marijuana legalization initiatives at a higher rate than voters in other states. Ohio will vote on marijuana next on Nov. 7
Voters in Ohio will vote on Issue 2, an initiative to legalize marijuana, on Nov. 7. Ohio is a Republican trifecta, meaning the Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature. Since 2010, there have been 23 state ballot measures to legalize marijuana for recreational or personal use. Ohio…