Author: Jackie Mitchell
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Louisiana voters will decide on eight constitutional amendments in 2023 – four in Oct., four in Nov.
The Louisiana State Legislature concluded its legislative session for 2023 on June 8. During this session, a total of seven constitutional amendments were passed, adding to the existing one that was referred to the 2023 ballot in the legislature’s 2022 session. Altogether, there will be eight amendments on the statewide ballot for 2023. Four amendments…
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Florida marijuana initiative has enough signatures to appear on 2024 ballot; state supreme court review pending
Smart & Safe Florida, a campaign supporting a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in Florida, has collected 967,528 valid signatures, exceeding the 891,523 valid signatures needed to be placed on the ballot in 2024. State officials confirmed on June 1, 2023, that the campaign had submitted enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot and…
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Louisiana legislature refers two constitutional amendments to October 14 ballot concerning freedom of worship and nonprofit property tax exemptions
On May 30, 2023, the Louisiana State Legislature gave final approval to two constitutional amendments set to appear on the ballot on Oct. 14, 2023. One of the amendments, Senate Bill 63, would provide in the state constitution that “the freedom to worship in a church or other place of worship is a fundamental right…
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Connecticut voters will decide a constitutional amendment to allow no-excuse absentee voting in 2024
Connecticut voters will decide on a proposed constitutional amendment in 2024 that would allow for no-excuse absentee voting. Connecticut would join 35 other states that allow this method of voting. No-excuse absentee voting is where any voter may request a mail-in ballot. Generally, a voter must first submit an application in order to receive a…
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Lawsuit filed challenging proposed Colorado property tax ballot measure set for Nov. 2023 election
Advance Colorado and Englewood City Council member Steven Ward filed a lawsuit on May 15, 2023, in Denver County District Court, challenging the property tax measure recently placed on Colorado’s Nov. 2023 ballot. The lawsuit alleges that the measure violates the state’s single-subject rule, which requires ballot measures to concern a single subject, and alleges…
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Colorado voters will be asked in November to make changes to property taxes and tobacco taxes
The Colorado State Legislature referred two ballot measures concerning taxes and state revenue to the Nov. 2023 ballot before adjourning the legislative session on May 8. Ballot initiatives on the ballot in Colorado during odd-numbered years are limited to topics concerning taxes or state fiscal matters under TABOR, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. This includes…
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California parcel tax measures have an approval rate of 62% during odd-numbered years; in 2023, 89% have been approved so far
From 2011 to 2021, voters decided 216 parcel tax-related ballot measures in California during odd-numbered year elections. Voters approved 133 (61.57%) and rejected 83 (38.43%). Through April, voters have decided on nine parcel tax ballot measures in California in 2023. Eight (88.89%) were approved, and one (11.11%) was defeated. This approval rate is higher than…
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Colorado voters will be asked in 2023 whether to dedicate $23.65 million in state revenue to preschool programs or refund it to tobacco wholesalers and distributors
Colorado voters will be asked in Nov. 2023 whether to allow the state to retain revenue above the estimated revenue generated from increased taxes on cigarettes and tobacco and nicotine products established by Proposition EE, which was approved by voters in 2020. Proposition EE increased cigarette and tobacco product taxes and created a new tax…
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Florida could become 24th state to establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish
Florida could become the 24th state to establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish in 2024 after the Florida State Legislature passed a resolution referring the question to voters. The resolution would add a 28th section to the Declaration of Rights in the Florida Constitution to say that hunting and fishing are the preferred…
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Florida marijuana legalization initiative has 94% of signatures needed to appear on 2024 ballot
Smart & Safe Florida, a campaign supporting a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in Florida, has collected 786,688 valid signatures, 88% of the 891,523 valid signatures needed to be placed on the ballot in 2024. The initiative would legalize marijuana for adults 21 years old and older. Individuals would be allowed to possess up to…