Author: Jackie Mitchell
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South Carolina Supreme Court rules 3-2 that the state’s abortion ban is unconstitutional
On Jan. 5, 2023, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled 3-2 that the state’s six-week abortion ban, known as the South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act, was unconstitutional. Signed in February 2021, the law banned abortion once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks. The bill was blocked from taking effect…
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No signatures submitted for Washington Initiatives to the Legislature by Dec. 30 deadline
The deadline to submit signatures for Initiatives to the Legislature in Washington (ITL) was Dec. 30, 2022. Initiatives to the Legislature is the name of indirect ballot initiatives in Washington. The Washington Secretary of State’s office confirmed to Ballotpedia on January 3 that signatures were not submitted for any of the 179 filed initiatives. If…
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Ballotpedia’s analysis of 2022 local ballot measures in top 100 largest cities and state capitals
There were 382 local ballot measures in 39 different states on the ballot for voters in the top 100 largest cities in the U.S. and state capitals. Of the measures, 348 (91.10%) were approved, and 34 (8.90%) were defeated. Of the 382 local ballot measures within the top 100 cities and state capitals in 2022,…
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Ballotpedia’s year-end analysis of statewide ballot measures
Ballotpedia published its year-end analysis of the 140 statewide ballot measures voters decided in 2022. The year-end analysis provides: a breakdown of approval rates by measure type a breakdown of measures by topic historical comparisons of the numbers and types of measures data on citizen initiative activity compared to recent election cycles a summary of…
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Minimum wages set to increase in 27 states in 2023 by an average of $0.87
In 2023, the minimum wage was set to increase in 27 states. The increases range from $0.23 in Michigan (a 2.28% increase from 2022) to $1.50 in Nebraska (a 14.29% increase from 2022). one increase was set to take effect on December 31, 2022; 22 increases were set to take effect on January 1, 2023;…
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Voters in Louisiana will decide on three constitutional amendments on Dec. 10
Voters in Louisiana will decide on three constitutional amendments on Dec. 10. Amendment 1 would prohibit local governments from allowing noncitizens to vote. Currently, Article I, Section 10 of the Louisiana Constitution reads, “Every citizen of the state, upon reaching eighteen years of age, shall have the right to register and vote…” This amendment would…
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Voters approved 10, rejected 4 local measures in San Francisco
Voters in San Francisco decided on 14 local ballot measures on Nov. 8. Ten were approved and four were defeated. Four were citizen initiatives, of which, one was approved and three were defeated. The city’s board of supervisors referred 10 of the measures to the ballot, of which 9 were approved and one was defeated.…
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Colorado ballot measure committees have raised $41.45 million
As of October 28, Ballotpedia identified $1.01 billion in contributions to support or oppose statewide measures on ballots in 2022. Colorado was among the top five states with the most ballot measure campaign contributions. According to campaign finance reports due on October 31, which covered information through October 26, 15 committees supporting and opposing eight…
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Signature costs for ballot initiatives increased in 2022
In 2022, ballot initiative campaigns spent $118.29 million to collect signatures for 29 initiatives in 12 states. The average cost-per-required-signature (CPRS) in 2022 was $12.70, an increase from $8.09 in 2020, $6.52 in 2018, and $6.93 in 2016. On November 8, voters in 37 states will decide 132 statewide ballot measures, of which, 30 were…
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Oklahoma marijuana legalization initiative will appear on the ballot on March 7, 2023
Oklahoma voters will decide on State Question 820, an initiative to legalize marijuana, on March 7, 2023. Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Laws, proponents of State Question 820, were initially targeting the 2022 ballot and submitted enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. However, due to legal challenges and statutory deadlines, the measure could not be…