Author: Nicole Fisher
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Ohio voters to decide on Issue 2, a $2.5-billion bond measure for local infrastructure projects
Ohio voters will decide on Issue 2 on May 6, 2025. Issue 2 would authorize the state to issue up to $2.5 billion in bonds over 10 years to help local governments fund infrastructure projects. Issue 2 would authorize the issuance of up to $2.5 billion in general obligation bonds (GO bonds) over a 10-year…
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Arkansas is fifth state in 2025 to ban foreign spending on ballot measures
Arkansas is the 14th state to pass a law prohibiting foreign spending in ballot measure campaigns and the fifth state to do so in 2025—a record for the most states enacting such laws in a single year. In previous years, no more than one state passed a similar law per year. Arkansas House Bill 1837…
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On this day in 1956, Alaska voters passed the Tennessee Plan to gain statehood. How is that plan being used today?
On April 24, 1956, Alaska voters passed Proposition 2, otherwise known as the Tennessee Plan Measure, which led to Alaska’s statehood. The measure was approved with 61% of voters supporting the proposition and 39% of voters rejecting it. The Tennessee Plan refers to the strategy of a territory electing senators and representatives to send to…
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Texas voters in largest cities to decide 42 local ballot measures on May 3
Ballotpedia is covering 42 ballot measures in nine counties in Texas on May 3. All 42 ballot measures were referred to the ballot by a vote of a local governing board, such as a county board or city council. This is an increase in ballot measures compared to the previous even-year May election in Texas…
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With new Utah legislation, a look back at four 1970s ballot measures on water fluoridation
Utah is the first state to enact a statewide prohibition on drinking water fluoridation. Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed the legislation, House Bill 81 (HB 81), on March 27, 2025. While Utah is the first state to enact a statewide ban, voters in four states—Utah, South Dakota, Oregon, and Washington—considered ballot measures related to water…
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Idaho voters to decide on amendment preempting citizen-initiated marijuana and psychedelics legalization measures in 2026
Idaho voters will decide on a constitutional amendment saying that only the state legislature can legalize or regulate marijuana. This would mean that citizens cannot initiate measures to legalize marijuana in the state. Voters will vote on the amendment at the general election on Nov. 3, 2026. The amendment, House Joint Resolution 4 (HJR 4),…
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South Dakota voters to decide on 60% supermajority requirement for constitutional amendments after rejecting similar requirement for tax-related measures in 2022
South Dakota voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would establish a 60% supermajority requirement in order for voters to approve new constitutional amendments. This amendment will appear on the ballot on Nov. 3, 2026. When it comes to ballot measures, a supermajority requirement sets a higher approval threshold, requiring more than a simple…
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Maine voters could decide on establishing extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), a type of firearms regulation, in Nov. 2025
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) announced on March 7, 2025, that the signatures for a ballot initiative to create a process for extreme risk protection orders, a firearm regulation policy, were validated, certifying the initiative to the legislature. If the legislature does not approve the measure, it will be placed on the ballot…
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South Dakota voters to decide amendment establishing trust fund for unclaimed property in 2026
In 2026, South Dakota voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to establish a trust fund for unclaimed property. On March 5, 2025, the South Dakota House of Representatives voted 69-0 to place Senate Joint Resolution 505 (SJR 505) on the ballot. Previously, the State Senate voted 35-0 to pass the amendment on Feb. 20.…
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South Dakota voters to decide on constitutional amendment to condition Medicaid expansion on continued federal funding in Nov. 2026
In South Dakota, voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to condition state Medicaid expansion on federal funding remaining at or above 90%. Voters will decide on the amendment in the election on Nov. 3, 2026. If federal funding falls below 90%, the constitutional requirement for Medicaid expansion would no longer apply. Voters adopted this…