Author: Victoria Antram
-
U.S. Supreme Court overturns Oregon ballot measure from 1932 that enacted non-unanimous jury verdicts
On April 20, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned an Oregon ballot measure from 1932 in its ruling on Ramos v. Louisiana. In 2016, Evangelisto Ramos was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on a 10 to 12 jury verdict. He appealed his conviction to the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, arguing his…
-
Kentucky voters to decide constitutional amendment changing the terms and requirements for certain judicial offices
On the last day of its legislative session, the Kentucky General Assembly certified the Terms of Judicial Offices Amendment for the November ballot. The amendment would make the following changes to the Kentucky Constitution: increase the terms of circuit court clerks and commonwealth’s attorneys from six years to eight years starting in 2030; increase the…
-
Kentucky Legislature puts Marsy’s Law amendment for November ballot
On April 14, 2020, the Kentucky Legislature approved a constitutional amendment that would add to the Kentucky Constitution specific rights for crime victims, together known as Marsy’s Law, for the November ballot. The specific rights include: to be treated with fairness and due consideration for the victim’s safety, dignity, and privacy; to be notified about…
-
A majority of Anchorage ballot measure races too close to call
Voters in Anchorage, Alaska, decided 13 ballot measures at the election on April 7, 2020. With 75% of ballots processed, 10 of the 13 were still too close to call according to the April 8 results update. Here’s a summary of four notable measures: Proposition 2, a bond issue for area-wide school capital improvements, was…
-
Vice President Joe Biden endorses Milwaukee Public Schools Revenue Limit Increase Measure
On Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden voiced his support for the Milwaukee Public Schools Revenue Limit Increase Measure that will appear on April 7 ballots. Biden said the measure “will give public school educators the tools they need to help our students succeed – and they’ll allow us to invest in 21st-century facilities and technology…
-
Oregon Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative suspends in-person signature gathering
Yes on IP 44, which is sponsoring the Oregon Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative, suspended in-person signature gathering on March 26. The campaign announced on March 5 that they had collected 125,000 signatures but still needed 8,000 more signatures to meet their raw signature goal. A total of 112,020 valid signatures are required to…
-
Wisconsin will vote on Marsy’s Law amendment and other local measures on April 7
Wisconsin will be the fourteenth state to vote on a Marsy’s Law amendment on April 7. The amendment would add 14 additional rights to the existing list of crime victims’ rights in section 9m of Article I of the state Constitution. The additional enumerated rights include a right to privacy; a right to the protection…
-
New Mexico voters will decide bond package at November ballot that would fund senior citizen facilities, public libraries, and education
A bond package containing three separate bond issues was signed by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) and certified for the ballot on March 11, 2020. The bond package was introduced on January 29, 2020, as Senate Bill 207. To put a bond question before voters, a simple majority is required in both the…
-
Maryland Legislature refers constitutional amendment to 2020 ballot concerning the legislature’s power over the state budget
Maryland Legislative Authority over State Budget Amendment would authorize the Maryland General Assembly to increase, decrease, or add items to the state budget as long as such changes do not make the budget exceed the total proposed budget submitted by the governor. The amendment is the first measure certified to appear on the statewide ballot…
-
A preview of local charter amendments, school bonds, and taxes that were scheduled for the March 17 ballot in Ohio
Voters in Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, and Hamilton County were scheduled to decide eight local ballot measures on March 17, 2020. On March 16, 2020, Ohio Governor Mark DeWine announced that polls would be closed on March 17, 2020, by the order of the state department of health due to the coronavirus. In-person voting was postponed…