Category: Ballot measures
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All six criminal justice ballot measures in 2026 continue trend toward increasing criminal penalties and bail restrictions
In 2026, voters will decide six ballot measures related to criminal sentencing, penalties, and bail requirements. Each would make criminal justice policy more punitive by increasing penalties or expanding the circumstances under which courts could deny or restrict bail. Four of the measures concern bail policy. Voters in Alabama approved Amendment 1 on May 19,…
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Two California tax initiatives targeting personal asset taxes and special tax rules qualify for the ballot in challenge to billionaires’ tax initiative
California voters will likely be voting on a slate of competing tax measures in November. The secretary of state reported that two ballot initiatives designed to challenge provisions of the proposed billionaires’ tax initiative qualified for the ballot on June 24. The initiatives are constitutional amendments that would: The billionaires' tax is sponsored by SEIU-UHW…
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Colorado voters to decide initiative requiring vehicle and fuel tax revenue to fund roads
Voters in Colorado will decide on a ballot measure that would require vehicle-related and fuel tax revenue to be used for road transportation on Nov. 3, 2026. Initiative 175 The measure — known as Initiative 175 — would add a new section to Article X of the Colorado Constitution to require the state and local…
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Over the past two weeks, 21 new ballot measures were certified in five states
As of June 23, 142 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 39 states, 27 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other even-numbered years over the past decade (2014 to 2024). Here’s an update on the latest ballot measure activity during the past two weeks: The most recent…
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Campaign behind Montana ballot measure to guarantee impartial, predictable, transparent, and expeditious processes for ballot initiatives submits signatures
Montanans Decide, the committee sponsoring Constitutional Initiative 133, filed more than 100,000 signatures with county officials on June 18. Constitutional Initiative 133 would add the initiative and referendum power to the state's Declaration of Rights (Article II). It would provide that the "right guarantees impartial, predictable, transparent, and expeditious processes for proposing a ballot issue,…
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California voters will decide on dueling initiatives backed by Uber and trial attorneys in November
Two initiatives, with rideshare companies and trial attorneys taking opposing sides of the campaigns, qualified for the November ballot in California on June 17. One initiative sponsored by Uber would require car accident victims to receive at least 75% of the total amount of damages recovered; establish standards for the recovery of medical expenses based…
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California billionaire’s tax qualifies for the November ballot; competing measures pending signature verification
California voters are set to decide on a one-time 5% tax on the net worth of the state’s billionaires in November. The secretary of state reported on June 17 that at least 980,438 of the more than 1.6 million signatures filed were valid, qualifying the ballot initiative. The SEIU-UHW is sponsoring the initiative. The tax…
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Arizona legislature adds seven measures to the November ballot, bringing the total to 10 ballot measures for voters to decide
The Arizona State Legislature approved seven ballot measures for the Nov. 2026 ballot before adjourning in the early morning hours on June 13, 2026. To place a measure on the statewide ballot, both chambers of the state legislature must approve the bill by a simple majority vote. The bill does not need to be signed…
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Rhode Island voters will weigh in on five bond issues in Nov. 2026 included in the state's budget
Rhode Island voters will decide on five bond issues in the November 2026 election. The five bond measures would approve a total of $600 million in general obligation bonds. The bond issues would fund housing development, higher education facilities, economic infrastructure development, environmental protection, and historical preservation. A general obligation bond is a debt backed…
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New York voters have decided on 430 statewide measures since 1821: a look at the state ballot measure history
Since 1821, New York voters have decided on 430 statewide ballot measures. Of those, 316 (73%) were approved, and 114 (27%) were defeated. In New York, the state legislature can refer measures to the ballot. Citizens of New York do not have the power to initiate statewide ballot measures. Ballot measures can also take the…