Category: Ballot measures
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
In 2023, 41 statewide measures were certified for the ballot in eight states, 10 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 49 statewide measures have been certified in 22 states. That’s one more measure than the average number certified at this point…
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California voters will decide two constitutional amendments related to changing supermajority requirements for ballot measures
The California State Legislature passed two constitutional amendments on Sept. 14, 2023, that would change voter approval thresholds for certain ballot measures. Both of the constitutional amendments will appear on the ballot in Nov. 2024. The first constitutional amendment, ACA 1, would lower the voter approval threshold from two-thirds (66.67%) to 55% for local special…
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41 statewide ballot measures are certified in eight states—the highest for an odd-numbered year since 2007
In 2023, 41 statewide ballot measures are certified for the ballot in eight states—the highest number for an odd-numbered year since 2007. Measures in Maine, Ohio, and Texas, in particular, contributed to the above-average number of state ballot measures in 2023. From 2009 to 2021, odd-numbered years had an average of 32 statewide measures. Voters…
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Where have ranked-choice voting measures been on the ballot? 4 states and 45 localities since 1970
The ballot measure has played a role in shaping electoral systems in the U.S., including ranked-choice voting (RCV) for state and local elections. Since 1914, when voters in Los Angeles, California, rejected Amendment 8 to adopt a multi-winner ranked-choice voting system, there have been more than 150 ballot measures to adopt or repeal ranked-choice voting…
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Colorado initiative to limit state property tax revenue could be on 2024 ballot
Colorado voters may decide in 2024 on an initiative that would cap state property tax revenue at 4% over the total revenue collected in the preceding year. The initiative would require statewide voter approval to allow local governments to retain property tax revenue exceeding the 4% growth limit. The initiative was sponsored by Advance Colorado…
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California enacts changes to veto referendum ballot language
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed Assembly Bill 421 (AB 421), which addresses the veto referendum process, on Sept. 8, 2023. AB 421 changes how veto referendums appear on the ballot, among other provisions. A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law. For 2024,…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of September 5, 2023, 41 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in eight states, 11 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 47 statewide measures have been certified in 22 states. That’s one more measure than the average number…
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Ohio Ballot Board adopts language for abortion-related initiative on Nov. 2023 ballot
The Ohio Ballot Board approved the ballot title for a citizen-initiated measure to provide a state constitutional right to abortion and other reproductive matters. The initiated constitutional amendment will be on the ballot as Issue 1 on Nov. 7, 2023. The Ohio Ballot Board voted 3-2 to reject including the entire text of the amendment…
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Maine and Ohio see higher than average number of initiatives qualify for the 2023 ballot
In Maine and Ohio, more citizen-initiated ballot measures qualified in 2023 than the average for odd-numbered years between 2011 and 2021 for each respective state. Maine initiative sponsors filed six initiatives and qualified four of the measures for the Nov. 2023 ballot. For the last six odd-numbered years, an average of nearly seven initiatives were…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of August 22, 2023, 41 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in eight states, 13 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 47 statewide measures have been certified in 22 states. That’s one more measure than the average number…