Washington and Wisconsin passed bills during their 2023 legislative sessions that limited non-binding questions, also known as advisory questions or advisory votes, on election ballots. These two bills are among 349 legislative proposals introduced in 2023 that concern topics related to direct democracy, including ballot measures, initiatives, veto referendums, referrals, local ballot measures, and recall…
On Nov. 5, 2024, Oregon voters will decide on establishing a commission that would determine the salaries of certain public officials. The ballot measure, which passed the Oregon State Legislature on June 25, would amend the Oregon Constitution to establish the Independent Public Service Compensation Commission. The commission would decide the salaries of the governor,…
On Nov. 5, 2024, Nevada voters will decide on a ballot measure that would provide a sales tax exemption for both child and adult diapers. The measure, referred to the ballot by the Nevada State Legislature, would amend the Sales and Use Tax of 1955. The sales and use tax is on the total revenue…
Oregon will be the fifth state to vote on a ranked-choice voting (RCV) ballot measure. On June 25, the Oregon House and Senate passed House Bill 2004 (HB 2004), sending the proposed change to the ballot for voters to decide on Nov. 5, 2024. Should voters approve the ballot measure, RCV would be implemented for…
There’s one state where the legislature cannot impeach the governor — Oregon. That could change on Nov. 5, 2024, when voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to empower the Oregon State Legislature to impeach and remove elected state executives, including the governor. The constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds vote in the House to…
In October, Louisiana voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would provide in the state constitution that “the freedom to worship in a church or other place of worship is a fundamental right that is worthy of the highest order of protection.” Under the amendment, a legal challenge brought against a state or a…
Justice for Renters, an initiative campaign sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), submitted signatures on June 20 to place an initiative on the Nov. 2024 ballot in California to prohibit the state from limiting local rent control measures. This would be the third rent control initiative sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in four…
Citizens for Arkansas Public Education and Students (CAPES) began filing ballot language for a proposed veto referendum with the Arkansas attorney general in May after the Arkansas State Legislature adjourned its 2023 legislative session. After two previous attempts were rejected, Attorney General Tim Griffin certified the ballot language submitted by CAPES. The ballot title contains…
Coloradans have decided on 36 statewide ballot measures that were designed to increase revenue for the state, which required voter approval under TABOR. Of the 36 measures, 11 (30.56%) were approved and 25 (69.44%) were defeated. Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), adopted in 1992, was designed to require statewide voter approval of all new…
As of June 13, 2023, 31 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in eight states for elections in 2023. That’s 12 more measures than the average number (19) certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. The number certified—31—is also the highest number of any of those years. For 2024,…