Category: Ballot measures
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Costs to collect signatures for state ballot initiatives in 2023 were higher than the average for the previous five odd-year cycles
In 2023, $12.95 million was expended on signature drives for seven citizen-initiated ballot measures, including six that voters will decide on Nov. 7. Earlier in 2023, voters decided on a ballot initiative in Oklahoma. The average cost for the signature drives amounted to $1.85 million, ranging from $75,341 for Oklahoma State Question 820 to $6.65…
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More than $169 million has been raised for and against state ballot measures in 2023, surpassing the three previous odd-numbered-year election cycles
A total of $169.48 million has been contributed to either support or oppose 41 statewide ballot measures in eight states in 2023, surpassing the previous three odd-numbered-year election cycles. Campaigns received $107.41 million in 2021. In 2019, $28.36 million was received. In 2017, $108.76 million was received. In 2023, one state—Ohio—accounts for 63.23% of the…
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Ohio Issue 1 is the most expensive abortion-related ballot measure election post-Dobbs
The campaigns supporting and opposing Ohio Issue 1, an amendment that would provide a state constitutional right to abortion, received a combined $71.60 million in contributions, as of the most recent campaign finance reports on Oct. 26. Issue 1 would establish a state constitutional right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,” including…
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Voters in Republican trifectas have rejected marijuana legalization initiatives at a higher rate than voters in other states. Ohio will vote on marijuana next on Nov. 7
Voters in Ohio will vote on Issue 2, an initiative to legalize marijuana, on Nov. 7. Ohio is a Republican trifecta, meaning the Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature. Since 2010, there have been 23 state ballot measures to legalize marijuana for recreational or personal use. Ohio…
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2023 statewide ballot measures written at graduate school reading level
The ballot language for the 41 statewide ballot measures on the ballot in eight states in 2023 is written at an average reading level of 19 (third-year graduate school reading level), which is up from 18 years in 2021. Ballotpedia identified five measures with a ballot summary, which is longer than the ballot title or…
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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, 52 statewide measures have been certified in 23 states. That’s four more measures than the average number certified at this point…
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Louisiana becomes second state in a week to enact a ban on private funding for election administration
Voters in Louisiana approved Amendment 1, a ban on the use of private funding for election administration, by 72.56% on Oct. 14, 2023. With Saturday’s vote, Louisiana became the second state to enact a ban on private funding for election administration in the last week. North Carolina lawmakers overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s (D) veto of…
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Voters in Ohio to decide on Issue 1, which would provide a state constitutional right to abortion, on Nov. 7
Ohio voters will decide on two statewide ballot measures on Nov. 7, 2023. Along with Issue 2, which would legalize recreational marijuana for adults over 21, voters will also decide on Issue 1, which would create the state constitutional right to abortion and other reproductive matters. Issue 1 is a constitutional amendment, which would add…
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Voters in Maine to decide Question 2 to ban foreign government spending in elections
Maine voters will decide on a ballot initiative next month to ban foreign governments, or entities with at least 5% foreign government ownership or control, from spending money to influence ballot measures or candidate elections. If approved, Maine would join California, Colorado, Maryland, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington in prohibiting foreign nationals from…
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Nebraska voters to decide on veto referendum to repeal tax credits for education scholarship accounts
The Nebraska Secretary of State announced that a veto referendum to repeal Legislative Bill 75—an act that established tax credits for taxpayers who contribute to education scholarships for students to attend private schools—qualified for the November 2024 ballot on Oct. 10. Support Our Schools, the committee behind the referendum, submitted over 117,000 signatures on Aug.…