Category: Ballot measures
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Louisiana to vote on ballot measure establishing a state constitutional right to worship in October
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…
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Statewide rent control initiative may be on California ballots for the third time in four election cycles
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…
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Language for veto referendum challenging the LEARNS Act is the longest ballot title in Arkansas history
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…
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Coloradans have voted on 36 TABOR-related ballot measures since 1993, rejecting 69% of them
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…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
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,…
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Twelve Oregon counties have approved ballot measures related to joining Idaho
In eastern Oregon, voters in 12 counties have approved ballot measures between 2020 and 2023 that propose seceding from the state and joining neighboring Idaho. Supporters refer to this effort as Greater Idaho. Since 2020, there have been 16 countywide ballot measures on Greater Idaho in Oregon. Voters approved ballot measures in 12 counties—Baker, Grant,…
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Voters in Augusta, Maine, will decide on a school budget question on June 13
Voters in Augusta, Maine will decide on Question 1 on June 13, 2023, which would approve the school budget of $36.25 million for K-12 education for the 2023-2024 school year. In Maine, school districts are required to have elections to approve a budget or to issue new bonding and or bond taxes. If a budget…
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Florida marijuana initiative has enough signatures to appear on 2024 ballot; state supreme court review pending
Smart & Safe Florida, a campaign supporting a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in Florida, has collected 967,528 valid signatures, exceeding the 891,523 valid signatures needed to be placed on the ballot in 2024. State officials confirmed on June 1, 2023, that the campaign had submitted enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot and…
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Louisiana legislature refers two constitutional amendments to October 14 ballot concerning freedom of worship and nonprofit property tax exemptions
On May 30, 2023, the Louisiana State Legislature gave final approval to two constitutional amendments set to appear on the ballot on Oct. 14, 2023. One of the amendments, Senate Bill 63, would provide in the state constitution that “the freedom to worship in a church or other place of worship is a fundamental right…
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Connecticut voters will decide a constitutional amendment to allow no-excuse absentee voting in 2024
Connecticut voters will decide on a proposed constitutional amendment in 2024 that would allow for no-excuse absentee voting. Connecticut would join 35 other states that allow this method of voting. No-excuse absentee voting is where any voter may request a mail-in ballot. Generally, a voter must first submit an application in order to receive a…