Category: Ballot measures
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of May 16, 2023, 13 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in eight states for elections in 2023. That’s five more measures than the average number (8) certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 34 statewide measures have been certified in 18 states. That’s five…
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Three Oregon senators become ineligible for re-election under Measure 113 as the legislative walkout continues
On May 15, three senators involved with the walkout—Daniel Bonham (R), Dennis Linthicum (R), and Brian Boquist (I)—accrued their 10th unexcused absences, a threshold making them ineligible to be re-elected to a subsequent term under Measure 113, a ballot measure Oregon voters approved in 2022. The walkout began on May 3 when all but two…
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Texas voters will decide in November whether the state will have the second-highest mandatory retirement age for state judges at 79
The Texas State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to the Nov. ballot that would increase the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices from 75 to 79—the second-highest retirement age in the country, excluding those with no mandatory retirement ages. Vermont adopted in 2003 the highest retirement age for state judges at…
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Missouri voters to decide on ballot measure for property tax exemptions for childcare facilities
In Missouri, a constitutional amendment that would allow childcare establishments to be exempt from property taxes was certified for the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot. On May 12, 2023, the Missouri House of Representatives voted 91-27 to pass the amendment. It previously passed the Missouri State Senate by 33-0 on March 23, 2023. To propose a…
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Ohio 60% supermajority amendment to appear on the ballot on Aug. 8
An amendment that would require a 60% majority from voters to approve constitutional amendments will appear on the ballot in Ohio on Aug. 8, 2023. The Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio State Senate both voted on May 10, 2023, to send the measure to the ballot. The House voted 62-37 to pass the…
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Colorado voters will be asked in November to make changes to property taxes and tobacco taxes
The Colorado State Legislature referred two ballot measures concerning taxes and state revenue to the Nov. 2023 ballot before adjourning the legislative session on May 8. Ballot initiatives on the ballot in Colorado during odd-numbered years are limited to topics concerning taxes or state fiscal matters under TABOR, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. This includes…
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California parcel tax measures have an approval rate of 62% during odd-numbered years; in 2023, 89% have been approved so far
From 2011 to 2021, voters decided 216 parcel tax-related ballot measures in California during odd-numbered year elections. Voters approved 133 (61.57%) and rejected 83 (38.43%). Through April, voters have decided on nine parcel tax ballot measures in California in 2023. Eight (88.89%) were approved, and one (11.11%) was defeated. This approval rate is higher than…
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Colorado voters will be asked in 2023 whether to dedicate $23.65 million in state revenue to preschool programs or refund it to tobacco wholesalers and distributors
Colorado voters will be asked in Nov. 2023 whether to allow the state to retain revenue above the estimated revenue generated from increased taxes on cigarettes and tobacco and nicotine products established by Proposition EE, which was approved by voters in 2020. Proposition EE increased cigarette and tobacco product taxes and created a new tax…
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Initiative to create a consumer-owned electric utility and replace CMP and Versant will appear on Maine 2023 ballot
An initiative to create a municipal electric transmission and distribution utility, replacing Central Maine Power and Versant Power, will be on the Maine ballot on Nov. 7, 2023. The campaign supporting the initiative, Our Power Maine, submitted 69,735 valid signatures in 2022 to certify the initiative to the legislature. After the signatures were verified, the…
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Marijuana legalization campaign to continue signature gathering in Ohio for 2023 ballot
The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the campaign supporting a marijuana legalization initiative in Ohio, began collecting a second round of signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot on Nov. 7, 2023. Previously, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol submitted 136,729 valid signatures to the secretary of state in two separate rounds…