Category: Ballot measures
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of May 2, 2023, seven statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in four states for elections in 2023. That’s the same as the average number (7) certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 32 statewide measures have been certified in 16 states. That’s six more…
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Florida marijuana legalization initiative has 94% of signatures needed to appear on 2024 ballot
Smart & Safe Florida, a campaign supporting a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in Florida, has collected 786,688 valid signatures, 88% of the 891,523 valid signatures needed to be placed on the ballot in 2024. The initiative would legalize marijuana for adults 21 years old and older. Individuals would be allowed to possess up to…
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Enacted ballot collection bills make mostly small changes, several states considering new restriction and penalties
Ten states are considering legislation related to ballot collection, or ballot harvesting, while three states have enacted legislation on the topic so far in 2023. In 2022, seven states enacted bills while 15 others considered legislation. The number of bills and states considering ballot collection measures is smaller in 2023 than last year. Most legislation…
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Utah in the top-three for rate of election policy legislation enactment for second straight year
Utah is among the top three states enacting the highest percentage of their introduced election-related legislation for the second year in a row. It is the only state among the top three in 2022 and 2023. Utah lawmakers enacted 12 of the 29 election-related bills (41.4%) introduced in 2023 and nine of 18 in 2022…
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North Dakota Legacy Fund amendment to be decided by voters in 2024
North Dakota voters will decide on an amendment to decrease the amount of money lawmakers can spend from the state legacy fund. The amendment is set to appear on the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot. The amendment, House Concurrent Resolution 3033, passed the North Dakota House of Representatives on April 25, 2023. It was introduced in…
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Abortion, marijuana decriminalization, the climate, and law enforcement featured on local ballots in Texas on May 6
Ballotpedia is covering 47 ballot measures in seven counties in Texas on May 6. Five of the 47 are citizen initiatives, and the remaining 42 were referred to the ballot by a vote of a local governing board, such as a county board or city council. Compared to the May elections in 2019 and 2021…
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Ohio Senate passes measure to require 60% vote requirement to approve constitutional amendments
The Ohio State Senate passed an amendment that would raise the threshold for voters to approve ballot measures that would amend the Ohio Constitution. The amendment passed the Senate by 26-7 on April 19, 2023, with all Republicans voting for the amendment and all Democrats voting against it. It needs to pass the Ohio House…
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Abortion related-ballot measures in 2023 and 2024
Maryland and New York voters will be deciding on two abortion-related ballot measures in Nov. 2024. Measures have been proposed in several other states. Maryland voters will decide whether to establish a right to reproductive freedom, defined to include “decisions to prevent, continue, or end one’s own pregnancy,” in its state constitution. If approved, Maryland will…
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Florida state legislature approves constitutional amendment to make school board elections partisan
The Florida State Senate gave final approval to House Joint Resolution 31, a constitutional amendment to make school board elections partisan. School board members in Florida are elected by the voters of the county and serve four-year terms. Currently, voters elect five or more members in a nonpartisan election. Each county makes up a school…
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Iowa to vote in 2024 on gubernatorial succession amendment
The Iowa State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment to the 2024 ballot that would create a system of succession in the case of temporary or permanent disability of the governor. The amendment would provide that if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor would assume the office of governor for…