Category: Ballot measures
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2022 will feature the most abortion-related ballot measures on record; Campaigns respond to Dobbs
There will be at least five abortion-related ballot measures in 2022, including the first two ballot measures to provide explicit state constitutional rights related to abortion. On June 27, the California State Legislature passed a constitutional amendment, bringing the total to five – the most on record for a single year. Before 2022, the highest…
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Arizona voters will decide on an amendment to raise the ballot measure vote requirement this November
An amendment that will change the vote threshold requirement to pass ballot measures in Arizona will appear on the ballot this November. On June 23, 2022, the Arizona State Senate voted 16-12 to put the measure on the ballot. All Republicans voted to pass the amendment, while all Democrats voted against it. The vote was…
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Arizona voters will decide on creating office of lieutenant governor
This November, voters in Arizona will choose whether to create the office of lieutenant governor in the state. A constitutional amendment creating this office will appear on the ballot. The measure would also have voters elect the governor and lieutenant governor on a joint ticket. If the governor dies or leaves office, the lieutenant governor…
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Online sports betting is heading to the California ballot in November
On June 27, the California secretary of state reported that an initiative to legalize online and mobile sports betting had qualified for the ballot. The final random sample count concluded that over 1.1 million of the nearly 1.6 million signatures submitted were valid. The required number of signatures for the initiative was 997,139. The initiative,…
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Campaign submits signatures for initiative to decriminalize certain psychedelic plants and fungi and create a therapy program
On June 27, 2022, the campaign Natural Medicine Colorado reported submitting 222,648 signatures for a ballot initiative to decriminalize certain psychedelic plants and fungi. The ballot initiative would appear on the ballot in November. The psychedelic plants and fungi, also known as hallucinogenic or entheogenic plants and fungi, that would be decriminalized for personal use…
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Voters in five states will decide in November on removing constitutional language permitting enslavement or servitude as criminal punishments or debt payments
In 2022, voters in five states — Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont — will decide on ballot measures to repeal language from their state constitutions that allows slavery or involuntary servitude for the punishment of a crime, or, in Vermont, for the payment of debts, damages, or fines. As of 2022, 10 states had…
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An initiative related to California dialysis clinics qualifies for the November ballot
On June 20, the California Secretary of State announced an initiative to enact staffing requirements, reporting requirements, ownership disclosure, and closing requirements at dialysis clinics had qualified for the November ballot. Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection, the campaign behind the initiative, submitted over 1 million signatures. The random sample concluded that 725,890 signatures were…
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Measures regarding abortion have been on the ballot 47 times in 23 states since 1970; at least 4 more will be decided this year
Abortion has been a perennial issue for statewide ballot measures across the U.S. since the 1970s, and 2022 is continuing that trend. There will be at least four ballot measures addressing abortion this year, which is the most since 1986. Measures have been certified for the ballot in Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, and Vermont. Should one…
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South Carolina Legislature refers two constitutional amendments to the 2022 ballot to increase General Reserve and Capital Reserve Funds
South Carolina voters will decide on two constitutional amendments in 2022. One of the amendments would increase the General Reserve Fund from 5% of state general fund revenue to 7%. The increase would be 0.5% percentage points each year until reaching 7%. The state’s General Reserve Fund can be used to cover year-end operating deficits.…
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California initiative to require additional funding for K-12 art and music education qualifies for the ballot
On June 8, the California Secretary of State announced that an initiative to require additional funding for K-12 art and music education had qualified for the ballot. Californians for Arts and Music Education in Public Schools, the campaign sponsoring the initiative, submitted 1,030,221 signatures for verification in April. Counties conducted a random sample, and the…