Category: Ballot measures
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Signature deadline for Washington 2022 Initiatives to the Legislature passes with no campaigns submitting signatures
The signature deadline for 2022 Washington Initiatives to the Legislature (ITL) was December 30, 2021. For an ITL to be taken up by the Washington State Legislature and potentially put on the ballot in 2022, proponents needed to submit 324,516 valid signatures. Citizens of Washington may initiate legislation as either a direct state statute—called Initiative…
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Ohio campaign aiming to legalize marijuana submits signatures to send the proposed measure to the state legislature
On Dec. 20, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted 206,943 signatures to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office for a ballot initiative aiming to legalize marijuana in the state. The measure is an indirect initiated state statute meaning that the state legislature will have an opportunity to pass the law without it going…
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Ballotpedia’s year-end analysis of local measures in the largest U.S. cities and state capitals
On Dec. 20, Ballotpedia published its year-end analysis of the 202 local ballot measures across 27 states in the 100 largest U.S. cities and state capitals. Ballotpedia’s year-end report breaks down the measures by type, by state, by topic, by outcome, and by election date. Here are some highlights from the report: There were 202…
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Proponents of Florida gambling initiatives aim to submit signatures by Dec. 30; $100 million has been raised surrounding the two measures
Florida Education Champions, sponsors of a sports betting initiative, have submitted 194,287 valid signatures as of Dec. 17. The measure would authorize sports betting at sports venues, pari-mutuel facilities, and online in Florida. The Florida State Legislature would need to pass legislation to implement the constitutional amendment such as providing for licensing, regulation, consumer protection,…
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Ballotpedia’s year-end analysis of statewide ballot measures
On Dec. 17, Ballotpedia published its year-end analysis of the 39 statewide ballot measures voters decided in 2021. Voters in nine states approved 26 measures and defeated 13 on four different election dates. The year-end analysis drills down into the types and origins of the measures, the outcomes, campaign finance and signature-gathering costs, and ballot…
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Judge rules against Missouri State Treasurer and allows the ballot language for Amendment 1 to stand
On Dec. 13, 2021, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled against a challenge brought by Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick (R) to the ballot language and summary of Missouri Amendment 1. The constitutional amendment would allow the state treasurer to invest state funds in highly rated municipal securities. It would also authorize the legislature…
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Maine Question 1’s support and opposition campaigns raised $99.6 million, totaling $241.75 per vote
On Nov. 2, voters approved Maine Question 1, which prohibited the construction of electric transmission lines defined as high-impact in the Upper Kennebec Region, including the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC). The ballot initiative also required a two-thirds vote of each state legislative chamber to approve high-impact electric transmission line projects. The NECEC is a planned 145-mile long, high-voltage…
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Voters in seven states decided on 24 constitutional amendments in 2021, adopting 16 of them
Every state but Delaware requires voters to ratify proposed changes to a state’s constitution. There are four ways that proposed constitutional amendments can be proposed and put on the ballot: Through legislatively referred constitutional amendments. Through citizen-initiated constitutional amendments put on the ballot through signature petition drives. Eighteen states allow this method of amendment. Through…
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Nov. 2 local ballot measure results final with Dec. 6 recount results in Colorado Springs
On Dec. 6, the El Paso County, Colorado, Elections Department announced the conclusion of a recount on a Colorado Springs School District bond measure, Issue 4B. Issue 4B failed by 11 votes with 27,476 votes against and 27,465 votes in favor. It would have authorized the district to issue $350 million in bonds for school…
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State signature deadline for Massachusetts 2022 initiatives was Wednesday
Three initiative campaigns submitted more than the required number of validated signatures (80,239) to the Massachusetts secretary of state on Dec. 1. This means that the initiatives will go to the Massachusetts General Court. If the general court does not enact the initiatives, a smaller second round of signatures will be required to put the…