CategoryBallot measures

Michigan could be the next state to vote on a ranked-choice voting ballot initiative

By Ryan Byrne
In Ballot measures
February 21, 2019 at 10:40 AM
Could Michigan be the second state to vote on ranked-choice voting? Bill Gelineau, a Libertarian, is planning a ballot initiative for a future election to enact ranked-choice voting. Gelineau ran for governor in 2018, placing third with 1.3 percent of votes behind Gretchen Whitmer (D) and Bill Schuette (R). The Lansing, Michigan, chapter of Represent.Us is also interested in an RCV ballot initiative.
 
Ranked-choice voting (RCV) is a voting method in which voters rank candidates according to their preference and ballots are processed in rounds. The candidate in last place is eliminated during each round, and the voters’ second choices get their votes. The process is continued until a candidate wins a simple majority (50 percent plus one) of the vote.
 
The ballot initiative is expected to be a constitutional amendment, which requires 425,059 valid signatures to appear on the ballot in 2020 or 2022. Signatures also need to meet a distribution requirement due to legislation passed in December 2018. The requirement limits the number of signatures collected in a single congressional district to 15 percent of the total required. In Michigan, petitioners have 180 days to collect signatures for a ballot initiative.
 
Michigan would follow Maine in deciding whether to adopt ranked-choice voting (RCV). Voters in Maine approved a ranked-choice voting ballot initiative in 2016, but the legislature passed a bill delaying and repealing RCV. Backers of RCV mobilized a campaign to overturn the bill through a veto referendum in June 2018, and 53.9 percent of electors voted to preserve the system. RCV was used in Maine’s 2nd congressional district election in November 2018, with Jared Golden (D) defeating incumbent Bruce Poliquin (R) after first-round votes for two independent candidates were redistributed.
 
Gelineau said he believes voters could approve RCV in Michigan, stating, “Are there enough people out there who believe in democracy that would be willing to forgo what may be the end of the two-party system to say we can have a better way of running our government? I really think it’s possible.”


North Dakota Senate Republicans pass measure to add unique requirement for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments

By Jackie Mitchell
In Ballot measures
February 21, 2019 at 10:35 AM
On Monday, North Dakota Senate Republicans passed a constitutional amendment that would require citizen-initiated constitutional amendments—after they’ve made it on the ballot and been approved by voters at a statewide election—to then be sent to the legislature for approval. If not approved by the legislature, the measure would be required to go back on the ballot and be approved by voters a second time at the next statewide election.
 
This amendment was introduced as Senate Concurrent Resolution 4001 on January 3, 2019, by Republican Senators David Hogue, Dick Dever, and Gary Lee. On February 18, 2019, the state Senate passed SCR 4001 by a vote of 31 to 16. Of the 36 Senate Republicans, 31 voted yes while six joined all ten Senate Democrats in voting no. The introduced version of the proposal was designed to give the legislature the last vote on a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment, but it was amended to add the provision for a second statewide election. If the House—comprised of 78 Republicans and 15 Democrats—passes the amendment, it will appear on the ballot before voters at the general election on November 3, 2020.
 
If this measure goes on the ballot and is approved by voters, North Dakota would become the first state to require legislative approval after voter approval for citizen initiatives. Currently, South Carolina is the only state that requires the legislature to approve a legislatively-referred amendment again after voter approval. In Nevada, citizen-initiated constitutional amendments must be passed by voters at two consecutive statewide elections, but the state legislature is not involved in between the elections.
 
Typically, in states with a process for indirect initiatives, an initiative with a successful signature petition drive is considered first by the state legislature where the initiative—or in some cases legislation deemed equivalent—may be approved by the legislature; otherwise, the measure is placed on the ballot. In some states, an additional round of signatures is required to qualify an initiative for the ballot if the legislature does not approve it.


Gwyneth Paltrow, school boards, and Los Angeles elections – what they all have common this Tuesday

By Josh Altic
In Ballot measures
February 18, 2019 at 9:45 AM
The deadline to register to vote for elections on March 5, 2019, in California is Tuesday, February 19. In California, residents must register to vote 15 days prior to an election. On March 5, 2019, voters will decide the following races:
– The District 5 seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education – This is a special election to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Ref Rodriguez. The term filled by this election expires in December 2020.
– Seven local measures in five cities within Los Angeles County.
— Measure A will determine whether or not a development project by the Arts Club of London on 8920 Sunset Boulevard, which is owned by Gwyneth Paltrow and Arts Club chairman Gary Landesberg, moves forward. It was put on the ballot by through a veto referendum petition backed by Unite Here Local 11, a hospitality industry union.
— The other measures concerning hotel taxes in Manhattan Beach, sales taxes in Glendora, election consolidation in Signal Hill, marijuana taxes in West Hollywood.
– The District 2 seat of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors – Heading into this special election, the board is split 3-3 between members supported by United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and those supported by the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA).
– Local measures concerning the lease of hospital facilities in Palm Drive (Sonoma County) and Coalinga (Fresno County)
 
Voter registration information is available here. If you miss the voter registration deadline on February 19, you can still register and vote conditionally. More information is available here.


Nevada governor signs bill to allow state to enforce Question 1—a firearms background checks measure that voters approved in 2016

By Ryan Byrne
In Ballot measures
February 16, 2019 at 9:20 AM

On February 11, 2019, Senate Bill 143 (SB 143) was introduced into the Nevada State Legislature to amend Question 1 (2016), which was designed to require firearm transfers between unlicensed persons to go through a licensed dealer. Under Question 1, the licensed dealer would contact the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICBCS) to run a background check. According to then-Attorney General Adam Laxalt (R), Question 1 was never enforced because the FBI refused to participate in the background checks.

SB 143 was written to require the state, rather than the FBI, to run background checks on persons who receive a firearm from an unlicensed individual. Question 1, SB 143, and similar types of legislation are often referred to as universal background checks because under such laws transfers between unlicensed persons would join transfers between licensed persons in requiring background checks, with certain exceptions.

The Nevada State Senate voted on SB 143 on February 13, 2019. The vote was 13 to eight, with the chamber’s 13 Democrats voting to support SB 143 and eight Republicans voting to oppose the bill. The Nevada State Assembly voted on February 15, 2019, passing the bill in a vote of 28 to 13. The chamber’s Republicans, along with one Democrat, opposed SB 143, while the remaining 28 Democrats supported the bill.

In Nevada, three years must pass before a ballot initiative can be amended or repealed. Question 1 was added to state code on November 22, 2016; therefore, SB 143 included a provision stating that the bill would take effect on January 2, 2020, which is after the three-year period on November 22, 2019.

Senate Majority Leader Kelvin Atkinson (D-4), after the bill passed both legislative chambers, said, “Background checks are proven to be the best way to prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands without compromising the rights of law-abiding citizens.” Sen. Ira Hansen (R-14), who voted against SB 143, stated, “All this is going to do is burden people who are good, ordinary citizens who are going to be doing transactions. No criminal in their right mind is going to go through a background check system before getting a firearm.”

Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed SB 143 on February 15, 2019, saying, “In November 2016, the majority of Nevadans made it clear they wanted us to do more to address gun violence–but for the 829 days since, they’ve been ignored. That finally changes today.” Sisolak was elected on November 6, 2018, succeeding Brian Sandoval (R) as governor, and giving Democrats trifecta control of Nevada.



Where could we see marijuana on the ballot in 2019 and 2020?

By Jackie Mitchell
In Ballot measures
February 15, 2019 at 2:15 PM
Marijuana was a notable topic and trend for ballot measures in 2018.
 
In 2018, voters in two states—North Dakota and Michigan—decided citizen initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana. The measure was defeated in North Dakota and approved in Michigan.
 
In Oklahoma, State Question 788 legalizing medical marijuana was approved in June 2018. Utah and Missouri voters also decided initiatives concerning medical marijuana in November 2018. In Missouri, there were three different medical marijuana measures all competing with one another. All three states voting on medical marijuana legalization approved it.
 
So where can citizens put marijuana on the ballot in 2019 and 2020?
 
Ten of the states that allow citizen initiatives have legalized medical marijuana but have not legalized recreational marijuana. Recreational marijuana legalization measures have been proposed in Ohio for 2019 and Arizona for 2020. Both states have voted on recreational marijuana legalization initiatives in 2015 and 2016, respectively, but the initiatives were defeated.
 
24 states allow citizens to initiate legislation. As of November 2018, all such states had legalized medical marijuana or allowed cannabis oil except Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Nebraska. Medical marijuana legalization measures have been proposed for 2020 in South Dakota, Mississippi, and Nebraska.
 
In Florida, two 2020 initiatives were proposed to amend the state’s medical marijuana amendment that was passed in 2016. In Washington, a 2019 measure was proposed to ban Marijuana cultivation, processing, and sales in residential zones. Marijuana legalization could come through state legislatures in 2019 and 2020 as well. So far, Vermont is the only state that has legalized possession and use of recreational marijuana through a legislative bill rather than a citizen initiative.
 
At a glance
 
States with the initiative process that have legalized medical marijuana but not recreational marijuana:
  1. Arizona (Two different measures to legalize recreational proposed for 2020)
  2. Arkansas
  3. Florida
  4. Illinois
  5. Missouri
  6. Montana
  7. North Dakota
  8. Oklahoma
  9. Utah
  10. Ohio (Measure to legalize recreational proposed for 2019)
 
States with the initiative process that have not legalized either medical marijuana or recreational marijuana:
  1. Idaho
  2. Mississippi (One measure to legalize medical and one measure to legalize recreational and medical proposed for 2020)
  3. Nebraska (Measure to legalize recreational proposed for 2020)
  4. South Dakota (Measure to legalize recreational proposed for 2020)
  5. Wyoming


California Gov. Newsom discusses future of state’s high-speed rail plan, which voters authorized $9.95 billion for in 2008

By Ryan Byrne
In Ballot measures
February 13, 2019 at 5:15 PM

In his State of the State address, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said the state’s high-speed rail project between San Francisco and Los Angeles “would cost too much and take too long.” Newsom said he wanted a portion of the high-speed rail, from Merced and Bakersfield, to be prioritized. The governor’s spokesperson Nathan Click later said, “The state will continue undertaking the broader project—completing the bookend projects and finishing the environmental review for the SF to LA leg—that would allow the project to continue seeking other funding streams.”

The high-speed rail system has been in the works since 1996, when the state government created the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) to develop a plan. In 2008, CHSRA estimated that a high-speed rail system connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles would cost about $34 billion. The California State Legislature approved a bond measure, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed, to appear on the ballot in 2008. Voters approved the ballot measure.

Known as Proposition 1A, the bond measure authorized $9.00 billion in general obligation bonds for the planning and construction of a high-speed rail system connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles. The ballot measure also authorized an additional $950 million for commuter rail systems that provide connections to the high-speed rail’s stations. Proposition 1A said the high-speed train would need to move at a speed of at least 200 mph and transport passengers between San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2 ? hours.

Since 2008, the CHSRA’s annual or biennial cost estimates for the project have ranged from $34 billion to $99 billion. In 2018, CHSRA estimated the project to cost $77 billion.

While Gov. Newsom is planning to focus on a specific segment of the high-speed rail plan, Carl DeMaio (R), chairman of Reform California, proposed a ballot initiative to terminate funding for the project. Reform California organized the campaign behind Proposition 6 (2018), which would have overturned the fuel tax and vehicle fee increases enacted in 2017.



Seattle Public Schools voters pass two funding measures on February 12

By Jessica Martini
In Ballot measures
February 13, 2019 at 10:55 AM
Voters in the Seattle Public Schools district approved two property tax measures on February 12, 2019. Proposition 1 was designed to fund educational programs with a tax levy at the rates of $1.05 per $1,000 in assessed property value in 2020; $0.96 per $1,000 in 2021; and $0.87 per $1,000 in 2022. The district proposed these rates over the legal maximum amount that the state legislature determined school districts could collect through local property taxes in 2017. District officials noted that state lawmakers would need to adjust the existing limits in order to allow the proposed rates. Otherwise, the tax rate under Proposition 1 would default to $0.53 per $1,000 in 2020, according to The Seattle Times. Proposition 1 received 66 percent approval on election night, requiring a simple majority to pass.
 
Proposition 2 was designed to fund capital improvements with a six-year property tax levy. The tax rate would range from $0.90 per $1,000 in value in 2020 down to $0.56 per $1,000 in 2025. The text of the measure listed capital improvements such as earthquake safety projects, building construction, infrastructure updates, and technology updates in the district as purposes for the revenue. Proposition 2 received 68 percent approval on election night, also requiring a simple majority.
 
The King County elections office reported that 40,500 ballots remained to be counted as of 8:05 pm on February 12, with about 99,385 ballots already counted. Voter turnout for the countywide election was 17.74 percent.


Utah governor signs law changing Proposition 3, the Medicaid expansion initiative approved in November 2018

By Jackie Mitchell
In Ballot measures
February 12, 2019 at 10:40 AM
Utah Proposition 3, the Medicaid Expansion Initiative, was on the ballot in Utah as an initiated state statute on November 6, 2018. It was approved by a vote of 53 percent to 47 percent. Proposition 3 expanded Medicaid coverage to include persons under the age of 65 and with incomes equal to or below 138 percent of the federal poverty line according to traditional Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. It also increased the state’s sales tax rate from 4.70 percent to 4.85 percent, with revenue allocated toward the state’s portion of the cost of Medicaid expansion.
 
On Monday, the legislature gave final approval to Senate Bill 96 to repeal and replace Proposition 3, and Governor Gary Herbert (R) signed it into law. Changes proposed by the bill include limits on eligibility for Medicaid coverage, such as a work requirement; restrictions on the total number of people who could enroll; and changes to the provisions concerning the sales tax increase, although the sales tax increase would be implemented under SB 96 as it was designed to under Proposition 3. It would require special approval of waivers from the Federal government and contains contingency provisions that take effect if the waivers aren’t approved.
 
Utah Sen. Allen Christensen (R) introduced Senate Bill 96. The bill passed in the Senate on February 4, 2019. The bill passed with amendments in the House on February 8, 2019. The Senate concurred with the House’s amendments, and the governor signed the bill on February 11, 2019. All six Senate Democrats and all 16 House Democrats voted against the bill. One Republican Senator, Todd Weiler of District 23, and three House Republicans—Craig Hall (33), Eric Hutchings (38) and Steven Eliason (45)—also voted against the bill. The remaining legislative Republicans voted in favor of SB 96.
 
Utah has a Republican state government trifecta, meaning Republicans control both chambers of the state legislature and the governorship. Utah is one of three Republican trifecta states that approved Medicaid expansion initiatives in November 2018. The other two are Idaho and Nebraska.
 
Utah is one of 11 states that have no restrictions on legislative alterations, which means the legislature can amend or repeal initiated state statutes with a simple majority vote at any time.
 
Statement from Governor Gary Herbert:
 
Governor Herbert said, “SB96 balances Utah’s sense of compassion and frugality. It provides quality coverage to the same population covered by Proposition 3 in a meaningful, humane and sustainable way. It is now time to set aside differences and move forward to get those in greatest need enrolled on Medicaid and on the federal health care exchanges.”
 
Response from Proposition 3 supporters:
 
Utah Decides Healthcare, the Proposition 3 support campaign, “This is a dark day for democracy in Utah. State legislators turned their backs on voters and on families in need. This bill leaves billions of our tax dollars in Washington and cuts healthcare for tens-of-thousands of Utahns. While special interests and politicians celebrate the success of their backroom deal, Utah families will be up late tonight knowing they just lost the ability to afford lifesaving care.”
 
Proposition 3 supporter Matt Slonaker, executive director of the Utah Health Policy Project, stated, “This bill is not perfect, and there are significant parts of it that we don’t support and will work hard to fix. But Governor Hebert, President Adams, and Speaker Wilson have stated that we will have an April 1, 2019 roll out date of coverage. UHPP, and our partners in the community, should be ready. We will finally be able to get coverage for Utahns that need it badly.”
 
The Utah Legislature also amended Proposition 2, the Medical Marijuana Initiative, which was approved by voters in 2018.


Arizona Appeals Court rules that a bill preempting local benefits ordinances violated the Voter Protection Act

By Ryan Byrne
In Ballot measures
February 12, 2019 at 10:11 AM

The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that a state law, passed as HB 2579 in 2016, violated the Voter Protection Act, Arizona’s restriction on legislative alteration. The Voter Protection Act requires voter approval of substantive changes made by the legislature to ballot initiatives. HB 2579 was designed to preempt local governments from requiring nonwage benefits above the state requirement. The three-judge panel concluded that HB 2579 contradicted Proposition 202, which voters approved in 2006. Proposition 202 increased the minimum wage and provided that local governments can enact ordinances to regulate the minimum wage and benefits.

HB 2579 defined benefits to include fringe benefits, sick and vacation days, retirement plans, child or adult care plans, and welfare benefits. Proposition 202 did not define benefits.

The appeals court’s ruling said, “H.B. 2579 explicitly prohibits what the Minimum Wage Act permits, and thus, the two statutes cannot be harmonized. Because H.B. 2579 impliedly amends and repeals a portion of the Minimum Wage Act, it violates the VPA’s express limitations on legislative changes to voter-approved laws.”

The state government, represented by Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R), has the option of appealing the case to the Arizona Supreme Court, which would have final jurisdiction on the issue. If the state does not appeal the case, or the state Supreme Court sides with the appeals court, the Arizona State Legislature could pass the same bill to preempt local benefits ordinances; however, an additional provision referring the bill to the ballot for voter consideration would need to be added to meet the requirements of the Voter Protection Act.

Due to the Voter Protection Act, which was passed as a ballot initiative in 1998, Arizona is one of two states—the other is California—that requires voter approval to make substantive changes to voter-approved ballot initiatives.



Initiative to allow affirmative action in Washington certified to the legislature, may appear on November 2019 ballot

By Jackie Mitchell
In Ballot measures
February 7, 2019 at 4:41 PM
On February 7, 2019, Initiative 1000 was certified to the Washington legislature after enough signatures were found to be valid. Proponents submitted 395,938 signatures and, using a random sample method, the secretary of state’s office found that 76 percent of the signatures were valid—more than the 259,622 required signatures.
 
Initiative I-1000 would allow affirmative action without the use of quotas in the state of Washington. This means that characteristics such as race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status could be used as factors when considering a person for education or employment opportunities. I-1000 would, however, ban preferential treatment, meaning those characteristics could not be the sole or deciding factor when considering a person for education or employment opportunities. I-1000 would also ban discrimination based on those characteristics.
 
The measure would also create the Governor’s commission on diversity, equity, and inclusion, which would be responsible for ensuring compliance with the measure, and would be required to issue an annual report on the progress of state agencies in achieving the measure’s goal of “guaranteeing every resident of Washington state equal opportunity and access to public education, public employment.”
 
Initiative to the Legislature is the name for indirect initiated state statutes in the state of Washington. Upon signature verification, these initiatives go before the Washington Legislature at its next regular legislative session in January. The legislature must take one of three actions:
  • The legislature can adopt the initiative as proposed, in which case it becomes law without a vote of the people.
  • The legislature can reject or refuse to act on the proposed initiative, in which case the initiative must be placed on the ballot at the next state general election.
  • The legislature can approve an alternative to the proposed initiative, in which case both the original proposal and the legislature’s alternative must be placed on the ballot at the next state general election.
Washington I-200 of 1998 banned preferential treatment and discrimination in public education, employment and contracting based on sex, race, and ethnicity. Voters approved the measure by over 300,000 votes (58 percent to 42 percent) making Washington the second state to enact such a measure at the time.
 
Seven other states besides Washington currently ban race-based affirmative action at all public universities. In Arizona, California, Michigan, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, all bans were passed by voters at the ballot box. In Florida, Governor Jeb Bush created the ban through executive order. In New Hampshire, the legislature passed a bill banning the consideration of race.
 
The following constitutional amendments prohibited discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting:
  • California Proposition 209 (1996)
  • Michigan Proposal 2 (2006)
  • Nebraska Measure 424 (2008)
  • Oklahoma State Question 759 (2012)
The Oklahoma measure was referred to the ballot by the state legislature while the California, Michigan, and Nebraska measures were initiated by citizens.
 
Arizona Proposition 107 (2010), a legislatively-referred amendment, banned affirmative action programs in the state that were administered by statewide or local units of government, including state agencies, cities, counties, community colleges, and school districts.