Category: Ballot measures
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In November, Virginians will vote on constitutional amendment related to vehicle property taxes paid by disabled veterans
On March 3, 2020, the Virginia State Senate passed a constitutional amendment, which electors will vote on at the general election. The constitutional amendment would exempt one automobile or pickup truck from state and local property taxes for veterans who have a 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability. In Virginia, local governments can assess…
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Medical marijuana legal for two-thirds of Americans, recreational marijuana legal for one quarter
Though the cultivation, distribution, and use of marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, a majority of states have passed laws over the past 25 years legalizing marijuana usage for either medical or recreational purposes. Americans in 33 states and the District of Columbia have access to medical marijuana. This represents 67.5 percent of the…
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Notable local measures on the ballot in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego on Tuesday
California voters will be deciding 289 local ballot measures and one statewide measure on March 3. Here is a preview of four notable measures in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego: Los Angeles County, Measure R, Civilian Police Oversight Commission and Jail Plan Initiative was put on the ballot through a successful initiative petition…
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Alabama House passes constitutional amendment to allow people accused of Class A felonies to be held without bail
The Alabama House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 81 on Thursday. If passed by the Senate, the measure would appear on the 2020 ballot for voter approval or rejection. The amendment, referred to as Aniah’s Law, would allow people accused of Class A felonies to be held without bail “if no conditions of release…
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Voters will decide a vaccination requirements referendum in Maine on March 3
On March 3, 2020, Maine voters will decide Question 1, a veto referendum that would repeal legislation related to vaccine requirements and have the effect of reinstating religious and philosophical exemptions from vaccination requirements. In 2019, the state legislature passed Legislative Document 798 (LD 798), which was designed to eliminate religious and philosophical exemptions for…
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Californians to vote on one statewide ballot measure, a $15 billion education facilities bond, on March 3, 2020
On March 3, 2020, Californians will decide one statewide ballot measure, Proposition 13. The measure is a $15-billion bond that would provide funds for school and college facilities. Proposition 13 would also make changes to the formula used to distribute state bond funds to schools, the rules governing local bond measures, and school districts’ abilities…
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Alabama voters to decide whether to change education board from elected to appointed on March 3
Voters in Alabama will decide Amendment 1 on March 3. The constitutional amendment would rename the State Board of Education as the Alabama Commission on Elementary and Secondary Education. The amendment would change the board from being elected by voters to being appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Under the amendment, the…
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Utah initiative signature deadline passed on February 18
The deadline for submitting signatures for a direct initiative to qualify for the 2020 ballot in Utah passed on February 18, 2020. The deadline for indirect initiatives was November 15, 2019. Proponents of a carbon tax measure and a term limits measure had been circulating petitions. Neither group reached the signature requirement to qualify for…
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Voters in Lincoln Public Schools approve $290 million bond
On Tuesday, Lincoln Public Schools, Nebraska voters approved a bond proposition 62% to 38%, authorizing $290 million for projects including the construction of two high schools and an elementary school, improvements and repairs of Park Middle School and Everett Elementary School, and capital improvements to other district facilities. Turnout was 34% for the all-mail election.…
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Petitioners of opposing forest initiatives in Oregon sign agreement to work together on regulation
On Monday, petitioners of opposing ballot initiatives designed to change forest regulations in Oregon announced that they had signed an agreement to work together via the legislature rather than the initiative process. Twenty-six groups signed the cooperative memorandum. One side of the debate included groups like Oregon Wild, the Audubon Society of Portland, and the…