Category: Ballot measures
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Gov. DeSantis signs Florida initiative process restrictions into law
The Florida legislature approved a bill April 9 regarding the state’s ballot initiative process. Senate Bill 1794, which Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law the same day, included the following provisions: increases the signature requirement threshold to trigger a review of the initiative petition by the Florida Supreme Court—changing it from 10% to 25%…
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Signatures verified in Idaho county commissioner recall effort
A recall effort seeking to remove two of the three Lincoln County commissioners in Idaho was approved for the ballot on April 6, 2020. The recall election for Rick Ellis and Roy Hubert is scheduled for August 25. The two commissioners were targeted for recall after they voted to build a new courthouse in a…
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New Yorkers will vote on a $3 billion bond issue designed to address environment and climate change issues in November
On April 3, 2020, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed budget legislation for fiscal year 2020-2021, which included a provision for a $3 billion bond issue that voters will decide on November 3, 2020. Gov. Cuomo proposed the bond issue during his State of the State Address on January 8, 2020. The legislation for the…
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Valid signatures for Colorado 22-Week Abortion Ban Initiative fall short; proponents have a 15-day cure period set for Apr. 12-27
Due Date Too Late, proponents of an initiative to ban abortion after 22 weeks gestation, submitted a total of 137,624 signatures on March 4. To qualify for the 2020 ballot in Colorado, 124,632 valid signatures are required. On April 3, the Colorado Secretary of State’s office announced that proponents submitted 114,647 valid signatures. In Colorado,…
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About 1.7 million signatures filed for second version of California split roll tax initiative
On April 2, 2020, the campaign Schools and Communities First reported filing 1.7 million signatures for a ballot initiative to require commercial and industrial properties, except those zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed based on their market value, rather than their purchase price. At least 997,139 signatures need to be valid. The ballot initiative…
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Two recall elections on the ballot in Elizabeth, Colorado
Recall elections against Mayor Megan Vasquez and trustee Tammy Payne are taking place on April 7 in Elizabeth, Colorado. Vasquez, Payne, and five other trustees were targeted for recall in August 2019. Trustees June Jurczewsky and Rachel White were removed from their positions as a result of recall elections on December 17, 2019. Recall elections…
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Arizona ballot initiative campaigns ask state Supreme Court to allow electronic signatures due to coronavirus pandemic
On April 2, 2020, four ballot initiative campaigns filed a petition asking the Arizona Supreme Court to allow the campaigns to gather signatures through E-Qual, which is the state’s online signature collection platform, during the coronavirus pandemic. E-Qual is available for federal, statewide, and legislative candidates but not ballot initiatives. The legal petition stated, “The…
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Vice President Joe Biden endorses Milwaukee Public Schools Revenue Limit Increase Measure
On Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden voiced his support for the Milwaukee Public Schools Revenue Limit Increase Measure that will appear on April 7 ballots. Biden said the measure “will give public school educators the tools they need to help our students succeed – and they’ll allow us to invest in 21st-century facilities and technology…
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Three measures are set to appear on South Dakota’s 2020 ballot
Two citizen initiatives and one legislatively referred constitutional amendment will appear on the November ballot in South Dakota. The signature deadline for ballot measures targeting the 2020 ballot in South Dakota passed on November 3, 2019. The South Dakota State Legislature, which can refer measures to the ballot, adjourned on March 30, 2020. The two citizen…