Category: Ballot measures
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Kentucky voters to decide constitutional amendment changing the terms and requirements for certain judicial offices
On the last day of its legislative session, the Kentucky General Assembly certified the Terms of Judicial Offices Amendment for the November ballot. The amendment would make the following changes to the Kentucky Constitution: increase the terms of circuit court clerks and commonwealth's attorneys from six years to eight years starting in 2030; increase the…
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Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) sets June primary election date for Medicaid expansion question
On April 17, 2020, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) declared that State Question 802, which would expand Medicaid, will appear on the June 30 primary ballot rather than the November 3 general election ballot. Initiatives in Oklahoma are generally placed on the next general election ballot following signature verification, but the governor may choose to…
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Mississippi voters will decide between two versions of a medical marijuana amendment in November
Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A, two versions of a medical marijuana amendment, will appear on the ballot in Mississippi on November 3, 2020. Initiative 65 was sponsored by the Medical Marijuana 2020 campaign and put on the ballot through a citizen initiative signature petition. The state legislature voted in March 2020 to refer Alternative 65 to the ballot alongside Initiative 65…
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Kentucky Legislature puts Marsy’s Law amendment for November ballot
On April 14, 2020, the Kentucky Legislature approved a constitutional amendment that would add to the Kentucky Constitution specific rights for crime victims, together known as Marsy’s Law, for the November ballot. The specific rights include: to be treated with fairness and due consideration for the victim’s safety, dignity, and privacy; to be notified about…
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Wisconsin voters approve Marsy's Law crime victims constitutional amendment
On April 7, 2020, voters in Wisconsin approved Marsy’s Law—a type of constitutional amendment addressing the rights of crime victims. With 96% of precincts reporting, the measure was ahead by 75% to 25%. The Wisconsin State Legislature referred the constitutional amendment to the ballot on May 15, 2019. Voters in 12 other states have approved…
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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,…