Tag: 2023 ballot measures
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Comparing Ohio Issue 2 to the last marijuana legalization initiative in Ohio—Issue 3 of 2015
Voters in Ohio will decide on an initiative, Issue 2, to legalize marijuana on Nov. 7. Issue 2 is not the first marijuana legalization that has been on the ballot in Ohio. In 2015, Ohio voters rejected an initiative, Issue 3, with 64% voting against the measure. The two initiatives differ in how facilities would…
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Costs to collect signatures for state ballot initiatives in 2023 were higher than the average for the previous five odd-year cycles
In 2023, $12.95 million was expended on signature drives for seven citizen-initiated ballot measures, including six that voters will decide on Nov. 7. Earlier in 2023, voters decided on a ballot initiative in Oklahoma. The average cost for the signature drives amounted to $1.85 million, ranging from $75,341 for Oklahoma State Question 820 to $6.65…
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More than $169 million has been raised for and against state ballot measures in 2023, surpassing the three previous odd-numbered-year election cycles
A total of $169.48 million has been contributed to either support or oppose 41 statewide ballot measures in eight states in 2023, surpassing the previous three odd-numbered-year election cycles. Campaigns received $107.41 million in 2021. In 2019, $28.36 million was received. In 2017, $108.76 million was received. In 2023, one state—Ohio—accounts for 63.23% of the…
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Ohio Issue 1 is the most expensive abortion-related ballot measure election post-Dobbs
The campaigns supporting and opposing Ohio Issue 1, an amendment that would provide a state constitutional right to abortion, received a combined $71.60 million in contributions, as of the most recent campaign finance reports on Oct. 26. Issue 1 would establish a state constitutional right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,” including…
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Voters in Republican trifectas have rejected marijuana legalization initiatives at a higher rate than voters in other states. Ohio will vote on marijuana next on Nov. 7
Voters in Ohio will vote on Issue 2, an initiative to legalize marijuana, on Nov. 7. Ohio is a Republican trifecta, meaning the Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature. Since 2010, there have been 23 state ballot measures to legalize marijuana for recreational or personal use. Ohio…
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2023 statewide ballot measures written at graduate school reading level
The ballot language for the 41 statewide ballot measures on the ballot in eight states in 2023 is written at an average reading level of 19 (third-year graduate school reading level), which is up from 18 years in 2021. Ballotpedia identified five measures with a ballot summary, which is longer than the ballot title or…
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Ohio could become the 24th state to legalize marijuana or reject legalization for a second time
Ohio voters will decide on a citizen-initiated ballot measure, titled Issue 2, to legalize marijuana on Nov. 7. Should voters approve Issue 2, Ohio would be the 24th state in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana and the 13th state, along with Washington D.C., to do so through the citizen initiative process. Voters rejected an…
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Maine Question 2 addresses foreign spending in elections. What is the history of the topic in Maine?
On Nov. 7, Maine voters will decide on Question 2, a ballot initiative to prohibit foreign governments, or entities with at least 5% foreign government ownership or control, from spending money to influence ballot measures or candidate elections. The issue of foreign contributions to ballot measure campaigns was discussed during the 2021 election cycle when…
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Ohio will be the fourth state to vote on a state constitutional right to abortion
In Ohio, voters will decide on Issue 1 on Nov. 7, 2023. Issue 1 would establish a state constitutional right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions,” including abortion, contraception, and other reproductive matters. Issue 1 would allow the state to restrict abortion after fetal viability, except when “necessary to protect the pregnant…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
In 2023, 41 statewide measures were certified for the ballot in eight states, 10 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 52 statewide measures have been certified in 23 states. That’s four more measures than the average number certified at this point…