The Texas State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to voters that would add language to the state constitution prohibiting noncitizens from voting. Currently, Texas has a statutory citizenship requirement to vote. Adding this requirement to the state constitution effectively raises the threshold for any changes to the policy from a simple majority of…
Ohio voters will decide on Issue 2 on May 6, 2025. Issue 2 would authorize the state to issue up to $2.5 billion in bonds over 10 years to help local governments fund infrastructure projects. Issue 2 would authorize the issuance of up to $2.5 billion in general obligation bonds (GO bonds) over a 10-year…
The number of certified statewide ballot measures for both 2025 and 2026 is trending above average compared to previous election cycles as of April 29. 2025 ballot measures For 2025, eight statewide ballot measures have been certified in five states—Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. This is two more than the average of six certified…
Arkansas is the 14th state to pass a law prohibiting foreign spending in ballot measure campaigns and the fifth state to do so in 2025—a record for the most states enacting such laws in a single year. In previous years, no more than one state passed a similar law per year. Arkansas House Bill 1837…
In Texas, House Republicans defeated an amendment to Senate Bill 2 on April 16 that would have required the proposed universal education savings account (ESA) program to be placed on the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot for voters to decide. Had it been placed on the ballot, Senate Bill 2 would have been the first statewide…
Louisiana voters rejected four measures on Saturday, March 29. The amendments were rejected with an average of 35% of voters in favor and 65% opposed. A two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber was required to put the amendments on the ballot. All four of the amendments were passed with all Republican legislators in favor, while…
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) announced on March 7, 2025, that the signatures for a ballot initiative to create a process for extreme risk protection orders, a firearm regulation policy, were validated, certifying the initiative to the legislature. If the legislature does not approve the measure, it will be placed on the ballot…
Voters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and five Vermont towns will decide on ballot measures related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in the coming months. On May 20, Pittsburgh voters will decide on two charter amendments passed by the city council in response to a proposed citizen initiative that may also appear on the ballot. The potential citizen…
Montpelier voters will decide on 15 measures on the Town Meeting Day ballot on March 4, including three measures relating to the Montpelier Roxbury School District. Town Meeting Day is held at Montpelier City Hall on the first Tuesday of March. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Vermont law makes Town Meeting…
Voters in Ohio will decide on a $2.5-billion bond measure at a special election on May 6, 2025. The general obligation bond, limited to $250 million per year over 10 years, would fund the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) through the Ohio Public Works Commission. SCIP provides local governments with grants, loans, loan assistance, and…