Tag: ballot measures
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of August 8, 2023, 40 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in eight states, 13 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 47 statewide measures have been certified in 22 states. That’s two more measures than the average number…
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Ohio Issue 1: How the proposed signature distribution requirement compares to other states
Ohio Issue 1 would make several changes to the state’s citizen-initiated constitutional amendment process. These changes include requiring a 60% vote for amendments, increasing the signature distribution requirement, and eliminating the signature cure period. Yesterday, we reviewed one of these changes—the 60% vote threshold—within the context of other states and historical ballot measures. Today’s article…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of July 11, 2023, 33 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in eight states for elections in 2023. That’s nine more measures than the average number (24) certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. The number certified—33—also ties with 2021 for the highest number of any of those…
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Ohio Issue 1: Examining the 60% vote requirement within the context of other states and prior ballot measures
On Aug. 8, voters in Ohio will approve or reject Issue 1, which would make three changes to the laws governing citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. With the commencement of early voting yesterday, we took the opportunity to provide an overview of Issue 1, which you can read here. In this article, we delve into one specific…
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Voters have decided on 959 parcel tax measures in California since 2008, with the next one scheduled for July 11 in Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District
Californians have decided on 950 local parcel tax ballot measures from 2008 to 2022. Voters in Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District, a 1.875-square-mile special district in the Sierra Nevada, will decide the next parcel tax measure on July 11, 2023. Between 2008 and 2022, 569 (59.89%) parcel tax ballot measures were approved and 381 (40.11%)…
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Former North Dakota Rep. Rick Becker to circulate initiative that would prohibit property taxes
Former North Dakota Rep. Rick Becker (R) filed an initiative to amend the state’s constitution to prohibit property taxes in the state, except for those designed to pay for bond debt. The measure would limit the debt of a political subdivision (such as counties, cities, and towns) to 2.5% of the value of real property…
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Voters in seven states have decided on 10 affirmative action ballot measures
Voters in seven states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Washington — have decided on 10 ballot measures related to affirmative action policies. Of these 10 ballot measures, voters decided against certain affirmative action policies eight times, either enacting prohibitions or defeating measures that would have expanded the use of affirmative action. Twice…
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Six legislative referrals on statewide ballots in 2023 received unanimous support from both parties, an increase from 2021 and 2019 sessions
Twenty-nine (29) legislative referrals were certified for statewide ballots in 2023 as of Jun. 15. Of that total, six received unanimous support from both parties; six received unanimous support from only Republicans; and 10 received unanimous support from only Democrats, which is higher than 2021 (4) and 2019 (5). One measure in New York—where legislative…
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Voters in Augusta, Maine, will decide on a school budget question on June 13
Voters in Augusta, Maine will decide on Question 1 on June 13, 2023, which would approve the school budget of $36.25 million for K-12 education for the 2023-2024 school year. In Maine, school districts are required to have elections to approve a budget or to issue new bonding and or bond taxes. If a budget…
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Florida marijuana initiative has enough signatures to appear on 2024 ballot; state supreme court review pending
Smart & Safe Florida, a campaign supporting a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in Florida, has collected 967,528 valid signatures, exceeding the 891,523 valid signatures needed to be placed on the ballot in 2024. State officials confirmed on June 1, 2023, that the campaign had submitted enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot and…