Sep.12

electoral-vote.com

Dem 49

   

GOP 51

There Will Be 150 Ballot Measures in November

This November, voters in 41 states will have one or more ballot measures to vote on. They cover a huge range of subjects, from abortion to trophy hunting. Some were citizen initiatives but others were put on the ballot by state legislatures for approval (often because the state Constitution requires that for certain things).

For example, many Republican-controlled state legislatures don't like citizen initiatives, so they put measures on the ballot that would get rid of these things or at least make them much more difficult and expensive. Groups that use ballot initiatives to get around gerrymandered Republican-controlled legislatures are especially concerned about measures that try to limit direct democracy using future initiatives. They will try to defeat these. Another topic that will get a lot of attention is abortion, where there is an initiative in 10 states. Here are some of the others:

• Elections: A large number of initiatives relate to the elections process, including ranked-choice voting, open primaries, redistricting, and more. Ranked-choice voting is on the ballot in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and D.C. In Colorado, Idaho, and Nevada, voters can also abolish partisan primaries and go to systems more like those in Alaska and California. Alaskans will get the option of eliminating the current system. Missouri has an initiative that would ban RCV in all elections. Republicans don't like RCV because it makes it impossible for someone whose floor is 45% and whose ceiling is 48% to ever win an election. It forces candidates to appeal to more than their base, and a lot of Republicans aren't too good at this, these days.
  
  Eight states have a ballot measure that would ban noncitizens from voting. Federal law already bans them from voting in federal elections, but some states allow green card holders to vote in local elections. All of this year's initiatives of this type were placed on the ballot by Republican-controlled state legislatures. In Ohio, an initiative would create an independent commission to do redistricting, thus eliminating gerrymandering by the state legislature. This one was not placed on the ballot by the legislature. In Florida, there is a measure to make school board elections partisan. Moms for Liberty is behind this one.
  
  
• Economic Policy: In Alaska and Missouri, voters could create a statewide $15 minimum wage and require paid sick leave. In California, an initiative would raise the minimum wage from $16 to $18. In Arizona and Massachusetts, measures deal with tipped workers. In Nebraska, paid sick leave is on the ballot.
  
  
• The Evil Weed: Five states—Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota will have ballot questions about legalizing marijuana in the state. Donald Trump is for the Florida amendment. In Massachusetts, it goes further. The initiative there would legalize some psychedelic drugs and tax them.
  
  
• Same-sex marriage: Although the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage a decade ago, some state constitutions still have wording in them that bans such unions. Measures in California, Colorado, and Hawaii would insulate the states in case the Supreme Court is feeling its oats one day and decides that there is no constitutional right to same-sex marriage, and that states can regulate it. This is not hypothetical as Justice Clarence Thomas (R-VA) has said the Court should reconsider the issue.
  
  
• Miscellaneous Measures: Californians will be able to increase penalties for retail theft and drug-related crimes. In Arizona, a measure would make it a state crime to enter the state from any foreign country other than at an official port of entry. This will keep out unwanted Canadians and Aussies. Colorado voters will be able to ban trophy hunting of mountain lions and bobcats. There are many others.
  

In short, November will see a large number of issues downballot this year. (V)