Something for Everyone: From funding schools to limiting taxes (forever), voters will weigh in on a wide array of ballot measures this year.

AuthorPotyondy, Patrick R.
PositionELECTIONS

Redistricting reform, Medicaid expansion, tax limits, a range of election and ethics issues, and an uncommon spread of hot-button topics are making this year's statewide ballot measures more than a little interesting. Of course, some of the usual suspects are lined up for voters to pick from. Beyond those, there's something for just about everybody.

As of early September, 102 constitutional amendments, 46 statutory changes and 19 bonds had been certified to appear on November's ballots in 39 states (including the District of Columbia). Citizens worked to get 63 initiatives and five popular referendums on the ballots in 22 states. Legislatures sent 92 referendums back to voters to decide in 31. And we're not done. There's still time, as this issue goes to press, for a few more to jump in or out (via legal challenges). This year is roughly on par with previous non-presidential midterm elections. Although citizen initiatives were down to 35 in 2014, 2016 reversed that trend with a strong showing of 72.

Done and Dusted

Voters in eight states have already decided the fate of 11 measures. Oregonians approved the first measure in January--a Medicaid-funding tax increase. California voters approved four of five on a range of issues. Maine voters used and approved ranked-choice voting--on the same ballot. Oklahoma citizens legalized medical marijuana. Wisconsinites decided not to eliminate the position of state treasurer. Ohio became the first state to enact redistricting reform. And in the last measure voted on before November, Missourians vetoed new right-to-work legislation the legislature had passed earlier in the year through a popular referendum.

If these measures foretell November's results, marijuana will be legalized in more states, redistricting reform will spread, Medicaid will be expanded, infrastructure will be supported, and bond measures will stroll into enactment. Given recent history, however, a citizen initiative has about a 50-50 chance of passage, while legislative referendums hold better odds, at 3-to-1. Below is a breakdown by topic and theme of most of November's measures.

Elections and Officeholders

There are a surprising 10 election-related issues this year, including photo voter ID in Arkansas and North Carolina, automatic voter registration in Nevada, election-day registration in Maryland, and an amendment that would re-enfranchise individuals with felony convictions in Florida--amounting to roughly 25 percent of that...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT