All articles tagged with #ballot measures
Colorado's Supreme Court unanimously ruled three Democrat-backed ballot measures violated the state's single-subject rule, blocking a plan to pause the independent redistricting commission and adopt a new congressional map for 2028–2030 that could have favored Democrats.
Colorado's Supreme Court ruled five proposed measures to redraw U.S. House districts for 2028, and to alter the redistricting process, violate the state constitution's single-subject rule, blocking them from the ballot; the court said interlocking, mid-decade changes amount to separate subjects and cannot bypass the rule, halting Colorado's mid-decade redistricting push amid broader national activity.
California’s November ballot will include a one-time 5% wealth tax on state-domiciled billionaires, a voter ID requirement, local tax-approval rules, recall reform, expanded public campaign financing, and a host of housing, energy, health-care, environmental-review, and fiscal measures—14 total propositions that could dominate campaign spending and shape state policy.
California voters will decide on 14 statewide ballot measures in November, including a one-time 5% wealth tax on about 200 billionaires to fund healthcare and education, paired with anti-tax spending audits and personal-property tax countermeasures; other proposals include a permanent high-earner income tax, a higher threshold for local special taxes, an $11.25 billion affordable-housing bond, a $25 billion homebuyer loan program, expansion of the rainy-day fund, faster environmental reviews for housing and infrastructure, a voter-ID requirement, public campaign financing, recall-election reform, clinic funding rules, and an $8.4 billion immunology research bond. A few high-profile measures were withdrawn after deals with lawmakers or groups.
Voters in Virginia, Nevada, Idaho and Missouri will weigh abortion-rights ballot measures that could force Republican candidates to address the issue in the fall, while Democrats hope the questions boost turnout and help flip districts. GOP officials largely avoid the topic, provoking anger from anti-abortion groups, as major advocacy outfits plan and spend tens of millions to influence outcomes. Past referendums have mixed results, but organizers say abortion access remains a potent midterm driver that could reshape campaigns this year.
Two California ballot measures qualified for November: Uber seeks to cap auto-collision payouts and attorneys’ fees, while the Consumer Attorneys of California aim to hold Uber liable for driver sexual misconduct and impose tighter safety standards; the high-stakes, multimillion-dollar campaign could be avoided if the sides strike a deal before June 25.
Arizona’s 2026 legislative session closed after a four‑day sprint in which Republicans advanced a slate of ballot referrals—ranging from election overhaul to DEI restrictions and school‑funding changes—bypassing Gov. Hobbs by putting measures directly on the November ballot. The late‑night votes drew clashes between parties, and critics warned the moves could produce a longer, riskier ballot. The session set a record with about 2,190 proposed bills, and only a handful of GOP‑backed measures ended up becoming law, with Democrats noting many were blocked or stalled before finally being sent to voters.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced that a referendum on transgender athletes participating in sports has been removed from the 2026 ballot, shelving the measure for now and leaving no immediate voter decision on the issue.
Gov. Mike Kehoe moved four proposed constitutional amendments to Missouri’s Aug. 4 primary ballot: Amendment 1 extends a 0.1% sales tax for parks and conservation; Amendment 2 would require direct election of county assessors; Amendment 4 would require initiative-petition amendments to win in a majority in every congressional district; Amendment 5 would allow lawmakers to expand sales taxes with revenue tied to cuts in the top income tax rate, giving five years to redefine what’s taxed. Supporters say it modernizes tax policy and competitiveness, while opponents warn of expanded tax power and weakened voter protections; a lawsuit challenges Amendment 5 and timelines are tight for ballot preparation. The August ballot is expected to shape 2026 elections with competitive GOP primaries and the state auditor race, alongside potential measures in November on abortion and redistricting.
In Pennsylvania’s 2026 primaries, progressive Chris Rabb won the Philadelphia-based 3rd District seat, while Bob Harvie defeated Lucia Simonelli in Bucks County’s 1st District; Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican Stacy Garrity won uncontested primaries. Democrats hope swing districts will help them in November, and Philadelphia voters approved two ballot measures — a city retirement savings program and an office to monitor youth services — as full results continue to roll in.
Preliminary Lane County results show multiple county and city races decided or leaning toward winners as of 10 p.m.: District 1 West, District 2 (Springfield) and District 5 East show leading candidates, Amit Kapoor trails to Katina Saint Marie for Circuit Court, and several local measures are decided or moving toward approvals/denials (watershed rights proposed bill fails, a 4-H/OSU extension measure falls short, a school facility bond falls short in Siuslaw, Willamalane levy falls short, library levy appears to pass). Eugene and Springfield city council wards report varying outcomes with several incumbents and new leaders elected or projected, reflecting a broad mix of results across Lane County.
Seven states expanded Medicaid via ballot measures, but six are implementing stricter work rules, increased documentation, fewer exemptions, and earlier enforcement, risking large coverage losses. Urban Institute estimates 3–7 million could lose coverage due to work requirements alone, with Nebraska moving ahead on enforcement and some states exploring AI-assisted oversight. The policy split reflects ongoing battles over how to sustain expansion while addressing concerns about eligibility and fraud.
Brian Heywood, a Seattle-area hedge fund founder, has spent over $11 million since 2022 to promote conservative ballot measures in Washington, including parental rights and transgender athlete bans, aiming to influence state legislation and voter decisions.
Several key states including Missouri, Nevada, Virginia, Idaho, Oregon, and Nebraska are poised to influence abortion access through upcoming ballot measures in 2026, with debates over constitutional protections, restrictions, and broader reproductive rights amid ongoing legal and political shifts post-Roe v. Wade overturn.
Maine voters approved a 'red flag' law allowing family petitions to confiscate firearms from at-risk individuals, becoming the 22nd state with such legislation, while rejecting a measure that would have changed election laws. Texas voters approved amendments to clarify parental rights and restrict voting to U.S. citizens, with both measures supported by state leaders. The votes reflect ongoing debates over gun safety, voting rights, and constitutional protections.