Tag

Direct Democracy

All articles tagged with #direct democracy

politics2 hours ago•2 min saved

Missouri voters reject tougher threshold for citizen-led constitutional changes

Missouri voters blocked Amendment 4, a Republican-backed plan to require a majority in every congressional district for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments, creating a far tougher standard than the statewide simple majority now needed. Supporters argued it would protect the Constitution, while opponents said it would cripple direct democracy. The measure was heavily funded against and its defeat preserves Missouri’s current ballot-process rules, with no impact on legislatively referred measures; the outcome comes amid ongoing redistricting and similar threshold debates in other states.

via NBC News|

#ballot-measures #constitutional-amendments #direct-democracy

social-welfare2 years ago•2 min saved

Swiss Voters Approve Higher Pensions, Reject Retirement Age Increase

Swiss voters have approved an extra month's pension each year in a referendum focused on elderly living standards, rejecting the government's warnings about affordability. The move aligns the state pension with the country's 13-instalment salary system and reflects the high cost of living in Switzerland, particularly for older people, women, and immigrants. The decision also saw the rejection of raising the retirement age, signaling a historic victory for retirees and highlighting the power of Switzerland's direct democracy system.

via BBC.com|

#direct-democracy #living-standards #pension-increase

politics2 years ago•3 min saved

Missouri Republicans Seek to Limit Citizens' Power to Amend Constitution

Missouri Republicans are introducing twelve resolutions aimed at making it more difficult for citizens to initiate changes to the state's constitution, in response to a campaign to collect signatures for an abortion rights question on the November ballot. The resolutions include measures to require approval by specific districts, ban certain topics from being subject to initiative petitions, and impose new requirements and restrictions for voter-submitted ballot measures. Critics argue that these efforts undermine the citizen initiative process and the people's right to set the agenda and put laws in place.

via KY3|

#citizen-led-ballot-measures #constitutional-amendments #direct-democracy

politics2 years ago•5 min saved

"Challenges to Voter Influence on Abortion Rights and Ballot Initiatives in GOP-Led States"

Republican-led legislatures in states like Missouri and Mississippi are pushing measures to limit voters' ability to determine abortion rights through ballot initiatives, sparking criticism from Democrats and abortion rights advocates who argue that these efforts undermine democratic processes. The proposed measures include banning abortion initiatives from statewide ballots and imposing additional voting requirements, with critics accusing Republicans of attempting to control the democratic process and limit the voice of the people. Similar strategies have been seen in other states, raising concerns about the impact on voter rights and direct democracy.

via The Associated Press|

#abortion-rights #direct-democracy #politics

politics3 years ago•5 min saved

The Battle for Abortion Rights in Ohio: Voters vs. Republicans

Ohio Republicans are pushing for a change to the state's referendum law, seeking to raise the bar required to secure amendments to the state constitution from a simple majority to 60 percent support. This move comes in response to a referendum on abortion rights that is expected to pass in November. The struggle over popular governance is not new, as states like Ohio adopted popular referenda and ballot initiatives in the early 20th century to circumvent unrepresentative legislatures. The outcome of today's vote will determine whether Ohioans preserve their Progressive Era legacy and the nature of governance in the state.

via POLITICO|

#abortion-ban #direct-democracy #gop

politics3 years ago•6 min saved

GOP lawmakers face legal challenges over attempts to restrict ballot initiatives and hold illegal special election.

Republican-leaning states are restricting citizens' ability to bypass lawmakers through ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments, partly to thwart abortion protections. Ohio is proposing to boost the threshold for passing constitutional amendments to 60% rather than a simple majority and double the number of counties where signatures must be collected. Missouri failed to approve a similar measure, but Republicans vowed to bring the issue back in 2024 to head off a citizens' attempt to restore abortion rights in the state through a constitutional amendment.

via The Associated Press|

#abortion-rights #ballot-initiatives #direct-democracy