Abortion, voting rights, other key issues on the ballot in states this election

While the presidential race may be the focus of this election season, key rules, laws and policies are on the ballot in several states.

And those ballot measures can have big ramifications in the rest of the country.

41 states have a combined 147 ballot measures in the 2024 election. Although some measures are hyperlocal, some state initiatives are aligned with national issues.

Here are some of the top ballot initiatives this election.

Reproduction rights

The US Supreme Court in 2022 Roe v. Since overturning Wade, voters in a handful of states have turned to ballot measures to protect or expand reproductive access in the face of abortion bans.

Ten states this election season they will give their voters a chance to change the laws on the issue.

Arizona, Florida, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska and Nevada all have measures that would amend their state constitutions with specific language to protect or recognize the right to abortion for all voters.

Nebraska also has another ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to ban second- and third-trimester abortions, except in cases of “medical emergency or pregnancy resulting from sexual assault or incest.”

New York state has a ballot measure that would amend the constitution’s equal rights amendment to protect against discrimination based on pregnancy outcomes, including abortion.

South Dakota voters will decide on a measure that would establish abortion rights and add an amendment to the state constitution that would determine when the state can regulate abortions.

Vice President Kamala Harris has repeatedly called for Roe v. To restore reproductive rights established by Wade.

Former President Donald Trump, Roe v. Credited with helping to overturn Wade, he said in the campaign that states should decide on access to abortion and stated. will vote “no”. In Florida’s ballot initiative.

Illinois voters will advise state officials on whether medically assisted reproductive treatments, including in vitro fertilization, should be covered by any Illinois health insurance plan that provides full coverage for pregnancy benefits.

Immigration, the right to vote

While it is already illegal for undocumented immigrants to vote and register to vote in federal and state elections, some state leaders have pushed laws and measures to ban these groups from voting in local elections.

A few municipalities have passed laws allowing non-citizens to vote in certain local races. For example, non-US citizens with children who attend public schools will be able to vote in San Francisco school board elections, following a 2016 ballot measure.

This year, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin have ballot measures that would ban non-citizens from voting in state and local elections.

Proponents have argued that these laws would guarantee elections and prevent non-Americans from voting.

However, opponents point out that non-US citizens cannot vote in state and federal elections and the ballot measures are controversial.

Six states have already passed ballot measures to ban non-citizens: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota and Ohio.

Selected vote

Under A system of voting optionsor RCV, voters voted by ranking their candidates. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the 1st place, he wins the election.

If no candidate gets this 50% majority, the election goes into an immediate round.

Election officials will review the ballots and eliminate the candidates with the lowest number 1 ranking. The ballots that listed the eliminated candidate as the first choice are then re-examined.

In those votes, the candidates in the 2nd position are counted, and those votes are transferred to the other candidates. The process continues until a candidate gets a 50% majority.

Alaska and Maine are the only two states in the nation that hold state and federal elections using RCV, but that may change after this election.

Nevada and Oregon have ballot measures to switch state and federal elections to RCV. The District of Columbia also has a ballot measure that would change the election to an RCV method.

Missouri would ban the method if its voters approve a ballot measure that includes banning noncitizens from voting.

An Alaska ballot measure would repeal laws mandating RCV for state and federal elections. Voters approved a measure in the 2020 election with 50.55%. Two years later, the method entered the national spotlight when a runoff decided the Senate race.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who did not have Republican support, convicted Trump after voting in his second impeachment trial after he won the election in the first runoff.

In 10 states – Tennessee, Florida, Idaho, South Dakota, Montana, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Oklahoma – lawmakers have passed laws in the last four years banning RCV from all elections.

LGBTQ+ rights

Voters in a few states will decide on state changes to LGBTQ+ rights laws and regulations.

Voters in Colorado and Hawaii will vote on a ballot measure that would change the language of their state constitutions and allow same-sex couples the right to marry.

A South Dakota measure would change male pronouns in the state constitution to gender-neutral terms or titles.

California voters will decide whether to repeal it 8. PropA 2008 voter measure that banned same-sex marriage. The law was invalidated after the Supreme Court He ordered it in 2013 that same-sex marriages were constitutional.

Other important ballot measures

Marijuana laws may change in two states this election season.

Florida and South Dakota have measures legalizing recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. This is the third time South Dakota voters have decided on the issue in four years.

The voters adopted a measure in 2020 to legalize recreational cannabis, but was overturned by a lawsuit a year later. 2022 ballot measure to legalize marijuana he failed.

Arizona has a voter initiative that would change state law to allow state and local police to arrest citizens who cross the border illegally and allow state judges to order deportations.

A North Dakota ballot includes an initiative that would require voters to approve the following ballot measures before passing.

Colorado voters will decide on a measure that, if passed, would impose a 6.5% excise tax on the manufacture and sale of firearms and ammunition. Tax money “to fund crime victim services programs, education programs, and mental health and behavioral programs for children and veterans.”

Kentucky has a ballot initiative that would change the constitution to allow the General Assembly to provide state funding to students who attend private schools.