2024-11-05 06:18:00
In choosing the officials who make and enforce the laws, voters in dozens of states will also decide on more than 140 proposals that affect how we legally live, work and die.
While 10 states are considering measures related to abortion or reproductive rights on Tuesday’s ballot, about six are considering legalizing marijuana for recreational or medical use. About two dozen proposals focus on the upcoming election, including several that would explicitly ban noncitizens from voting. Other state measures affect wages, taxes, housing and education.
Many of the proposals started as citizen initiatives that bypassed state legislatures, and some were introduced by legislators.
legalization of marijuana
Voters in Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota will decide whether to legalize adult recreational marijuana. This is the third time the Dakotas have voted on the same proposal. In Nebraska, voters will consider two measures to legalize medical marijuana and regulate the industry.
Marijuana is currently legal for recreational use in about half the states, and a dozen states allow it for medical purposes.
In Massachusetts, the ballot will include a proposal to decriminalize the possession and supervised use of natural psychedelic substances, including psilocybin mushrooms. It would be the third state to give the go-ahead, following Oregon and Colorado.
In Arizona, a proposal drafted amid a surge in immigration would make it a state crime to enter from a foreign country other than through an official port of entry, and would make it a state crime for people who are already in the U.S. but do not have the necessary permission to apply with false information. Social welfare would be a crime.
The illegal border crossing is similar to a challenged Texas law that the Justice Department said violated federal powers.
A proposed amendment to the Kentucky Constitution would allow lawmakers to direct state funds to private schools. In Colorado, a measure would give young children and elementary school students a constitutional right to choose their school.
In Nebraska, voters will decide whether to repeal a new state law that uses state resources to fund private school tuition.
Most states offer some type of state support program to help pay for private schools.
Missouri voters will decide whether to be the last state to legalize sports betting. A total of 38 states and Washington, D.C., already allow this type of betting, which has expanded rapidly since the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way in 2018.
A proposal could make Colorado the second state after California to tax the sale of guns and ammunition, with the revenue going primarily to victim services. The federal government already imposes a tax on these sales.
North Dakota voters will face a measure to eliminate property taxes. If it goes ahead, local governments could require more than $3 billion in semiannual funding from the state, which they will no longer receive.
South Dakota’s vote includes a proposal to repeal the state’s food sales tax, a step that most other states have taken.
In Oregon, one measure would raise the minimum tax rate for large corporations to fund tax rebates for residents.
California voters will decide whether to repeal a 1995 law limiting local rent control ordinances. If approved, it would open the way for local governments to expand limits on the prices landlords can charge.
A unique proposal in Arizona would tie property taxes to responses to homelessness. The bill would allow property owners to seek a property tax refund if they incur costs due to a local government’s refusal to enforce ordinances prohibiting illegal camping, loitering, panhandling, public drinking and drug use.
Washington state voters are considering overturning a 2021 law that sets limits on carbon emissions and creates a market for companies that exceed limits to buy permits from others. Washington is the second state after California to launch such a program.
Republican-controlled legislatures in eight states, including Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin, have proposed state constitutional amendments declaring Only citizens can vote.
A 1996 federal law bars noncitizens from participating in federal elections, and many states have enacted similar laws. But Republicans stressed that people who don’t meet that requirement may vote after the number of migrants crossing the Mexican border increases. Although historically unusual, pre-election reviews of voter registrations indicate that registered voters in several states may be non-citizens.
Some cities in California, Maryland, Vermont and Washington, D.C., allow these people to vote in certain local elections.
Connecticut voters are considering whether to allow no-excuse absentee voting, joining the majority of states that already allow voting.
Proposals in Montana and South Dakota would create open primaries in which candidates from each party appear on the same ballot, with a certain number advancing to the general election. Colorado, Idaho and Nevada have also proposed open primaries with candidates from each party, in which a certain number of candidates would advance to the general election based on priority. An Oregon measure would require ranked-choice voting in primaries and general elections.
Alaska and Maine already use ranked-choice voting. But Alaska is considering whether to repeal provisions of a 2020 initiative that would have used ranked-choice voting for open primaries and general elections.
In Arizona, the choice will be between competitive ballot proposals that require open primaries with candidates from all parties or the current party approach. If conflicting measures are approved, the measure with the greatest number of votes is used, but the decision may rest with the courts.
Redistricting
An Ohio initiative would create a citizens’ commission to manage redistricting for the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislative seats, taking the task out of the hands of elected officials.
Measures in Missouri and Alaska would gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and require paid sick leave. In California, a proposal would gradually increase the minimum wage for all employers to $18 an hour.
A proposal in Nebraska would require many companies to offer sick leave without changing pay.
A measure would be on the ballot in Massachusetts to gradually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers until it matches that of other workers. By contrast, an Arizona measure allows tipped workers to be paid 25% below the minimum wage as long as the tips raise their total wages above the minimum wage threshold.
West Virginia voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to ban medically assisted suicide. The measure contrasts with the approach in 10 other states and Washington, D.C., where it is legal.
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This story was translated from English by AP editors with the help of generated artificial intelligence tools.
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**Interview with Sara Thompson, Political Analyst**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Sara. With the upcoming 2024 elections, we’ve seen a significant number of states proposing measures related to reproductive rights, including abortion. What can you tell us about the political landscape surrounding these proposals?
**Sara Thompson:** Thank you for having me. The 2024 election cycle is indeed pivotal, especially when it comes to reproductive rights. We are seeing a direct response to recent changes in federal and state legislation, notably after the overturning of *Roe v. Wade*. Ten states have measures related to abortion on the ballot, which illustrates that voters are increasingly taking these issues into their own hands through citizen initiatives.
**Interviewer:** That’s interesting. Can you elaborate on the specifics of the ballot measures related to abortion?
**Sara Thompson:** Certainly. One of the most notable measures is aimed at rolling back a constitutional amendment that has been in place for about 40 years, which prohibited the use of state funds for abortions. This reflects a broader trend where some states are pushing back against restrictions and seeking more autonomy over reproductive health choices. It’s a significant moment for voters who care deeply about these rights.
**Interviewer:** In addition to abortion measures, there are also several proposals regarding marijuana legalization and voting rights. How does this variety of issues reflect the current voter sentiment?
**Sara Thompson:** The diversity of ballot measures indicates a dynamic political climate. Voters are clearly interested in a range of social issues—from marijuana legalization to voting rights and education. With the legalization of marijuana being a popular issue, especially in states where it’s been proposed multiple times, it shows a shift toward more progressive policies. Conversely, proposals targeting voting rights for noncitizens reflect deeper divisions and concerns around immigration and electoral integrity.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of voting rights, can you explain the significance of the proposed amendments regarding noncitizen voting?
**Sara Thompson:** Absolutely. Several states are considering measures that would explicitly limit voting to citizens only, which aligns with a national Republican strategy. This is part of a broader narrative concerning election security and the integrity of the voting process as legal challenges and questions about voter eligibility rise, particularly among immigrant populations. It’s a contentious topic, and these proposals are likely to see significant debate leading up to the elections.
**Interviewer:** With all of these issues on the ballot, how do you predict they will influence voter turnout in the upcoming election?
**Sara Thompson:** Elections with high-stakes measures tend to drive voter turnout. Issues like abortion rights, marijuana legalization, and voting rights can galvanize specific voter demographics. Younger voters, for example, might be more energized to vote if they feel their rights are at stake. Conversely, those who oppose these measures may also turn out in higher numbers to voice their dissent. It’s going to be a complex election with potentially high voter engagement.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Sara, for your insights. It will be fascinating to see how these issues play out on Election Day.
**Sara Thompson:** Thank you for having me. I look forward to seeing how voters respond to these pivotal measures!
