This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/us/politics/ballot-initiatives-referendum.html
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Here Are the Most Important Ballot Initiatives Around the Country | Here Are the Most Important Ballot Initiatives Around the Country |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There were not just candidates on the ballot this Election Day. Voters in more than half the states considered ballot initiatives on some of the most divisive issues in American life: voting rights, taxes, criminal justice reform, health care and environmental regulations, among others. Here’s what we’re watching. | There were not just candidates on the ballot this Election Day. Voters in more than half the states considered ballot initiatives on some of the most divisive issues in American life: voting rights, taxes, criminal justice reform, health care and environmental regulations, among others. Here’s what we’re watching. |
| [Follow election night coverage here.] | |
| Voters in Florida were among the first to pass initiatives. Floridians restored voting rights to 1.5 million people who have been convicted of felonies but have completed their sentences. (Those convicted of murder or sexual offenses were excluded from the measure.) The initiative was one of several representing the bipartisan criminal justice reform movement, which has sputtered in Washington since the election of President Trump, but remains energetic in states and cities. | Voters in Florida were among the first to pass initiatives. Floridians restored voting rights to 1.5 million people who have been convicted of felonies but have completed their sentences. (Those convicted of murder or sexual offenses were excluded from the measure.) The initiative was one of several representing the bipartisan criminal justice reform movement, which has sputtered in Washington since the election of President Trump, but remains energetic in states and cities. |
| [Track races with our live election results.] | |
| Ohio rejected a closely watched measure aimed at reducing the prison population by decreasing penalties for low-level drug crimes; the measure was backed by influential progressive groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Mark Zuckerberg’s philanthropy, with most of the state’s establishment Republicans in opposition. | Ohio rejected a closely watched measure aimed at reducing the prison population by decreasing penalties for low-level drug crimes; the measure was backed by influential progressive groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Mark Zuckerberg’s philanthropy, with most of the state’s establishment Republicans in opposition. |
| Coloradans decided whether to outlaw involuntary servitude as a punishment. In Louisiana, voters may overturn a Jim Crow-era law that allows split juries to decide felony trials, as long as 10 of the 12 jurors agree. And in Washington State, a ballot measure would require mental health and de-escalation training for police officers, in an effort to reduce officer-involved shootings. | Coloradans decided whether to outlaw involuntary servitude as a punishment. In Louisiana, voters may overturn a Jim Crow-era law that allows split juries to decide felony trials, as long as 10 of the 12 jurors agree. And in Washington State, a ballot measure would require mental health and de-escalation training for police officers, in an effort to reduce officer-involved shootings. |
| Six states are considering a broad initiative on victims’ rights called Marsy’s Law, named after a college student who was murdered in 1983. The proposal requires authorities to locate victims for even low-level crimes and allow them to be heard at court hearings. Supporters say the measure gives crime victims the rights they deserve, but even some prosecutors have said it may be too expensive and difficult to implement. | |
| Florida voters also considered a measure that requires a two-thirds majority in the Legislature to enact new taxes and fees or raise existing ones. Similar laws across the country have led to reduced funding for schools — one of the factors that led to teacher walkouts in six states this year. | Florida voters also considered a measure that requires a two-thirds majority in the Legislature to enact new taxes and fees or raise existing ones. Similar laws across the country have led to reduced funding for schools — one of the factors that led to teacher walkouts in six states this year. |
| Other anti-tax measures appeared on ballots in Arizona, North Carolina and Oregon, while voters in Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah weighed raising taxes to pay for education. | Other anti-tax measures appeared on ballots in Arizona, North Carolina and Oregon, while voters in Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah weighed raising taxes to pay for education. |
| In a continuation of a trend from 2016, voters in two conservative states, Arkansas and Missouri, will consider raising the minimum wage, a policy that is often popular across party lines. | In a continuation of a trend from 2016, voters in two conservative states, Arkansas and Missouri, will consider raising the minimum wage, a policy that is often popular across party lines. |
| And in California, where housing costs are the steepest in the nation, liberals were divided over two housing-related measures: one to raise corporate taxes in San Francisco in order to pay for services for the homeless, and another to overturn a state law that limits the ability of local governments to enact rent controls. | And in California, where housing costs are the steepest in the nation, liberals were divided over two housing-related measures: one to raise corporate taxes in San Francisco in order to pay for services for the homeless, and another to overturn a state law that limits the ability of local governments to enact rent controls. |
| [Ballot initiatives have shaped nearly every facet of life in California.] | [Ballot initiatives have shaped nearly every facet of life in California.] |
| A hugely expensive and deeply divisive fight in Washington State over whether to create the nation’s first carbon fee impassioned voters in a year when three of the state’s 10 seats in the House of Representatives were competitive. The measure, aimed at reducing climate change, would place a fee of $15 per ton of carbon emissions, with an increase of $2 a year; most of the revenue would be invested in renewable energy and air pollution reduction. Renewable energy initiatives were also on the ballot in Arizona and Nevada. | A hugely expensive and deeply divisive fight in Washington State over whether to create the nation’s first carbon fee impassioned voters in a year when three of the state’s 10 seats in the House of Representatives were competitive. The measure, aimed at reducing climate change, would place a fee of $15 per ton of carbon emissions, with an increase of $2 a year; most of the revenue would be invested in renewable energy and air pollution reduction. Renewable energy initiatives were also on the ballot in Arizona and Nevada. |
| In a vote seen as a test of a potential 2020 wedge issue, Massachusetts became the first state where voters considered a referendum that would roll back discrimination protections for transgender people. The measure would repeal a 2016 law that prevents discrimination in public accommodations, including bathrooms and locker rooms, based on gender identity. That law easily passed the Democratic-controlled legislature. | In a vote seen as a test of a potential 2020 wedge issue, Massachusetts became the first state where voters considered a referendum that would roll back discrimination protections for transgender people. The measure would repeal a 2016 law that prevents discrimination in public accommodations, including bathrooms and locker rooms, based on gender identity. That law easily passed the Democratic-controlled legislature. |
| North Dakota and Michigan decided whether to become the first Midwestern states to legalize recreational marijuana. Nine states and the District of Columbia already allow adults to buy and possess marijuana in small amounts for recreational use. But in the two states voting Tuesday, the added wrinkle is that proposed marijuana taxes — potentially just a sales tax in North Dakota — would be among the lowest in the nation. | North Dakota and Michigan decided whether to become the first Midwestern states to legalize recreational marijuana. Nine states and the District of Columbia already allow adults to buy and possess marijuana in small amounts for recreational use. But in the two states voting Tuesday, the added wrinkle is that proposed marijuana taxes — potentially just a sales tax in North Dakota — would be among the lowest in the nation. |
| States have wrestled with the question of whether higher taxes and thus higher marijuana prices would discourage use — along with raising more revenue — or simply ensure that the illegal market, with its cheaper prices, continues. | States have wrestled with the question of whether higher taxes and thus higher marijuana prices would discourage use — along with raising more revenue — or simply ensure that the illegal market, with its cheaper prices, continues. |
| In addition, voters in Utah and Missouri are voting on medical marijuana; 31 states and the District of Columbia already allow medical use. | In addition, voters in Utah and Missouri are voting on medical marijuana; 31 states and the District of Columbia already allow medical use. |
| Voting on Medicaid, the federal public health insurance program, is relatively new. Maine became the first state, last year, to expand coverage through the ballot. On Tuesday, four conservative states took up the issue — Idaho, Utah, Nebraska and Montana. In Idaho, Nebraska and Utah, the measures would bring an estimated 340,000 additional adults under Medicaid coverage; Montana’s measure would raise tobacco taxes to pay for, and continue, a Medicaid expansion that might otherwise expire. | Voting on Medicaid, the federal public health insurance program, is relatively new. Maine became the first state, last year, to expand coverage through the ballot. On Tuesday, four conservative states took up the issue — Idaho, Utah, Nebraska and Montana. In Idaho, Nebraska and Utah, the measures would bring an estimated 340,000 additional adults under Medicaid coverage; Montana’s measure would raise tobacco taxes to pay for, and continue, a Medicaid expansion that might otherwise expire. |
| Abortion is a perennial focus for ballot measures. West Virginia and Alabama voters considered sweeping state constitutional amendments that would declare that women have no right to an abortion. The measures are priorities for religious conservatives, and could either prompt a Supreme Court case or pave the way for outright bans if the court were to overturn Roe v. Wade. | Abortion is a perennial focus for ballot measures. West Virginia and Alabama voters considered sweeping state constitutional amendments that would declare that women have no right to an abortion. The measures are priorities for religious conservatives, and could either prompt a Supreme Court case or pave the way for outright bans if the court were to overturn Roe v. Wade. |
| Another echo of America’s political divisions — whether to make voting and voter registration easier, or guard against possible improprieties with tighter requirements — played out on state ballots. Maryland voters decided whether to allow registration right up to Election Day, while North Carolina and Arkansas voters considered amending their state constitutions to require voters to present photo identification when casting ballots. | Another echo of America’s political divisions — whether to make voting and voter registration easier, or guard against possible improprieties with tighter requirements — played out on state ballots. Maryland voters decided whether to allow registration right up to Election Day, while North Carolina and Arkansas voters considered amending their state constitutions to require voters to present photo identification when casting ballots. |
| Ballot measures in Nevada and Michigan would make registration automatic when renewing or applying for a driver’s license — unless a person opts out — and Michigan’s would also allow later registration and expansion of absentee voting. | Ballot measures in Nevada and Michigan would make registration automatic when renewing or applying for a driver’s license — unless a person opts out — and Michigan’s would also allow later registration and expansion of absentee voting. |