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| Voters Weigh In on Key Issues Through More Than 150 Ballot Initiatives | Voters Weigh In on Key Issues Through More Than 150 Ballot Initiatives |
| (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, criminal justice reform, health care and environmental regulations, among others. | 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, criminal justice reform, health care and environmental regulations, among others. |
| Voters in Florida overwhelmingly approved an initiative restoring voting rights to 1.5 million people who have been convicted of felonies but have completed their sentences. The measure, which excludes those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, was one of several in a bipartisan criminal justice reform movement that has sputtered in Washington since the election of President Trump, but remains energetic in states and cities. | |
| Florida’s lifetime bans on voting and holding office for felons are considered some of the harshest in the nation. Former Gov. Charlie Crist had relaxed those restrictions, but the current governor, Rick Scott — now a candidate for Senate — ended Mr. Crist’s reforms in 2011. Black people are disproportionately affected by the prohibitions. | |
| Here’s what else we’re watching across the country. | Here’s what else we’re watching across the country. |
| [Follow election night coverage here.] | [Follow election night coverage here.] |
| Ohio rejected a closely watched measure aimed at reducing the prison population by decreasing penalties for low-level drug crimes; the initiative 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 initiative 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. |
| [Track races with our live election results.] | [Track races with our live election results.] |
| Coloradans outlawed involuntary servitude as a punishment. In Louisiana, voters said juries in felony trials must be unanimous in their verdicts, overturning a Jim Crow-era law that allowed 10 of 12 jurors to decide cases. And Washington State weighed a ballot measure that would require mental health and de-escalation training for police officers, in an effort to reduce officer-involved shootings. | Coloradans outlawed involuntary servitude as a punishment. In Louisiana, voters said juries in felony trials must be unanimous in their verdicts, overturning a Jim Crow-era law that allowed 10 of 12 jurors to decide cases. And Washington State weighed a ballot measure that would require mental health and de-escalation training for police officers, in an effort to reduce officer-involved shootings. |
| Voters in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Oklahoma approved initiatives expanding the rights of crime victims — 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 the victims 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 put into effect. | |
| Florida voters approved 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 approved 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. |
| There were defeats for education funding in two walkout states. Colorado rejected an attempt to raise taxes on the affluent in order to fund schools, and North Carolina lowered the top income tax rate. | There were defeats for education funding in two walkout states. Colorado rejected an attempt to raise taxes on the affluent in order to fund schools, and North Carolina lowered the top income tax rate. |
| But in Arizona, the site of a weeklong teacher walkout, voters chose to reject an expansion of a voucherlike program that allows tax dollars to pay private school tuition. Teacher activists had argued that the law leeched dollars from public schools. | But in Arizona, the site of a weeklong teacher walkout, voters chose to reject an expansion of a voucherlike program that allows tax dollars to pay private school tuition. Teacher activists had argued that the law leeched dollars from public schools. |
| In a continuation of a trend from 2016, voters in two conservative states, Arkansas and Missouri, raised the minimum wage, a policy that is often popular across party lines. Missouri’s wage rose to $11 an hour from $8.50, and Arkansas’s increased to $12 from $7.85. | In a continuation of a trend from 2016, voters in two conservative states, Arkansas and Missouri, raised the minimum wage, a policy that is often popular across party lines. Missouri’s wage rose to $11 an hour from $8.50, and Arkansas’s increased to $12 from $7.85. |
| 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 homeless services, 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 homeless services, 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. A proposal to mandate more renewable energy failed in Arizona. | 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. A proposal to mandate more renewable energy failed in Arizona. |
| In a vote seen as a test of a potential wedge issue ahead of the 2020 election, Massachusetts became the first state to consider a ballot measure targeting transgender rights. Voters rejected a referendum that would have repealed a 2016 law that prevents discrimination in public spaces, 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 wedge issue ahead of the 2020 election, Massachusetts became the first state to consider a ballot measure targeting transgender rights. Voters rejected a referendum that would have repealed a 2016 law that prevents discrimination in public spaces, including bathrooms and locker rooms, based on gender identity. That law easily passed the Democratic-controlled Legislature. |
| North Dakota voters decided not to legalize recreational marijuana, which was also on the ballot in Michigan. 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, an added wrinkle involved marijuana taxes, which in North Dakota could have been among the lowest in the nation. | North Dakota voters decided not to legalize recreational marijuana, which was also on the ballot in Michigan. 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, an added wrinkle involved marijuana taxes, which in North Dakota could have been 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 preserve the illegal market, with its cheaper prices. | States have wrestled with the question of whether higher taxes and thus higher marijuana prices would discourage use — along with raising more revenue — or preserve the illegal market, with its cheaper prices. |
| Missouri voters legalized medical marijuana, joining 31 states and the District of Columbia that already allow medical use. Medical marijuana was also on the ballot in Utah. | Missouri voters legalized medical marijuana, joining 31 states and the District of Columbia that already allow medical use. Medical marijuana was also on the ballot in Utah. |
| 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. Alabama and West Virginia voters approved sweeping state constitutional language declaring that women have no right to an abortion. The measures were 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 voted to allow registration right up to Election Day, while North Carolina and Arkansas voters amended their state constitutions to require voters to present photo identification when casting ballots. | |
| Michigan approved a plan that would automatically register voters when they renew or apply for a driver’s license — unless they opt out — as well as allow later registration and expand absentee voting. A so-called motor-voter measure was also on the ballot in Nevada. | Michigan approved a plan that would automatically register voters when they renew or apply for a driver’s license — unless they opt out — as well as allow later registration and expand absentee voting. A so-called motor-voter measure was also on the ballot in Nevada. |