November 1
This week in MORE POWER:
It’s Go Time
Reproductive Healthcare
Guns
Education
Marriage Equality
Congress is still on recess, and Election Day is less than a week away. Early voting is underway in most states. Here’s a look at some of the topics ballot measures are addressing across the country. You may see them on your ballot depending on where you live.
It’s Go Time
Election Day is only 4 days away; here’s a look at what will appear on your ballot. Beyond the presidential election, every House seat is on the ballot, so no matter what state you live in, you will have the opportunity to vote for your U.S. representative. Voters in 33 states will see U.S. Senate races on their ballot. There are 11 states with gubernatorial elections, 10 with attorney general races, and seven with secretary of state races. The attorney general is the state’s chief legal officer, responsible for enforcing state laws, representing the state in legal matters, and providing legal advice to state agencies. In most states, the secretary of state oversees elections, manages state records, and often regulates business registrations. Depending on the district you live in, you may also have candidates for state legislature, city council, and mayor on your ballot.
Reproductive Healthcare
Additionally, your ballot may include ballot measures, which vary by state and locality. Several states will have the opportunity to vote on ballot measures that either restrict or protect abortion access. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, abortion-related amendments to state constitutions will be on the ballot in 10 states, including Montana, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri, Florida, Maryland, and New York. Most of these measures are designed to protect abortion access. Nebraska, however, is unique in that it has two ballot measures concerning abortion: one would protect people’s access to abortion while the other would restrict access once someone has reached the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade – a decision that eliminated the federal constitutional right to an abortion, states have had to become the decision-makers regarding abortion access.
Guns
Ballot measures on issues like abortion and guns are often initiated by citizens. However, this year, no citizen-led initiatives on guns gathered enough support to make it onto the ballot. The only state-wide gun-related ballot measure will appear in Colorado, introduced by Colorado state legislators. This measure would impose a 6.5% tax on the manufacture and retail sale of guns and ammunition; the funds raised by these taxes will then be invested in mental health and crime prevention.
Additionally, there may be local measures addressing gun regulations, so be sure to research your sample ballot before heading to the polls.
Education
There will be several ballot measures on access to education in several states, including Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska. In these states, according to Ballotpedia, the ballot measures regulate the use of public money going toward non-public schools and securing parents’ rights to school choice, which means that parents have the right to select what they feel is the best educational option for their children, rather than being limited to public schools in their residential area. Opponents, however, say that these efforts will lead to even less money for public schools. Research your ballot measures now to see if education will appear on your ballot.
Marriage Equality
California, Colorado, and Hawaii will vote on ballot measures that would remove anti-LGBTQ language from the state constitutions. They would protect marriage equality even if the Supreme Court overturns Obergefell v. Hodges – the decision that made same-sex marriages legal in all 50 states. The existing language in all three states would already prohibit same-sex marriages if not for the Obergefell decision; if the decision is overturned, the existing language would immediately go into effect, prohibiting these marriages. These measures would protect marriage equality in those states, regardless of future Supreme Court decisions. To make informed choices on these key issues, reviewing the ballot measures that will appear on your ballot is essential.
What Congress Passed
On recess.
On recess.
Nothing.
What POTUS Signed Into Law
Nothing.
