Voters will go to the polls in November to elect the 119th Congress and decide whether the 45th or 46th president deserves a second term, but there will be ballot initiatives in various states alongside the candidates.
Abortion is expected to be on the ballot in several states, including the pivotal swing states of Arizona and Nevada, but many other issues will also be before voters to decide. Here are three ballot initiatives voters will decide the fate of in November.
Florida: Recreational marijuana
In the Sunshine State, recreational marijuana will appear alongside a ballot initiative on abortion in a repeat of the 2023 election in Ohio.
The measure, championed by Smart and Safe Florida, was challenged by state Attorney General Ashley Moody, but the Florida Supreme Court approved the initiative to appear on the ballot earlier this year.
“We look forward to bringing our message of allowing adults to safely use cannabis for their own personal consumption to the voters of this state,” Smart and Safe Florida said in a statement after the court decision.
The measure must get a supermajority of 60% to pass in November.
Nevada: Removing slavery as punishment
In the Silver State, voters will likely get to weigh in on abortion, along with another measure that has been placed on ballots across the country.
After being approved by both chambers of the state legislature in 2023, voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to disallow “the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment.”
Slavery and involuntary servitude are banned federally under the 13th Amendment, except as punishment for a crime. The state constitution includes a similar provision.
Several states have passed measures banning it as a punishment for a crime, including four states during the 2022 election.
Connecticut: No excuse absentee voting
Connecticut voters will have the chance to enshrine no-excuse absentee voting for elections when they head to the polls in November.
Democratic lawmakers in the state have pushed for the constitutional amendment to allow for more lenient absentee voting laws after the form of voting was popularized during the coronavirus pandemic.
Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas celebrated the legislature passing a measure to put the measure on the ballot shortly after it was approved last year.
“When voters are given the greatest access to their right to vote, our democracy is strongest. Today we took a critical step towards strengthening our democracy by giving voters the option to break down some of the barriers that may prevent them from casting a ballot,” Thomas said in a statement.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“The opportunity to weigh in on this constitutional amendment lies where it should — with the people. I plan to work tirelessly to make voters aware of this important ballot measure. Based on the results of the early voting ballot measure, I expect the voters to pass universal absentee ballot access into law.”
Many other states allow for no-excuse absentee voting, alongside early voting and traditional in-person voting on Election Day.
