While elections for political office will likely get most of the media attention on Tuesday, 38 states will be voting on a combined 188 ballot measures affecting a host of major issues. Scribe has broken down 10 of those measures that will be worth watching as returns start coming in Tuesday evening.
Michigan – Proposal 2: This measure proposes a constitutional amendment making union collective bargaining a right. It also gives collective bargaining agreements the force of law, and invalidates any other state laws that conflict with those agreements.
Michigan – Proposal 3: As Scribe has reported, Proposal 3 would direct the state, through a constitutional amendment, to get 25% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025. The measure is backed primarily by out-of-state environmentalist groups, while Michigan businesses have funded most of the opposition to it.
Florida – Amendment 3: This constitutional amendment would establish a cap on state revenue, indexed to inflation and population growth. Any revenue exceeding the cap would be placed in a “rainy day fund.” Once that fund exceeds 10% of the prior year’s total budget, the state would be required to implement tax cuts paid for with revenues from that fund.
Florida – Amendment 6: This measure would prohibit the use of taxpayer funds for abortion services via a constitutional amendment, and would stipulate that Florida’s state constitution cannot be interpreted to provide broader rights to abortion than the United States Constitution.
Minnesota – Amendment 2: This constitutional amendment would establish a voter ID requirement in the state, requiring that all voters present a valid photo identification at the polls. A voter ID law was previously passed by the state legislature, but vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton (D).
Colorado – Amendment 64: The proposed marijuana legalization would amend the state constitution to permit the “personal use and regulation of marijuana” for adults aged 21 and over. The amendment would also allow the cultivation, manufacturing, and limited possession and consumption of marijuana.
Florida – Amendment 1: This referred state constitutional amendment would “prohibit laws or rules from compelling any person or employer to purchase, obtain, or otherwise provide for health care coverage.”
New Hampshire – Amendment 13: A legislatively-referred constitutional amendment that proposes a ban on any new taxes “levied, directly or indirectly, upon a person’s income, from whatever source it is derived.”
Maine – Question 1: The language of the indirect initiated state statute would allow Maine to “issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.” A bill legalizing same-sex marriage was repealed by voter referendum in 2009.
California – Proposition 37: The initiated state statute would provide for mandatory labeling of “genetically engineered food.” Among other concerns, the measure targets “misleading” labeling touting a product as “all natural” or using similar wording.
