Voters in 39 states, Washington, D.C., and the Northern Mariana Islands decided on 146 statewide ballot measures during Tuesday’s midterm elections. The proposals covered issues including abortion, election rules, LGBTQ rights, taxes, firearms and data centers.
Three of the four states with abortion measures voted to protect access. Missouri voters rejected an amendment that would have banned abortion with few exceptions. Nevada approved a constitutional amendment protecting abortion access up to viability for the second election in a row, while Virginia voted to establish a constitutional right to reproductive freedom, including abortion during the first two trimesters and in certain cases afterward. Idaho, by contrast, voted to preserve its 2022 abortion ban.
Election administration and voting rights were also prominent. Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio approved stricter voter identification requirements, while California rejected a similar proposal. Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia approved measures stating that U.S. citizenship is required to vote. Virginia also approved automatic restoration of voting rights for people convicted of felonies after they complete their sentences.
Redistricting proposals produced mixed results. Missouri voters rejected a congressional map favorable to Republicans, while Maryland approved an amendment that could enable a map favoring Democrats in 2028. In Virginia, voters approved a constitutional amendment repealing the state’s ban on same-sex marriage and affirming recognition of marriages between two adults regardless of sex, gender or race. Vermont approved a constitutional equal-protection amendment covering, among other characteristics, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Measures affecting transgender people also appeared on ballots. Colorado approved proposals restricting transgender children’s access to school sports and gender-affirming care. In Arizona, voters approved a measure requiring schools and athletic associations to limit access to facilities such as restrooms and locker rooms based on sex assigned at birth. A Washington state proposal to bar transgender students from girls’ school sports was still leading in early results.
Tax measures drew sharply different responses. Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a property-tax cut for homeowners. California’s proposed one-time 5% tax on people with more than $1 billion in assets remained too close to call as of Wednesday afternoon. Tennessee approved a ban on statewide property taxes, while Arizona restricted local taxes on groceries until July 2027. North Carolina voted to cap the maximum personal income tax rate at 3.5%. Early results in Washington indicated support for keeping a tax on individuals and households earning more than $1 million, due to take effect in 2028.
On firearms, Massachusetts voters chose to keep a 2024 law tightening gun regulations. Idaho voters, meanwhile, were asked to select an official state gun from six models. The Winchester Model 1873 was leading, but a separate law from the state legislature would be needed to make the selection official.
Data center development was another focus, with voters in at least 38 jurisdictions considering proposals related to the facilities. Communities in California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin voted to restrict data centers. In Ohio, Trenton approved a ban on facilities larger than 25 megawatts, while Hubbard voted to prohibit data centers of any size. Voters also rejected proposals to rezone rural residential areas for data center use. Harwood, North Dakota, was the only community identified as supporting data centers without restrictions on industrial projects.
Other approved measures included Alabama proposals directing public schools to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and play or perform the first stanza of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at least once a week. Arizona voters approved a ban on state photo-enforcement systems for certain traffic violations. Washington, D.C., and Denver both voted to prohibit foie gras, including the force-feeding of birds to enlarge their livers and, in D.C., the sale of the delicacy.
Sources: NPR Politics.