Voters Also Weigh in on Dozens of Ballot Measures
Voters Also Weigh in on Dozens of Ballot Measures
Voters participating in
Of the 155 ballot measures, which cover topics from health care to climate change to taxes, 68 are initiatives, meaning citizens bypassed their state legislatures by gathering enough signatures to put their measures on the ballot.
Historically, ballot initiatives in the
Here are some of the topics voters face:
What it is: Amendment 4 would restore voting rights to felons in
For: A collection of civil rights organizations like the
Against: A handful of local conservative politicians. Nonpartisan political resource Ballotpedia has recorded no opposition committees being formed. Local nonprofit Floridians for a Sensible Voting Rights Policy was formed to oppose the measure.
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What it is: A spat between the state's major dialysis providers and a health care union has evolved into a more than
Proposition 8 would limit the amount of money that dialysis companies can make in
For: Leading supporter and bill sponsor Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), a labor organization for medical employees, says the measure is about channeling revenue from a multibillion-dollar industry back into patient care.
Advocates have called concerns about clinic closures a scare tactic propagated by dialysis companies.
"They are not at risk of closing clinics,"
Against: Critics, led by major dialysis providers, said the proposition would lead to the closing of clinics, which would endanger the lives of
"We believe that Proposition 8 will lead to dialysis clinics closing and patients losing access to dialysis treatments. And this jeopardizes their lives, obviously,"
?Midwest: Marijuana
What it is:
For: Supporters say the measure would prevent law enforcement resources from being wasted policing the substance and instead create revenue for the state's roads, schools and local government.
"Their reasoning is based on the assumption that (with legalization) use increases, and everyone is going to start smoking marijuana,"
Against: Sheriffs in nearly 60 of
Critics, led by opposing campaign Healthy and Productive, have expressed concerns about the health effects of marijuana. Some, like former
What it is: A proposal would bring universal home care to seniors and those with disabilities, regardless of income level.
The measure would be paid for by a 3.8 percent tax on individuals earning more than
For: Proponents have brushed aside concerns about cost, saying the measure is a necessary move for a state with the oldest median population in the country.
"It costs half as much to help someone stay at home as it does to put them into a nursing home," said Mike Tippling of Mainers for Homecare, the pro-initiative campaign. "That's one of the reasons that the nursing homes are so against this measure, and they've been spending so much money spreading so many lies about it."
Against: Critics, led by local hospice and health care providers, have said this won't be enough to cover the expansive definition of home care outlined in the proposal, requiring massive new tax increases to avoid leaving elderly and disabled people wait-listed for critical services.
"Businesses recognize what an absolute economy killer this would be for our state if we were to become the highest taxed state in the country,"
What it is: A proposed amendment would require unanimous votes by jurors to convict people who are being charged with felonies.
Amendment 2 would require the unanimous agreement of jurors to convict people charged with felonies. As of 2018,
For: Amendment supporters say this gives the state's largely white juries an advantage over
An investigation published by the
Against: Few in the state have actively opposed the ballot measure. Some officials, such as
TRENDS
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion
What it is: A provision to extend Medicaid coverage to people under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Other than a 2016 measure in
For: Progressive citizens. "Those are to increase coverage and provide additional funding mechanisms to cover the state's portion of the increasing costs, per Obamacare's provisions, as the federal government's portion decreases,"
Against: Conservative state governments that declined to expand Obamacare in the first place.
Redistricting, voting access and campaign spending
The trend: The biggest issue for voters this year is election policy, with 20 measures in 15 states.
. Four states will decide whether to establish new redistricting systems for their state legislatures.
. Several measures will tighten or ease access to the polls for citizens by increasing ID requirements or simplifying registration, a move many say is a partisan tactic to boost conservative and liberal showings at the polls.
. Other states will seek to redefine the role money plays in their elections.
?Abortion
What it is: Initiatives in three states,
For: Anti-abortion conservatives anticipating a decrease in federal support or an overturning of Roe v. Wade following the appointment of conservative Supreme Court Justice
Against: Pro-choice advocates. "What this amendment is designed to do is to position
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