Where voters stand on state ballot measures, from abortion to LGBTQ rights to guns
Tuesday's midterm elections were a huge sweep for Democrats, among other takeaways.
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elections → stand → takeaways
And across 39 states — plus Washington, D.C. and the Northern Mariana Islands — voters weighed in on 146 statewide ballot measures spanning issues from taxes to transgender rights to traffic cameras to data centers and AI.
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voters → weigh → centers
Three states moved to preserve abortion access
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, leaving the legality and regulation of abortion up to each state.
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Court → move → state
In subsequent elections, over a dozen states have put access to abortion on their ballots — and overwhelmingly moved to secure it.
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states → put → it
This year, four states considered abortion measures.
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states → consider → measures
Three passed, while Idaho voted to preserve the state's abortion ban from 2022.
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Idaho → pass → 2022
In Missouri, voters rejected a Republican-led amendment that would have banned abortion with few exceptions.
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that → reject → exceptions
The move affirms support for abortion just two years after voters mobilized to reject Missouri's ban, which was one of the strictest in the country.
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which → affirm → country
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Nevada residents voted to enshrine abortion up to the point of viability in their constitution.
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residents → load → constitution
They did so for the second election in a row, since state law requires a proposed constitutional amendment to pass twice.
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amendment → do → row
Virginians voted to create a "fundamental right to reproductive freedom" in their constitution.
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Virginians → vote → constitution
That includes the right to an abortion during the first two trimesters (and afterward in certain cases), as well as the right to contraception, fertility, postpartum care and more.
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That → include → contraception
States voted on voting
Many states considered changes to how they run their elections.
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they → vote → elections
It was too early to call Wednesday afternoon whether voters had approved some of the more far-reaching changes, in Alaska and Arizona.
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voters → call → Alaska
Other states — including Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio — passed measures toughening identification requirements for voters, while California voted against such an effort.
Several states — including Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia — approved measures reinforcing that U.S. citizenship is required to vote in their elections.
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citizenship → include → elections
President Trump kicked off a redistricting race earlier this year by urging Republican-led states to redraw their districts ahead of the midterms.
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Trump → kick → midterms
Republicans and Democrats in multiple states did so.
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Republicans → do → states
But many of the districts altered to boost GOP prospects ultimately went to Democratic candidates.
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many → alter → candidates
Missouri voters rejected a Republican-friendly congressional map, while Maryland voters passed a redistricting amendment that could pave the way for a Democrat-leaning map in 2028.
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that → reject → 2028
Virginians passed a measure automatically restoring voting rights to anyone convicted of a felony once they have completed their sentence.
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they → pass → sentence
A mixed bag for LGBTQ rights
Virginians also passed a constitutional amendment officially repealing its ban on gay marriage and adding language confirming that the commonwealth will recognize marriage between two adults regardless of their sex, gender or race.
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commonwealth → pass → sex
Virginia's ban has been moot since the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal nationwide in 2015, but this measure is seen as a safeguard in case Obergefell v. Hodges gets reversed (as some have feared in the wake of the court's overturning of Roe v. Wade).
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some → make → Wade
Other states have made similar moves, including Colorado and California in 2024.
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states → make → 2024
Vermont overwhelmingly voted to add an amendment to its constitution guaranteeing equal protection under the law "race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin."
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Vermont → vote → law
A number of states considered measures restricting transgender kids' access to school sports teams and gender-affirming care, with Colorado passing both.
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Colorado → consider → both
A Washington state measure to ban trans students from competing in girls' school sports was still leading on Wednesday.
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measure → ban → Wednesday
Arizona passed a proposal requiring schools and athletic associations to restrict students, athletes and employees from using facilities — including restrooms, locker rooms, and other private spaces — that are not designated for their sex assigned at birth.
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that → pass → birth
Arizona law already bans trans girls from playing on school sports teams designated for girls, and this measure would extend that prohibition to recreational organizations like Little League.
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measure → ban → League
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Taxes and state spending up for debate
One of the most high-profile ballot measures asked Floridians to weigh cutting property taxes for homeowners, which critics say would take billions of dollars in local government revenue away from much-needed public services like food banks, libraries, transportation and infrastructure.
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critics → load → banks
Voters overwhelmingly passed the amendment.
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In California, voters pondered whether to approve a one-off 5% tax on individuals with more than $1 billion in assets, with most of the money raised going toward health care services.
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most → ponder → services
The contest is too close to call as of Wednesday afternoon.
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contest → call → afternoon
Tennessee voters approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting its government from levying a statewide property tax, which it has not collected since 1949.
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it → approve → 1949
Arizona voters passed a measure that bans cities and towns from raising taxes on groceries until July 2027.
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that → pass → July
North Carolinians approved an amendment to cap the maximum personal income tax at 3.5%.
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Carolinians → approve → %
Washington voters considered whether to repeal an income tax on individuals and households earning more than $1 million, which is scheduled to take effect in 2028.
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which → consider → 2028
Early results indicate they want to keep that tax.
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they → indicate → tax
A polar-opposite pair of gun ballot measures
Massachusetts voted to keep a 2024 law tightening firearm regulations.
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Massachusetts → vote → regulations
The law made Massachusetts gun control measures among the strictest in the nation, as it also included requiring "ghost guns" to have a serial number, broadened the definition of "assault-style firearm" and expanded the state's red flag laws.
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it → make → laws
Meanwhile, in Idaho, a ballot measure asked voters for help choosing the official state gun from six different brands and models.
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measure → ask → brands
…and 17 more, not listed.
The Aporia
