By Paige Albright
Boston University News Service
With election results soon pouring in from every state, the focus item is the winner of the United States Presidential Race. However, there are many things specific to states that could impact day-to-day life. With amendments to state constitutions and state judges on ballots, let BUNS break down what’s on the ballot in different states.
A state-wide ballot measure can come in many forms with different states using differing terms. However, all policy proposals must be approved to be voted on in an election. Policy could include new laws, amendments to the state’s constitution and more.
The process a proposed ballot-measure follows is not the same in every state. There are 24 states that do not provide for statewide citizen-initiated ballot measures. Of those states, six make up the eight states without any policy on their ballots.
While not every state’s ballot this election cycle will contain proposals for new policy, there are many trends to note with common topics for voters to decide on.
Abortion
With the overturning of Roe Vs. Wade in 2022, states now regulate the practice of abortion within their borders. With 11 abortion related policy proposals on ballots across the nation, all but one will reaffirm the rights to abortion. Nebraska, on the other hand, would limit the time frame allowed for the procedure.
Jacquline Brutus, a Boston University senior in CAS, voted by mail in her home state of Maryland. Maryland has an amendment proposal to protect abortion rights on the ballot this November. Brutus spoke to BUNS about how even as she expects the bill to pass, it was important she did her part in protecting women’s rights.
“I wanted to make sure that I was voting for myself as a woman, but also for those other countless women in my life. To protect their rights and to make sure that nothing changes in Maryland,” said Brutus. “Maryland is a pretty liberal state, but it’s important to vote regardless, just because you never know what could happen.”
Citizenship
Many states have policy on their ballots to amend voter qualifications. Many states are seeking to pass laws that further define U.S. citizenship status in voting qualifications in order to ban non-citizen voting. Some states, like Iowa, are proposing to update the old legislature, as the state’s constitution currently says a citizen must be 21 to vote. This amendment would chang the state law to match the U.S. Constitution and change Section 1 of Article II in Iowa’s Constitution. Considering states are required to follow the federal law, technically not much would change for citizens.
Wages
Five states across the U.S. will have proposed legislation on their ballots to increase the minimum wage, or address minimum wage in certain service industry jobs. Massachusetts Question 5 on the ballot is a proposed gradual increase in minimum wage for tipped employees to eventually equal the state’s minimum wage of $15 an hour. Currently tipped employees, such as servers in Massachusetts, have a minimum wage of $6.75 in addition to tips they receive. Question 5 is very contentious with state legislatures endorsing the bill in direct contrast to the Massachusetts Restaurant Association who opposes the initiative.
Other notable topics on ballots include edits to taxation policies, issues regarding criminal justice, structure reform for state-run elections and the age-old issues of federal funding allocation.
