Ballot Measures & Initiatives News

Voters in many states decide policy questions directly at the ballot box. Read Ballot Measures & Initiatives News for explanations of referendums, citizen initiatives, proposed constitutional amendments, and tax measures, including the arguments surrounding each proposal and its election outcome.
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  • news

    How Supreme Court Showdown Over Illinois Election Law Could Change Future of Ballots
    The Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday about an Illinois law that allows ballots to be counted that arrive up to 14 days after Election Day.  The plaintiffs, Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., and two presidential electors from the state, contend that federal law established Election Day and Illinois allows votes to come in two weeks longer…
    Fred Lucas
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  • news

    Suspicious Ballot-Stuffing Caught on Video in Battleground State
    A city council member in Michigan was reportedly seen on video helping to drop what appear to be several absentee ballots into a ballot drop box ahead of an August primary election.  Abu Musa, a city councilman in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan, was reportedly in the passenger seat handing what appear to be ballots…
    Fred Lucas
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  • opinion

    More Voter Fraud Exposed: Proven Cases of Ballot Tampering and Rigged Elections
    A woman votes in two different states for four elections in a row.   A small-town mayor locks away ballots and refuses to count the votes.    A mayoral candidate forges over 100 absentee ballot requests and sends them to a fake nursing home address.   A husband and wife, both candidates for office, fake their residence in…
    Hans von Spakovsky | Olivia Hodge
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  • news

    Increased Use of Paper Ballots, Electronic Poll Books Could Boost Election Security
    A significant shift toward paper ballots and paper records of electronic votes to more easily audit election results, as well as electronic methods to verify registered voters when they show up to vote, could be a boon in providing election security, said Donald Palmer, chairman of the federal Election Assistance Commission. These developments also align with…
    Fred Lucas
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  • news

    Supreme Court to Take on Illinois Late Ballot Case With Far-Reaching Election Integrity Implications
    THE CENTER SQUARE—In a move that could have major implications for election procedures across the country, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case brought by Judicial Watch challenging whether federal courts have jurisdiction to hear disputes over ballots received after Election Day. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., and two electors sued over…
    Catrina Barker
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  • news

    California Records Show How Attorney General Skewed Transgender Ballot Measure
    While gathering signatures for a proposed California ballot measure, Korey Wells found people who had opposed allowing boys to play girls scholastic sports, but nevertheless “refused to sign and/or donate” to an initiative that would prevent it.  The reason was “because they do not believe the substance of the Initiative could be so different than…
    Fred Lucas
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  • news

    Foreign Money Bans for Ballot Measures Could Be Headed to Supreme Court
    Kansas will be the first legal battleground in 2025 to decide whether the national trend of banning foreign money from bankrolling ballot measures is legal—a matter that could be on its way to the Supreme Court. Democrat election lawyer Marc Elias’ firm is taking the lead in the litigation against the state bans on foreign…
    Fred Lucas
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  • news

    Advocates of Bans on Foreign Money for Ballot Measures Urge Governor to Veto Montana Bill
    Conservative groups who have successfully backed legislation in six states this year to ban foreign funding of ballot initiatives have one message for Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte about his state’s measure.  Veto it.  House Bill 818 passed the Montana Legislature but was watered down through amendment and lacks the same strong protections against foreign funding…
    Fred Lucas
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  • news

    Ballot-Counting Case Could Be On Way to Supreme Court
    The U.S. Supreme Court could decide a case regarding whether voters’ ballots rolling in days or weeks after Election Day still can be counted.  Just weeks before last November’s election, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a case from Mississippi that federal law requires mail-in ballots to arrive by Election Day. Mississippi…
    Fred Lucas
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  • opinion

    Congress: Defend Americans’ Voices at the Ballot Box and Pass the SAVE Act
    The right to vote is one of America’s most sacred privileges, making the integrity of our elections an issue of paramount importance for our country. So why is the Left so determined to undermine it? The surge of illegal aliens pouring across the border during the Biden administration, combined with lax voter ID laws in…
    Ryan Walker
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  • news

    Trump Justice Department Could Enforce Expiration Date for Mail-In Ballots
    A new Trump administration Justice Department could enforce a federal court’s ruling requiring only ballots arriving on or before Election Day to be counted, voter integrity advocates said.  Just weeks before last November’s election, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a case from Mississippi that federal law requires mail-in ballots to arrive…
    Fred Lucas
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  • news

    Wisconsin to Probe How 193 Absentee Ballots Went Uncounted
    The top election oversight body in the battleground state of Wisconsin kicked off 2025 by launching a bipartisan investigation of uncounted ballots in the state’s capital city. Election integrity advocates say that’s a good first step.  The Wisconsin Elections Commission—equally split with Republicans and Democrats—voted 6-0 on Thursday to investigate why the city of Madison…
    Fred Lucas
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  • news

    For Recount, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reaffirms Mail-In Ballots Must Be Dated to Be Counted
    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court again ruled that mail-in ballots must be properly dated to be counted, a boost for Republican Dave McCormick in a recount battle against Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, who is struggling to hold onto his Senate seat.  “Following our latest RNC [Republican National Committee] lawsuit, today, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled yet…
    Fred Lucas
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  • news

    Election Deniers? Same Left-Wing Group That Tried to Kick Trump Off Ballot Now Demands Recount
    The same left-leaning nonprofit advocacy group that unsuccessfully attempted to disqualify Donald Trump from the November ballot in several states is now calling for a recount of the votes, alleging a mass breach of voting systems.  The organization, Free Speech for People, recently publicized a Nov. 13 letter it sent to Vice President Kamala Harris…
    Fred Lucas
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  • opinion

    END OF THE ROAD: Blue-State Ballot Measure May Doom Uber, Lyft
    The ride-sharing industry works because it provides two crucial things: on-demand rides for customers, and flexible employment for drivers. Unfortunately, a ballot measure just approved by Massachusetts voters may mean the end of the road for this successful operation—at least as we know it—because it will take away drivers’ independence and turn union leaders and…
    Rachel Greszler
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  • news

    How Republicans Kept the Voting Secure, Swept 9 Ballot Integrity Measures
    With unaddressed allegations of fraud dominating the months following the 2020 presidential election, Republicans made election integrity a major focus on Tuesday night. The Republican National Committee and its team of lawyers were quick to respond to potential hijinks Tuesday night, while voters followed up with a resounding push for ballot integrity in nine states. …
    S.A. McCarthy
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  • news

    Florida, South Dakota, and Nebraska Voters Reject Abortion Amendments: Results From 10 Ballot Initiatives on Life
    Voters in 10 states decided Tuesday either to protect life or to enshrine abortion up to birth in their constitutions, with pro-life advocates prevailing in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota.  Five largely pro-abortion states—Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, and New York—and five largely pro-life states—Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota—voted in the weeks leading up…
    Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell
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  • news

    Majority of Pennsylvania’s Mail-In Ballots Returned
    THE CENTER SQUARE—The majority of mail-in ballots requested in Pennsylvania have been returned as of 8 a.m. Monday. Of the 2.2 million issued, the Department of State is in receipt of 1.8 million, or 81.4%, according to its daily report. By party, Democrats have mailed in 83.1% of the 1.2 million requested; Republicans 82.1% out…
    Christen Smith
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  • opinion

    Voting Absentee? Return Your Ballot in Person, Don’t Mail It
    However you choose to vote in Tuesday’s election, it’s critical to have a plan to cast your ballot. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who vote by mail, recent difficulties experienced by the United States Postal Service mean it’s even more important to have a plan to ensure your ballot makes it into…
    Jonathon Hauenschild
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  • news

    Swing-State Republicans Are Leaning Into Ballot Harvesting—and It Seems to Be Working
    DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—LAS VEGAS—For thousands of attendees at a Trump rally Thursday in Las Vegas, volunteers stood ready to collect mail-in ballots on-site. The strategy is a major shift for Nevada Republicans, who opposed the legalization of ballot harvesting in 2020. Now, conservative activists and GOP operatives are leaning into the new rules, asking voters to bring ballots to rallies…
    Katelynn Richardson
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