More than 140 initiatives popular will undergo vote this November in 41 states in the United States, in a massive consultation that will address issues as diverse as abortionthe immigrationthe legalization of dope or the minimum wage.
A initiative popular is a lawissue or question that is raised on a state or city ballot during a few electionsand which may have been proposed by the inhabitants themselves or by legislators, as defined by the Ballot Measure website.
Next Tuesday, November 5, Americans will not only choose their future presidentbut also vote146 of these measures popular, of which 77 come from legislators and 57 from citizens.
These are the main themes that votestill at the polls:
1. abortion
He abortion will be the most recurring issue on the ballots on November 5: voters will decide on eleven measures elections related to this issue, ten of which establish constitutional rights related to reproductive rights.
In the case of Arizona, Florida, Missouri and South Dakota, the measures are intended to protect the right to abortion until fetal viability – that is, until 23 or 24 weeks of pregnancy -, although with some exceptions depending on each state.
In Maryland, Montana, Nevada and New York, the proposals focus on consolidating the right to abort until the fetus is viable (something that is already legal in these states), guaranteeing this right to all people regardless of factors such as their ethnicity or sexual orientation.
Meanwhile, in Nebraska, two constitutional amendments are proposed: one to protect the abortion until the viability of the fetus and another to prohibit it after the first trimester of pregnancy (except in cases of medical emergency or sexual assault and incest).
2. Salaries
This 2024, the wages of the American population will also undergo vote: in Alaska and Missouri, the initiatives popular propose raising the minimum wage at $15 an hour and establish a series of requirements that allow paid sick leave.
In California, the measure would raise the minimum wage at $18 per hour; In Massachusetts, the wages of tipped workers would be increased to match the minimum wage and in Nebraska the proposal would guarantee paid sick leave for employees.
For its part, in Arizona there will be a vote on whether tipped workers should be paid 25% less than the minimum wage per hour.
Between 1996 and 2022, 28 were successfully presented initiatives elections to increase the wages minimums of several states, of which 92% were approved, according to the Ballot Measure website.
3. Immigration
Although the immigration It is one of the most discussed topics by both candidates’ campaigns – especially that of former President Donald Trump – there is only one initiative popular that contemplates this issue, and it is most controversy.
Thus, the citizens of Arizona votego for one initiative that intends to make several changes in criminal and criminal legislation immigrationincluding allowing police to detain and deport citizens of foreign countries who enter the state through places other than official ports (something that is the responsibility of the federal government).
4. Marijuana and others drugs
North Dakota and South Dakota votefor the third time whether they want to legalize or not dope for recreational purposes, while the citizens of Florida will decide whether to legalize this drug for everyone over 21 years of age.
For its part, Nebraska presents a measure that seeks to legalize dope for medical purposes.
Beyond cannabis, Massachusetts will decide whether or not to legalize certain psychedelic substances; If this measure is approved, it would become the third state to legalize these products, after Oregon (2020) and Colorado (2022).
5. Criminal justice
As for the justice criminal, California will address life sentences for those guilty of sex trafficking of minors and Colorado intends to increase penalties sorrows for certain crimes drugs and robberies, in addition to eliminating the right to bail in cases of first-degree murder, among others measures.
Additionally, Colorado also voteA measure that proposes allocating state revenues to a new fund for law enforcement hiring, retention, training and death benefits.
6. Citizenship and electoral system
This year the debate on whether foreign citizens can vote or not: in this sense, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin present constitutional amendments that would prohibit non-citizens from voting.
According to the Electoral Initiative Strategy Center, the November 5 ballots include 39 measures related to the procedures of vote or democracy.
