Voter’s will cast their ballots this November not only to elect the 119th Congress or decide whether a president deserves another term but also face various state initiatives. Abortion is expected to be present alongside these campaigns in vital swing states, Arizona and Nevada; nonetheless, there are further pressing matters for voters to determine upon. In Florida, marijuana usage will surface simultaneously with an abortion proposal, which was previously challenged by the Attorney General of Florida Ashley Moody but approved earlier this year by the state’s Supreme Court. The measure requires a supermajority vote of 60% to be implemented in November.
Meanwhile, Nevada voters might decide whether involuntary servitude and slavery should still serve as criminal punishments under their constitution. Although banned federally through the Thirteenth Amendment except for punishment purposes, this provision is also present within the state’s charter. Several states have already passed measures to prohibit such practices in penal systems; four of them during last year’s elections alone.
Lastly, Connecticut voters will be presented with a constitutional amendment that would allow no-excuse absentee voting for certain types of polling. Democratic lawmakers advocated this proposal after the pandemic popularized mail-in balloting processes nationwide in 2019/20. Connecticut Secretary Stephanie Thomas commended legislators’ efforts to pass such a measure, stating that “when voters are given greater accessibility towards their rightful vote, our democracy is strengthened.” Many other states already support this system along with traditional and early voting procedures.
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