{"id":2350287,"date":"2024-10-03T17:16:58","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T21:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-ballot-issues-to-watch-that-could-sway-2024-election-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-10-03T17:19:56","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T21:19:56","slug":"top-ballot-issues-to-watch-that-could-sway-2024-election-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-ballot-issues-to-watch-that-could-sway-2024-election-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Top ballot issues to watch that could sway 2024 election &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftop-ballot-issues-to-watch-that-could-sway-2024-election-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2350287&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The\u200d article discusses significant\u2064 ballot issues that may influence the 2024 elections, including abortion rights, marijuana legalization, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-house-passes-omnibus-election-reform-bill\/\" title=\"Georgia House Passes Omnibus Election Reform Bill\">ranked choice voting<\/a>, \u2062and noncitizen voting \u2062initiatives. Following the Supreme Court&#8217;s 2022 overturning of *Roe\u2064 v. Wade*,\u200b abortion has become a pivotal topic, with 41 states presenting at least one related measure. Ten states are expected to decide\u2064 on various abortion measures, notably in competitive states like Arizona, Florida, and Nebraska.<\/p>\n<p>In Arizona, the proposed Abortion Access Act seeks to protect the right to abortion\u200d before\u200d fetal\u2062 viability, while Florida&#8217;s \u200bAmendment 4\u2063 aims to \u200drepeal a six-week ban on abortions, though\u2064 it faces strong opposition \u2063from Republican campaigns. Nebraska will see two opposing\u2064 initiatives regarding abortion, which could\u200c critically impact the state&#8217;s \u2063electoral votes.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, both presidential candidates, Trump and Harris, have expressed support for marijuana legalization, which is \u200con the ballot in\u200d several states. Other voting measures cover \u2063ranked choice voting and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/los-angeles-county-residents-launch-recall-effort-against-district-attorney\/\" title=\"Los Angeles County residents launch recall effort against district attorney\">criminal justice reforms<\/a>, reflecting a diverse array of issues that could shape voter turnout and affect key \u2062congressional\u200b races. these\u2064 ballot measures indicate\u200c a dynamic electoral landscape heading into \u2062the 2024 elections.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Top ballot issues to watch that could sway 2024 election<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1775026\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abortion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Abortion<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marijuana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>marijuana<\/a>, and noncitizen voting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ballots\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>ballot measures<\/a> are among the top initiatives voters will decide on at the ballot boxes, with competitive congressional races and a contentious presidential election in states like Arizona, Florida, and Nebraska on the line.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>For the <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>2024 election<\/a>, 41 states have at least one ballot measure, with the highest-profile issue being abortion. Ten states have abortion-rights measures up for decision, with a handful being red or purple states that have competitive races, and Nebraska has an anti-abortion measure.<\/p>\n<p>Other topics include criminal justice, ranked choice voting, redistricting, legalizing marijuana, and raising the minimum wage.<\/p>\n<p>With several important policy measures on the ballot, voter turnout could have a significant impact on toss-up House and Senate races that could determine whether Republicans maintain a majority in the lower chamber and Democrats hold onto the upper chamber.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Battle over abortion extends into 2024<\/h2>\n<p>After the Supreme Court struck down <em>Roe v. Wade <\/em>in 2022, several abortion bans or restrictions went into effect, and Democratic lawmakers and organizations moved to get abortion rights enshrined into state law through ballot initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>Since the overturning of <em>Roe<\/em>, there has been a 7-7 record for abortion rights ballot measures passing. This year voters in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota will all have measures regarding abortion rights on their ballots. Only one state, Arkansas, did not get a successful ballot placement for an abortion-rights measure this cycle.<\/p>\n<p>Many competitive races are on the line in the 10 states, but the most significant abortion ballot measures are in states like Arizona, Florida, and Nebraska.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Arizona<\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3119490\/arizona-voters-abortion-amendment-november\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Arizona Abortion Access Act<\/a> would stop the state from interfering with the right to an abortion before fetal viability. The point of fetal viability is believed to be around 23-24 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, abortion is legal in Arizona through 15 weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest. <\/p>\n<p>Democrats are hoping the abortion measure will boost their chances of winning key races this fall, including the Senate race for outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) between Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Republican Kari Lake and the presidential election between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris has made reproductive rights a focal point of her campaign, with an August survey finding her 3 percentage points ahead of Trump, 44.4% to 41.6%.<\/p>\n<p>President Joe Biden narrowly won the state in 2020 by slightly over 10,000 votes, marking the first time the state voted a Democrat into the White House since 1996. The races of Reps. David Schweikert (R-AK) and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) are ranked as GOP toss-ups by <em>Cook Political Report.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Florida<\/h3>\n<p>Trump caused a stir in conservative circles after he signaled support for Florida&rsquo;s abortion rights measure that would repeal the state&rsquo;s six-week ban. However, in August, Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-abortion-florida-six-weeks-ae0ce47cb2af82a6586fa19235ea2226\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>reversed course<\/a> and said &ldquo;Democrats are radical&rdquo; and that he opposed abortions up until nine months.<\/p>\n<p>Amendment 4, the Right to Abortion Initiative would limit prohibitions on abortion before fetal viability, or around 24 weeks. Several polls indicate the majority of voters are in favor of the measure, making Florida the reddest state that could pass an abortion-rights ballot initiative.<strong> <\/strong>Polling shows the measure will likely hit 50%, but Florida Republicans have been actively campaigning against the movement &mdash; so whether the initiative will meet the state&rsquo;s 60% passage threshold on Election Day remains to be seen.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) is facing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3127802\/primaries-election-takeaways-alaska-florida-wyoming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>strong Democratic challenger<\/a>, former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, in the general election. She&rsquo;s raked in millions of dollars compared to Scott, but polling shows the incumbent holds a lead in the race. His race will be closely watched as he is actively running for Senate Republican leader.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nebraska<\/h3>\n<p>In Nebraska, voters will vote for two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dueling-abortion-ballot-measures-at-center-of-battle-for-key-nebraska-district-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Dueling abortion ballot measures at center of battle for key Nebraska district - Washington Examiner\">dueling abortion ballot initiatives<\/a>. Under current law, abortion is banned after 12 weeks of pregnancy. The measure that wins the most votes will be added to the constitution.<\/p>\n<p>The Protect the Right to Abortion Constitutional Initiative would enshrine the right to abortion in the state&rsquo;s constitution until fetal viability or when needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient. Voters will also vote on Initiative 434, which would prohibit abortion after the first trimester with exceptions for medical emergencies or if the pregnancy is a result of sexual assault and incest.<\/p>\n<p>The measures could have a significant impact on the presidential election, particularly because Nebraska awards two electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote statewide and one electoral vote to the popular vote winner in each congressional district. Nebraska&rsquo;s 2nd Congressional District, a swing district, could determine the general election if it comes down to just one vote. <\/p>\n<p>The seat of Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who represents the 2nd District, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3172708\/tossup-house-district-nebraska-swings-toward-democrat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>recently shifted<\/a> from toss-up to &ldquo;lean Democratic&rdquo; as Democratic state Sen. Tony Vargas leads Bacon by 4 to 6 points in various polls. Harris also has an advantage in the district, leading with 9 to 11 points.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marijuana hits ballots as Harris and Trump solidify support<\/h2>\n<p>Both Harris and Trump have reaffirmed their support for legalizing marijuana, a key issue that is important to several voting blocs heading into the 2024 election.<\/p>\n<p>Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota have ballot measures that approve recreational or medicinal marijuana. <\/p>\n<p>Trump said he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3141854\/trump-lex-fridman-podcast-interview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>would vote in favor<\/a> of Florida&rsquo;s Amendment 3 that, if passed, will make recreational-use marijuana legal. Like all Sunshine State ballot initiatives, it needs 60% of the vote to pass. Many Republicans, including Trump allies like Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), are against the measure.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3171387\/harris-legalizing-marijuana-all-the-smoke-podcast-interview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>recent interview<\/a> with <em>All the Smoke<\/em> podcast, Harris said she supports legalizing marijuana and it&rsquo;s &ldquo;not a new position for me.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>Nebraska has <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/nebraska-medical-marijuana-ballot-measures-62c5f3bffa6f90f0ed0fad001741827c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>two ballot initiatives<\/a>: one allowing medical-use marijuana and the other regulating the medical marijuana industry in the state. Both North and South Dakota&rsquo;s initiatives would legalize recreational marijuana.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ranked choice voting, noncitizen restrictions, and tough-on-crime measures<\/h2>\n<p>Six states and Washington, D.C., have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ranked-choice-voting-promises-unity-but-struggles-to-find-backing-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Ranked choice voting promises unity but struggles to find backing - Washington Examiner\">ranked choice voting ballot initiatives<\/a> on the ballot this November. Colorado, Washington, D.C., Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon are looking to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-seek-to-ban-ranked-choice-voting-in-dc-elections\/\" title=\"House Republicans aim to prohibit ranked choice voting in DC elections.\">implement ranked choice voting<\/a> for congressional elections, gubernatorial races, and other statewide offices. If approved in Oregon and Washington, D.C., ranked choice would also be used in the presidential race.<\/p>\n<p>Alaska&rsquo;s initiative is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3132808\/alaskans-could-repeal-ranked-choice-voting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>looking to repeal<\/a> ranked choice voting, which was adopted in 2022 and was partly responsible for Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) becoming the first Democrat to win the state&rsquo;s lone House seat in 50 years. Missouri&rsquo;s measure would ban the voting system preemptively, joining states like Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kentucky&nbsp;that have outlawed the practice.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Three states &mdash; Arizona, California, and Colorado &mdash; are asking voters to approve tough-on-crime initiatives. In Arizona, Proposition 313 would require life imprisonment for people convicted of child sex trafficking and Proposition 314 would allow police to arrest noncitizens who enter the state at places other than an official port of entry. California would stiffen penalties for certain drug and theft convictions, and one of Colorado&rsquo;s measures would end the right to bail for first-degree murder.<\/p>\n<p>Eight states will look to ban noncitizen voting, a Republican flashpoint that has been driven home by conservatives as it amps up criticisms of Biden and Harris&rsquo;s border policies. Federal law requires voter registration forms to compel voters to swear under penalty of perjury that they are citizens of the United States.&nbsp;A fraud database housed by the conservative Heritage Foundation found&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/2995998\/johnson-unveils-election-bill-noncitizens-voting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">only 100 cases<\/a>&nbsp;of noncitizens voting between 2002 and 2022 among a sample of more than a billion ballots.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1775026\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1775026\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key ballot issues to watch in the 2024 election include abortion, marijuana, and noncitizen voting measures<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2350288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AP24009733121088-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[32431,42280,33017,41037,32076],"class_list":["post-2350287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-2024-election","tag-ballot-issues","tag-political-analysis","tag-voter-impact","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AP24009733121088-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2350287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2350287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2350287\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2350288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2350287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2350287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2350287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}