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The only weekly wrap-up of ballot measure news in the progressive community.
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Initiated Statutes and Amendments
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News
10/14/2021
The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Launches Multi-Year National Defend Direct Democracy Campaign to Protect Ballot Measures Across the Country
read more06/28/2021
BISC’s Executive Director, Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, Speaks on Her 3 Year BISCiversary
read more04/20/2021
BISC Releases Statement on the Verdict in Derek Chauvin’s Trial for the Murder of George Floyd
read more01/13/2021
White Supremacy is America’s Greatest Threat: A Letter from BISC’s Executive Director
read more11/23/2020
BISC + Partners Release Executive Directors of Color Video: Relationships and Resilience Collective
read more09/19/2020
THE BALLOT INITIATIVE STRATEGY CENTER MOURNS THE LOSS OF JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG
read more08/18/2020
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center releases statement recognizing the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment
read more08/05/2020
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center releases statement as Missouri becomes the 6th state expand Medicaid through ballot measures
read more07/17/2020
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center releases statement following the Supreme Court’s decision to block hundreds of thousands of Floridians from voting this year
read more07/01/2020
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center releases statement following Oklahoma’s successful passage of Medicaid Expansion
read more06/19/2020
BISC releases statement on the importance of recognizing Juneteenth and Defending Black Lives
read more06/03/2020
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center releases statement recognizing Pride Month and the ongoing fight for equity and justice for all Americans
read more06/01/2020
BISC releases statement about the ongoing, state-sanctioned violence against the Black community
read more05/20/2020
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Releases Statement on Successful Portland Initiative to Fight Homelessness
read more06/18/2020
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center releases statement on SCOTUS’ DACA decision and rejection of the Trump administration’s racist agenda
read more
In recent years, #Florida voters have approved ballot initiatives to #RaiseTheWage, restore voting rights, and legalize medical marijuana.
Now, wealthy special interests and corrupt legislators want to undermine the Will of the People by making ballot initiatives inaccessible.
Florida House panel backs proposal limiting ballot initiatives https://cbsloc.al/3FGphqX
Missouri voters have used the people's tool to #RaiseTheWage, legalize medical marijuana, & expand #Medicaid.
There is a clear connection to ballot process attacks in states with GOP majorities where progressive policy has recently passed at the ballot.
#DefendDirectDemocracy
The proposal would raise the threshold required to pass a constitutional amendment. https://trib.al/4S9n6zt
"Will Mississippi voters — in this national environment of political distrust — accept losing their prior ability to influence their own destinies through ballot initiatives? The answer is no."
The voice of the People should not be silenced.
We must #DefendDirectDemocracy.
SALTER: Will Mississippi voters regain the ability to engage in the voter referendum process? #msleg
Just as the initial adoption of the modern initiative process was difficult, so, too, will be the “fix.”
https://yallpolitics.com/2022/01/12/salter-will-mississippi-voters-regain-the-ability-to-engage-in-the-voter-referendum-process/
Eyes on 2022:
Criminal justice reform is on the ballot in Austin, TX.
Voters will decide whether to stop enforcement of low-level marijuana offenses and end no knock warrants.
If passed, the ballot proposition would redirect resources towards real public safety solutions.
If passed, the city would eliminate "low-level" marijuana offenses and no-knock warrants. https://trib.al/9hUC6tf
Good news:
Tribal sovereignty is officially on the ballot in Alaska!
The campaign to formally recognize the government-to-government relationship between tribes in Alaska and the state has qualified for the 2022 ballot. 🗳️
#ElectionConnection
Campaign organizers have submitted 56,200 signatures in support of Alaska's tribal sovereignty ballot initiative to the Division of Elections — far more than the 36,140 required to put it before voters on the November ballot. https://on.adn.com/3FphvBE
This one is special. My first ever assistant who helped me so much when I was figuring out how to be an ED. Investing in our ppl to grow & flourish is imperative.
Proud of you!!! https://twitter.com/BallotStrategy/status/1481365768231178250
Congratulations to Eliana Ramirez-Vaughn for being promoted to Capacity Building Manager at BISC! 🎉
Eliana has been a BISCuit for three years, and we are so lucky to have her on our team!!
Learn more about Eliana through her bio: https://ballot.org/staff/eliana-ramirez/
Thanks for the spotlight! @BallotStrategy #endtheexception https://twitter.com/BallotStrategy/status/1481020778141425668
#CampaignLeaderSpotlight:
Today's spotlight goes out to Theeda Murphy, a Campaign Coordinator with @NoExceptionsPr1 — the grassroots #BallotInitiative in Nashville, TN, dedicated to transforming the social segregation of prison through advocacy.
"The GOP’s bigger project is to consolidate and wield power no matter the views of a majority of voters, which is antithetical to the entire notion of representative democracy."
We must act now to pass the #FreedomtoVoteAct and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
This week is one of most pivotal in history of American democracy. If Dems don’t pass federal legislation now to stop voter suppression, extreme gerrymandering & election subversion, GOP will make it impossible to have fair elections going forward https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/01/its-now-or-never-for-democrats-to-protect-voting-rights/
This week is one of most pivotal in history of American democracy. If Dems don’t pass federal legislation now to stop voter suppression, extreme gerrymandering & election subversion, GOP will make it impossible to have fair elections going forward https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/01/its-now-or-never-for-democrats-to-protect-voting-rights/
GOP argument against voting rights bills - “federal takeover of elections” - is same one southern segregationists made against Voting Rights Act of 1965
In the latest push to dismantle voting rights, GOP lawmakers in several states are trying to ban traditional voting machines in favor of hand-counting paper ballots, a deeply antiquated process that would inject error into our well-functioning election systems.
#DefendDemocracy
Republicans' push for handing-counting paper ballots is the latest effort to cast doubt on elections https://cnn.it/3fafa2A
Eyes on 2022 👀
Sates like MI and VT are using the power of the ballot to protect abortion access:
"We are exploring a #BallotMeasure to preserve every individual’s constitutional right to make the very personal decision about reproductive health care, including abortion."
Michigan group launches petition for ballot initiative to "explicitly affirm" abortion rights http://hill.cm/x6xSS6p