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The only weekly wrap-up of ballot measure news in the progressive community.
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Challenging structural racism, Centering impacted communities, Building state-based power, Winning progressive ballot measures nationwide
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We are the progressive movement’s central repository for understanding how direct democracy is being used across the country.
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We fight the attacks meant to undermine direct democracy in the states
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Initiated Statutes and Amendments
Initiated Statutes Only
Initiated Amendments Only
News
06/24/2022
With Roe Overturned, Ballot Initiatives Provide a Path Towards Reproductive Freedom
read more05/10/2022
California, Maine, New York, and Colorado Join the List of States Working to Protect Abortion Access Through Ballot Measures
read more05/03/2022
With SCOTUS Poised to Overturn Roe, Ballot Initiatives Offer Path to Protect Abortion Access
read more04/26/2022
BISC’S ROAD AHEAD ‘22 CONFERENCE ENVISIONS A WORLD WHERE “PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER JUST SURVIVING, THEY ARE THRIVING”
read more04/08/2022
Joint Statement on the Failed Restoration of Mississippi’s Ballot Initiative Process
read more04/05/2022
ICYMI: Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Executive Director Chris Melody Fields Figueredo’s Democracy Docket Op-Ed on the Importance of Ballot Measures
read more10/14/2021
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
On July 19th from 1-5 PM ET, the Democracy Policy Network, alongside @BallotStrategy and The @RunForSomething Action Fund, is hosting one of the year's largest state policy and strategy summits for state leaders interested in deepening democracy: https://newsletter.democracypolicy.network/youre-invited-to-statehouse-futures-on-july-19th/
Check it out:
This new piece from @JennaSpinelle details how ballot initiatives give citizens the ability to harness the power of democracy.
"If organizations like BISC have anything to do with it, ballot initiatives will be an even bigger part of democracy in the future."
A new podcast series, “When the People Decide,” explore how people have used the ballot initiative to bring issues they care deeply about directly to their fellow voters. https://thefulcrum.us/Government/State/-2657592360
But Michigan, we are *still* collecting signatures! If you see one or have one and have not signed yet, sign! We need every last possible signature we can get. Let's do this! https://twitter.com/bystellayu/status/1541897101126340611
NEW: @mireprofreedom is "past the threshold" for signatures to qualify for the November ballot and is confident it'll have a "large cushion," said ACLU policy strategist Merissa Kovach.
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-abortion-ballot-issue-has-more-enough-signatures-boosters-say via @BridgeMichigan
State legislators! I'll be joining @runforsomething, @BallotStrategy, and @DemocracyPolicy for the 2022 Statehouse Futures Summit. Be sure to check out my panel, along with all the other amazing sessions they've put together. Register now!
https://hopin.com/events/statehouse-futures-22-a-progressive-policy-and-strategy-summit-for-a-new-generation-of-leaders
This November, folks will vote on more than just who will represent them. Americans will weigh in on roughly 100 ballot measures.
We talked to @BallotStrategy and @representus about what's on the ballot and how the initiative process works.
https://the1a.org/segments/1a-remaking-america-ballot-measures-and-direct-democracy/
So great to hear Corrine from @BallotStrategy on @NPR this morning!
AND @joeledman talking abt the super inspiring democracy ballot measure in Arizona! 🤩 https://twitter.com/1a/status/1542147122639912960
We're live, talking about ballot initiatives in this edition of Remaking America.
@BallotStrategy's Corrine Rivera Fowler, @joshuaglynn, @SteveHaugaard, and @joeledman are with us.
http://wamu.fm/3y3rz1t
Thank you @BallotStrategy for decades of smart thinking about #progressive #ballotmeasures and #defenseofdemocracy https://twitter.com/1a/status/1542147122639912960
We're live, talking about ballot initiatives in this edition of Remaking America.
@BallotStrategy's Corrine Rivera Fowler, @joshuaglynn, @SteveHaugaard, and @joeledman are with us.
http://wamu.fm/3y3rz1t
We're live, talking about ballot initiatives in this edition of Remaking America.
@BallotStrategy's Corrine Rivera Fowler, @joshuaglynn, @SteveHaugaard, and @joeledman are with us.
http://wamu.fm/3y3rz1t
"This is a historic year for reproductive rights on the ballot," says Corrine Rivera Fowler with @BallotStrategy
States like Kansas have initiatives to limit abortion this year, while other states like California are putting forward ballot measures to expand abortion access
Yes. We do need good new! Congrats to our Colorado partners who have worked to ensure the People approved paid leave ballot measure is protected & implemented. https://twitter.com/BallotStrategy/status/1541816095656534016
Some much needed GOOD NEWS:
The Colorado Supreme Court has upheld Proposition 118 which requires most employers to give workers 12 weeks of Paid Family and Medical Leave starting in 2024.
The #BallotInitiative was approved by voters in 2020 by nearly 60%. https://twitter.com/CPRNews/status/1539417503482380288
Some much needed GOOD NEWS:
The Colorado Supreme Court has upheld Proposition 118 which requires most employers to give workers 12 weeks of Paid Family and Medical Leave starting in 2024.
The #BallotInitiative was approved by voters in 2020 by nearly 60%.
Colorado's Supreme Court upholds the state's expanded 12 week family and medical paid-leave program set to start in 2024.
https://www.cpr.org/2022/06/21/colorado-supreme-court-upholds-expanded-paid-leave-program/
Public transit is a public good—and so many of us use public transit every day to get to our jobs, friends, families, schools, grocery stores, libraries, & more.
We need transit that's accessible, sustainable, & available.
That's what we can have with the Fair Share Amendment.
Have you listened to @PeopleDecidePod yet??
This series covers all things ballot initiatives, and E3 hones in on how conservatives in Ohio used the #BallotInitiative in the '90s to restrict #LGBTQ protections... before the community fought back with their own initiative.
Our third episode revisits two ballot initiative campaigns for #LGBTQIA rights in Cincinnati — one that took away protections in the 1990s and another that brought them back a decade later. These stories of organizing feel more relevant than ever today.
https://www.thepeopledecide.show/episodes/episode-three
6.25.22 marked 4 years at the helm of @BallotStrategy.
Last week where an unelected body made decisions out of touch with the People, made me even more committed to my vision that ballot measures become love letters that move us closer to equity, justice & liberation. 1/ https://twitter.com/BallotStrategy/status/1541480033885323266
📣 NEW PIECE FROM @FIELDSY: 📣
In honor of her 4 year BISCiversary, our fearless leader, Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, wrote a post on entering the second term of leadership, head raised, and daring to be powerful.