Attacks + Threats
ATTACKS ON THE BALLOT MEASURE PROCESS:
These attacks have been increasing since the 2016 election, as state lawmakers in Republican-led states want to take the tool of direct democracy away from the People. The attacks against the ballot measure process are coordinated, and they are becoming more nuanced, more sophisticated, and would have deeper impacts on the initiative process.
Now, GOP legislators are enacting legislation to make the ballot process harder to access while also engaging in direct efforts to repeal the will of the voters after ballot measures have already been passed. The Republican State Leadership Committee has asserted its determination to make sure ballot measures are no longer a viable tool for progressives.
BALLOT MEASURE THREATS ON OUR RADAR
Top 3 States to Watch:
There are a large number of direct democracy attacks in Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, and Utah. Three of the top threats BISC is tracking include:
Mississippi: The Mississippi Supreme Court struck down the state’s constitutional ballot initiative process on a technicality in order to block the state’s recently passed medical marijuana initiative, Initiative 65, which was passed by 74% of Mississippians. The state Supreme Court’s decision is one of the greatest attacks on direct democracy in American history and a major blow for democracy.
Missouri: During the 2021 legislative session, 22 threats to direct democracy were introduced by state legislators in Missouri. The Missouri legislature also passed their budget without providing funding for Medicaid Expansion, even though Missouri voters approved a ballot measure to expand Medicaid in 2020.
Arizona: Eleven bills have been introduced that seek to limit and create barriers to the ballot process in Arizona. Of those, six are still under consideration and could be referred to voters for approval. Areas of attack on the ballot measure process include: creating a single subject requirement, enacting a 60% voter approval threshold, requiring two-thirds voter approval for tax increases, and creation of legislative alteration and judicial override powers of ballot initiative passed.