OVERVIEW: BALLOT MEASURE PROGRESS
Despite heightened tactics and attacks against ballot measures, communities across the country are coming together to pass key ballot measures that transform their communities and empower people to thrive.
Progressive policies are passing at the ballot in states such as Arizona, Ohio, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, and Florida. Through the power of direct democracy, the people are transforming power, advancing racial equity, and galvanizing a new progressive base.
Through ballot initiatives, citizens have passed policies such as:
- Reproductive rights restoration, protection, and expansion
- Medicaid expansion
- Minimum wage increases
- Legalization and decriminalization of marijuana and psychedelics
- Paid sick leave
- Restoration of voting rights
- Removal of slavery from state constitutions
- Gun safety reform
- Tax reform
RECENT VICTORIES & PROGRESS:
What happened in the 2025 election?
Maine Question 1: Absentee Voting Restrictions and Voter ID Requirement [FAILED]: Mainers have soundly defeated a deceptive attack on the state’s popular absentee voting system that would have affected countless rural voters, seniors, shiftworkers, students, voters with disabilities, and more. Deceptively marketed as a voter ID measure, the initiative also contained a slate of restrictions including a ban on ongoing absentee voting registration, the elimination of two days of early absentee voting, and a reduction in the number of secure ballot drop boxes. Question 1’s defeat is a resounding victory for voting rights and marks the first time a proposed voter ID requirement has been defeated in over 10 years.
Maine Question 2: Extreme Risk Protection Order Act [PASSED]: With the passage of Question 2, courts will now have the option to temporarily prohibit a person from possessing dangerous weapons if their family, roommates, or law enforcement feel that person poses a threat to themselves or others. Opposed by gun rights groups, the ‘red flag’ proposal was championed by families of Lewiston shooting victims who said the current ‘yellow flag’ law failed to prevent the tragedy.
Colorado Proposition LL: Allow State to Retain Revenue from Proposition FF for Healthy School Meals for All Program Measure [PASSED]: Voters have approved the legislatively-referred measure that will allow the state to keep excess tax revenue collected using 2022’s Prop. FF in order to invest that money in free school meals for children and teens. About $11 million will now be funneled to the Healthy School Meals for All program, which can save a family as much as $1,250 per child per year.
Colorado Proposition MM: Reduce State Income Tax Deductions and Allocate Revenue to School Meals and SNAP Measure [PASSED]: Prop. MM’s victory is an important win for Coloradans amid federal attacks on anti-hunger programs. The voter-approved measure will increase taxes on wealthier Coloradans, raising an additional $95 million for the Healthy School Meals for All program, increased wages for cafeteria workers, and grants for schools to purchase locally grown food. Any excess money raised would then be used to fill gaps in SNAP benefits, ensuring that low-income families can continue to access healthy food amid politically-motivated cuts to the program.
What does that tell us?
Ballot measures transcend party lines and often receive higher vote percentages than candidates. We see voters supporting progressive policies even when they voted for conservative politicians. Ballot measures are a tried and true way of bypassing partisan politics and turning people power into policies that transcend divides and improve lives. This truly speaks to the unifying power of ballot measures.
Ballot measures pave the way forward. We know progressive issues transcend party lines and we believe it will help us build a new progressive base. We can deliver for our people.
Who made these wins possible?
These victories belong to our amazing partners and organizers who have worked so hard for so long in vulnerable communities and districts ensuring that their voices are heard and uplifted, when many others had long dismissed them. Their incredible work and perseverance changed the trajectory of this election and we have them to thank.
BISC has been organizing and on the ground with so many of these campaigns FOR YEARS, building deep relationships with campaign leaders, providing training, and ensuring that campaigns were being supported not only during election season but throughout the 360 ballot measure campaign lifecycle. We also know that we can run equitable campaigns AND win – THEY proved BISC’s theory of change. Congrats to our partners who have worked so hard to make ballot measures love letters to our people.
What’s next?
As we move forward, our work is clear. We must:
- Defend direct democracy and the Will of the People.
- Implement voter-approved initiatives.
- Build off these victories as we move towards equity, justice, and freedom for all.
Together, we will ensure the Will of the People prevails.