Voters weighed in on 146 statewide ballot measures in dozens of states.
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Mario Tama/Getty Images
Tuesday’s midterm elections were, among other things, a huge success for Democrats.
And in 39 states — plus Washington, D.C. and the Northern Mariana Islands — voters weighed in on 146 statewide ballot measures covering issues ranging from taxes and transgender rights to traffic cameras, data centers and AI.
Here’s a look at some of those results.
Three states have decided to preserve access to abortion
US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, leaving the legality and regulation of abortion to each state. In subsequent elections, more than a dozen states put abortion access on their ballots — and overwhelmingly took steps to ensure it.
This year, four states considered anti-abortion measures. Three passed, while Idaho voted to maintain the state’s abortion ban starting in 2022.
In Missouri, voters rejected a Republican amendment that would have banned abortion with few exceptions. The move confirms support for abortion just two years after voters mobilized to reject Missouri’s ban, which was one of the strictest in the nation.
Nevada residents voted to enshrine abortion in their constitution until it is viable. They did so for the second election in a row, since state law requires a proposed constitutional amendment to pass twice.
Virginians voted to create a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” in their constitution. This includes the right to abortion during the first two trimesters (and after in some cases), as well as the right to contraception, fertility, postpartum care and much more.
States voted by voting
Many states have considered changing the way they run their elections.
It was too early to tell Wednesday afternoon whether voters had approved some of the more ambitious changes, in Alaska and Arizona.
Other states, including Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio, have passed measures strengthening voter ID requirements, while California voted against such an effort.
Several states — including Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia — have approved measures strengthening the U.S. citizenship requirement to vote in their elections.
Redistricting was also a priority for voters. President Trump launched a redistricting race earlier this year by urging Republican-led states to redraw their districts before the midterm elections. Republicans and Democrats in several states did so. But many of the districts changed to boost GOP prospects ultimately went to Democratic candidates.
Missouri voters rejected a Republican-leaning congressional map, while Maryland voters passed a redistricting amendment that could pave the way for a Democratic-leaning map in 2028.
Virginians passed a measure automatically restoring voting rights to anyone convicted of a crime once they have served their sentence.
A mixed bag for LGBTQ rights
Virginians also passed a constitutional amendment officially repealing the ban on same-sex marriage and adding language confirming that the Commonwealth will recognize marriage between two adults regardless of sex, gender or race.
Virginia’s ban has been moot since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015, but the measure is seen as a safeguard just in case. Oberfell v. Hodges is annulled (as some feared following the court’s annulment of Roe v. Wade). Other states have taken similar steps, including Colorado and California in 2024.
Vermont voted overwhelmingly to add an amendment to its constitution guaranteeing equal protection under the law based on “race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin.”
A number of states have considered measures restricting transgender children’s access to school sports teams and gender-affirming care, with Colorado having adopted both.. A Washington state measure to ban transgender students from girls’ school sports competitions was still in effect Wednesday.
Arizona passed a proposal requiring schools and athletic associations to prohibit students, athletes and employees from using facilities — including restrooms, locker rooms and other private spaces — that are not designated for their sex assigned at birth. Arizona law already prohibits trans girls from playing on all-girls school sports teams, and this measure would extend that ban to recreational organizations like Little League.
Taxes and government spending under debate
One of the highest-profile ballot measures asked Floridians to consider cutting property taxes for homeowners, which critics say would deprive local governments of billions of dollars in revenue from much-needed public services like food banks, libraries, transportation and infrastructure. Voters overwhelmingly adopted the amendment.
In California, voters debated whether to approve a one-time 5 percent tax on people with more than $1 billion in assets, with most of the money collected going to health care. The fight against the ballot measure was one of the costliest in state history. The contest is too close to call Wednesday afternoon.
Tennessee voters approved a constitutional amendment barring its government from levying a statewide property tax, which it has not collected since 1949. Arizona voters passed a measure that bars cities and towns from raising taxes on groceries until July 2027. North Carolinians approved an amendment to cap the maximum personal income tax at 3.5 percent.
Washington voters have been considering whether to repeal the income tax on individuals and households earning more than $1 million, which is set to take effect in 2028. Early results indicate they want to keep the tax.
A pair of measures at odds with gun voting
Massachusetts voted to uphold a 2024 law tightening gun regulations. The law made Massachusetts’ gun control measures among the strictest in the nation, as it also required “ghost guns” to have a serial number, expanded the definition of “assault-style firearm,” and expanded the state’s alarm laws.
Meanwhile, in Idaho, a vote asked voters to help them choose the state’s official weapon from six different makes and models. The Winchester Model 1873 — aka the “gun that won the West” — is leading in polls Wednesday, although the state Legislature is expected to pass a separate law to make the winner official.
Data Center Ballot Initiatives
At least 38 jurisdictions have voted on the sprawling facilities needed to power AI, and Tuesday revealed how many voters don’t like them. Jurisdictions in California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin voted to restrict data centers.
Of those, at least 12 localities voted to limit the size of data centers, while six others voted to halt development and ban construction of all facilities. according to data centers on the ballot.
The only community that supported data centers was in Harwood, North Dakota, where 75% of voters did not want to place restrictions on industrial projects, including data centers.
Ohio, one of the states on the front lines on the issue, has had 21 ballot measures mentioning data centers. Voters decided to restrict AI facilities: Trenton, Ohio, voted to ban data centers larger than 25 megawatts, while Hubbard decided to ban the construction of data centers of any size, including the conversion of existing buildings. Ohio voters also rejected rezoning rural residential areas to light industrial for data center use.
Candidates spent as much as $40 million on data center ads this election cycle. They have been a contentious issue in many statewide elections, as 77% of Americans say they are concerned about rising electricity costs in data centers, according to one report. June Reuters/Ipsos poll. The poll also shows that two-thirds of Democrats and half of Republicans said they would oppose a data center in their community.
Other honorable mentions
Alabama voters passed ballot measures requiring local school boards to adopt policies directing K-12 public schools to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and, separately, play or perform the first verse of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at least once a week during school hours.
In Arizona, voters passed a measure prohibiting the state from installing and using photographic surveillance systems (like speed cameras and red light cameras) to stop people who violate certain traffic ordinances.
Residents of Washington, D.C., had only one ballot initiative to consider: banning the controversial duck or goose liver dish known as foie gras. The debate has gone viral in recent days, sparking a slew of Halloween costumes, a four-course restaurant tasting menu and public appearances by a real duck named Olivia. DC voted overwhelmingly to ban the force-feeding of birds to enlarge their livers, as well as the sale of the treat itself. Nationwide, voters in Denver approved a similar measure.
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