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The big ticket on Election Day was obviously the presidential race, but Americans were voting for more than the chance to see their guy in the Oval Office. Many states had important measures on the ballot as well, running the gamut from the legalization of marijuana to raising the minimum wage.
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People in four states were given a chance to have their voices heard on the legalization of cannabis use. Arizona and New Jersy both approved the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. South Dakota voters approved both recreational and medical use.
Montana voted to allow recreational use and set the legal age for cannabis consumption at 21. And Mississippi approved marijuana for medical purposes.
After last night's victories, 15 states have now legalized marijuana for adults and 36 states have legalized medical marijuana!
— Marijuana Policy Project (@MarijuanaPolicy) November 4, 2020
Oregon voters also had a drug-related measure on their ballot: decriminalizing possession of cocaine and heroin in small amounts. They became the first state to approve this type of measure.
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Down in Florida, voters were given a choice to raise the minimum wage, and they achieved the 60% needed to get it to pass. This new measure will increase the current minimum wage of $8.56 to $15 over the course of the next six years.
Proposition 22 was on the ballot in California. Gig companies like Uber and Doordash were fighting to keep their app-based workers categorized as independent contractors. Prop 22, the “costliest” ballot measure in the state’s history, passed.
Prop 22 passes in California…. if you aren’t aware about how insanely horrible this is, let this video enlighten you (and then make u angry that they’re gonna try it in other states) pic.twitter.com/1rdhqpSeve
— sievs (@mr_sievey) November 4, 2020
In Colorado, voters elected to establish a paid family leave program — the most expansive in the country.
Flickr / Lorie Shaull
Another Colorado ballot measure — rejected for the fourth time since 2008 — was a ban on abortions at/after 22 weeks. This measure would have included fines for doctors and criminal penalties for mothers.
Some good news…the 20 week abortion ban in Colorado (which was really only targeting one of the few late term abortion providers) was voted down by a huge margin-60-40!
— Kaitlyn Greenidge (@surlybassey) November 4, 2020
While Colorado voters protected reproductive freedoms, those down in Lousiana chipped away at them. Voters in the state passed an amendment to their state constitution to “clarify that nothing in it protects the right to abortion” care.
Flickr / Tony Webster
In Utah and Nebraska, voters approved measures to amend their constitutions and remove referencing slavery. While both states have officially banned slavery in the past, their constitutions still technically allowed it as “punishment for a crime.”
Mississippi voters approved a new state flag with a magnolia designed by Rocky Vaughan as a replacement for the Confederate battle flag previously in use.
A great day for the state of Mississippi. pic.twitter.com/m3yHj3Bgak
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 4, 2020
Unknown to many, the official name of Rhode Island was actually “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations”, and voters in the state approved the measure to cut Providence Plantations part as it carries a “horrific connotation.” This measure failed when it was first voted on in 2010.
Did anyone outside of Rhode Island know this?
— Spencer Dean (@thespencerdean) November 4, 2020
Three states were asking voters to change up the language in their constitutions, specifying that “only” citizens are allowed to vote. Alabama, Colorado, and Florida approved the measure.
