Voters across Nevada, Connecticut, Michigan, Arizona, Nebraska and Ohio Tuesday voted on whether to expand or restrict voter access to election procedures. Some of the issues addressed in the proposed ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments paralleled issues in the over 100 lawsuits filed leading up to Election Day.
In Nevada, with approximately 77 percent of the vote recorded, it appears voters chose to amend the state’s constitution to allow open primary elections and rank-choice voting. Ballot Question Number 3 asked voters whether they approved or disapproved of an amendment permitting “voters the right to participate in open primary elections to choose candidate for the general election in which all voters may then rank the remaining candidates by preference.” If the “yes” vote continues to lead, Nevada is poised to shift away from its current closed primary, plurality-wins procedures.
Connecticut voters also voted to amend their state’s constitution to allow for early voting. Ballot Question Number 1 asked voters to consider whether the state should allow voters to cast their ballot in person, before Election Day. As it stands right now, Connecticut does not permit early, in-person voting. Votes in favor of the amendment drastically outnumber those against.
In Michigan, voters chose to expand voter access to fund ballot drop boxes and early, in-person voting. Michiganers voted on Proposal 2 to amend the state constitution to include, among other things, “state-funded absentee-ballot drop boxes, and postage for absentee applications and ballots” as well as “nine days of early, in-person voting.” Votes in favor of the amendment outnumber those against nearly two to one.
Though there are still unreported votes, Arizona appears poised to reject a law requiring voters to show identification before casting a ballot. Those against the proposed law, contained in Proposition 309, narrowly lead those in favor. Proposition 309 asked voters to consider whether Arizona law should be amended to require voters to write their birthdate, government issued identification number and a signature on early ballot affidavits and tom require photo identification to vote in person.
Nebraska voters considered amending the state constitution to require “in any election, a qualified voter [to] present valid photographic identification in a manner specified by the Legislature.” Voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of the amendment contained in Initiative 432, which threatens to restrict voter access.
On the ballot in Ohio, Issue 2 offered voters the option institute citizenship requirements to cast a ballot. Specifically, voters were asked whether they wanted to amend the state’s constitution to “[r]equire that only a citizen of the United States, who is at least 18 years of age and who has been a legal resident and registered voter for at least 30 days, can vote at any state or local election.” Issue 2 also offered to amend the state constitution to “[p]rohibit local governments from allowing a person to vote in local elections if they are not legally qualified to vote in state elections.” Ohio voters voted in favor of Issue 2, meaning there are now greater citizenship requirements to participate in Ohio elections.
