The Independent View: Election Policy on 2018 Ballot

Voters will be considering or considered Ballot Measures addressing Election Policy in 14 States in 2018.

Redistricting

Ohio Issue 1, Congressional Redistricting Procedures Amendment (May 2018): The Ohio State Legislature, through a Bipartisan Vote, referred Issue 1 to the Ballot for the Election on May 8, 2018. The Measure was written to Change the Vote Requirements to Pass Congressional Redistricting Maps and the Standards used in Congressional Redistricting in Ohio. Voters Approved Issue 1.

Colorado Amendment Y, Independent Commission for Congressional Redistricting Amendment (2018): The Amendment was written to create a 12-Member Commission responsible for Approving District Maps for Colorado's Congressional Districts. Democrats and Republicans in the Colorado State Legislature Voted to Refer the Measure.

Colorado Amendment Z, Independent Commission for State Legislative Redistricting Amendment (2018): The Amendment was written to Create a 12-Member Commission responsible for Approving District Maps for Colorado's State House and State Senate. Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature Voted to Refer the Amendment.

Michigan Proposal 2, Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative (2018): The Organization Voters Not Politicians Collected more than the Required 315,654 Valid Signatures for the Initiative. The Initiative was Designed to Transfer the Power to Draw the State's Congressional and Legislative Districts from the Michigan State Legislature to an Independent Redistricting Commission.

Utah Proposition 4, Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative (2018): The Measure would Create a Seven-Member Independent Redistricting Commission to Draft Maps for Congressional and State Legislative Districts. The Committee Utahns for Responsive Government Collected more than the required 113,143 Valid Signatures to get the Initiative Certified for the Ballot.

Voting Restrictions and Ballot Access

Arkansas Issue 2, Voter ID Amendment (2018): Issue 2 was designed to Require Individuals to present a Valid Photo ID to Cast Non-Provisional Ballots in Person or Absentee. The Arkansas State Legislature referred the Measure to the Ballot, with Republicans and Four of 30 Democrats Voting to put Issue 2 on the Ballot.

Arkansas Issue 3, State Legislative Term Limits Initiative (2018): Arkansas Term Limits Collected more than the required 84,859 Valid Signatures to qualify Issue 3 for the Ballot. It would Impose Term Limits of Six years for Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives and Eight years for Members of the Arkansas Senate.

Florida Amendment 4, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative (2018): The Committee Floridians for a Fair Democracy Collected more than the required 766,200 Valid Signatures to get Amendment 4 placed on the Ballot. The Measure was designed to Automatically Restore the Right to Vote for People with Prior Felony Convictions, except those Convicted of Murder or a Felony Sexual Offense, upon Completion of their Sentences, including Prison, Parole, and Probation.

Louisiana Amendment 1, Felons Disqualified to Run for Office for Five Years Amendment (2018): This Measure was put on the Ballot by the State Legislature. Louisiana Voters Approved Amendment 9 in 1998 to Prevent Convicted Felons from Seeking or Holding Public Office for 15 years following the Completion of their Sentences. Amendment 9 was Struck Down by the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2016.

Maryland Question 2, Election-Day Voter Registration Amendment (2018): Legislative Democrats voted to Place the Amendment the Ballot. The Measure was Designed to Authorize a Process for Registering Qualified Individuals to Vote at a Precinct Polling Place on Election Day.

Michigan Proposal 3, Voting Policies in State Constitution Initiative (2018): Promote the Vote Collected more than 315,654 Valid Signatures to get the Initiative placed on the Ballot. Proposal 3 was Designed to Add several Voting Policies to the Michigan Constitution, including Straight-Ticket Voting, Automatic Voter Registration, No-Excuse Absentee Voting, and Same-Day Voter Registration.

Montana LR-129, Ballot Collection Measure (2018): The Montana State Legislature Voted to place the Measure on the Ballot, through the Support of 80 of 91 Republicans and One of 59 Democrats. The Measure was written to Ban Persons from Collecting the Election Ballots of other People, with Exceptions for certain Individuals.

Nevada Question 5, Automatic Voter Registration via DMV Initiative (2018): The Measure was Designed to provide for the Automatic Voter Registration of Eligible Citizens when receiving certain Services from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The Nevada Election Administration Committee, a Project of iVote, collected more than the required 55,234 Valid Signatures to get Question 5 placed on the Ballot.

North Dakota Measure 2, Citizen Requirement for Voting Amendment Initiative (2018): North Dakotans for Citizen Voting Collected more than the required 26,904 Valid Signatures to Qualify this Initiative for the Ballot. The Measure was Designed to Clarify that only a U.S. Citizen can Vote in Federal, State, and Local Elections in North Dakota.

In the Future, All States will not need this type of Initiative. For Security, all Driving Licenses and State ID Cards will require Proof of Citizenship, not just an Affidavit Signature.

Campaign Finance, Political Spending, and Ethics

Colorado Amendment 75, Campaign Contribution Limits Initiative (2018): Proponents Collected more than the required 136,328 Valid Signatures and met the State's Distribution Requirement to Qualify this Initiative for the Ballot. The Measure would Establish that if Any Candidate for State Office Directs, by Loan or Contribution, more than One Million Dollars in Support of His or Her Own Campaign, then every Candidate for the Same Office in the Same Primary or General Election may Accept Five Times the Aggregate Amount of Campaign Contributions normally Allowed.

Massachusetts Question 2, Advisory Commission for Amendments to the U.S. Constitution Regarding Corporate Personhood and Political Spending Initiative (2018): This Citizen Initiative was Designed to Establish a 15-Member Citizens' Commission to Advocate for certain Amendments to the United States Constitution regarding Political Spending and Corporate Personhood.

North Dakota Measure 1, Ethics Commission, Foreign Political Contribution Ban, and Conflicts of Interest Initiative (2018): North Dakotans for Public Integrity Collected more than the required 26,904 Valid Signatures to Qualify this Initiative for the Ballot. Measure 1 would Establish an Ethics Commission, Ban Foreign Political Contributions, and Enact Provisions related to Lobbying and Conflicts of Interest.

South Dakota Constitutional Amendment W, State Campaign Finance and Lobbying Laws, Government Accountability Board, and Initiative Process Amendment (2018): The Committee Represent South Dakota Collected more than the required 27,741 Valid Signatures to get the Initiative Certified for the Ballot. The Measure was Designed to Revise Campaign Finance and Lobbying Laws, create a Government Accountability Board, and Enact New Laws Governing the Initiative and Referendum Process.

South Dakota Initiated Measure 24, Ban Out-of-State Contributions to Ballot Question Committees Initiative (2018): This Citizen Initiative would Ban Out-of-State Contributions to Committees Supporting or Opposing Ballot Measures within South Dakota. Rep. Mark Mickelson (R-13 district), Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives, Sponsored the Initiative.