Key Ballot Measures to Watch in 2026

Here are some of the Key Ballot Measures for 2026.

Abortion:

Missouri: Voters will decide whether to Repeal the Right to an Abortion from their Constitution. In 2024, a Measure was Added to the State’s Constitution, Affirming the Fundamental Right to an Abortion through Fetal Viability, Narrowly Passing with 51.6% Support. Amendment 3, Proposed by the Missouri General Assembly, Allows for Abortion only in Cases of Medical Emergencies of Rape or Incest, an Abortion may be Performed or Induced at No Later than 12 weeks Gestation. The Initiative also would Allow for Missouri to Regulate Abortions, Abortion Facilities, and Abortion Providers, require Parental Consent for Minors who Wish to have an Abortion, and Prohibit Public Funds from Paying for Abortion procedures, Except in the aforementioned Cases.

Nevada: Voters will Decide whether to Enshrine a Woman’s Fundamental Right to an Abortion until Fetal Viability in the State’s Constitution. In 2024, over 60% of Voters in the State Supported the Measure, which Requires Passage in Two Successive Elections to be Added to the Constitution.

Idaho and Virginia: Petitions to Add Abortion Rights Measures to the Ballot are Circulating.

Oregon: a Measure that would Amend the State Constitution to Note that Women cannot be Discriminated against on the Basis of Pregnancy Ooutcomes, and Related Health Decisions is garnering Signatures.

Roe v. Wade: Since the Supreme Court Overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, and Ended the Federal Constitutional Right to an Abortion, Voters in various States have decided on Abortion related Measures. In 2024, Seven out of 10 States Passed Measures supporting Abortion Rights. Expect more States to address this in 2026.

Agriculture:

Florida: Voters will Decide whether Agricultural Equipment Owned by a Farm Owner or Lease Holder is Exempt from Property Taxes. The Initiative was Added to the Bballot by the Florida Legislature in June. Property Taxes are Assessed by Local Governments. Voting “Yes” on the Measure would Support Exempting Farming Equipment from Property Taxes, while Voting “No” would Support Keeping the Status Quo. As of 2024, there were roughly 44,400 Commercial Farms in Florida spanning 9.7 million Acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Georgia: Will Decide on whether to Raise the Maximum Acreage of Agricultural and Timber Land that can be Classified for Conservation use from 2,000 to 4,000 acres. Land Designated for Conservation use, which must be Maintained as such for at least 10 years, is Taxed at 40% of its Market Value, as Opposed to Residential or Commercial Properties, which are Taxed at their Full Mmarket Value. From 2017 to 2022, the Number of Commercial Farms Spanning more than 2,000 Acres Increased by nearly 22% in the Peach State, according to the USDA.

Drugs:

Idaho: A Pair of Ballot Initiatives on Marijuana are Circulating for Signatures in Idaho. One concerns Decriminalizing Marijuana while another Proposes Legalizing Medical Marijuana. Signatures for the Petitions are Due by May 1st, 2026, with 70,725 Signatures, 6% of the Number of Registered Voters in the 2024 Election to be on the Ballot.

Nebraska: Voters Legalized Medical Marijuana in 2024 with over 70% Support, a Petition on Legalizing Recreational Cannabis for Individuals ages 21 and Older is Circulating.

Transgender Rights:

Colorado: A Measure, Aapplying only to Participation in Athletics, is Circulating for Signatures. A Ballot Measure proposing a Ban on Sex-Change Surgeries for Children under 18 is Circulating. The Measure also Calls for Prohibiting State or Federal Funds, Medicaid Reimbursements, or Insurance Coverage from Paying for such Procedures. To Add their Measures to the Ballot, Petitioners must Submit at least 124,238 Valid Signatures, 5% of the Total Voter Count in the 2022 Election of Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D), to Her Office by Aug. 3d, 2026.

Maine: A Ballot Measure that Proposes requiring Public Schools to Restrict Participation on Gendered Sports Teams to Individuals whose Sex at Birth Matches the Team’s Designation is also gathering Signatures. If the Measure is Added to the Ballot and Passes, those Born Male and Female could only Play on Girls and Boys Sports Teams, Respectively, although Girls could join a Boys Team if No Girls Team is Offered in that Sport. Additionally, Students in Public Schools would have to Use Restrooms, Locker Rooms, and Other Private Spaces Designated for their Birth Sex.

Missour: If Amendment 3 Passes, Gender Transition Surgeries and the Prescription of Cross-Sex Hormones and Puberty-Blockers for Children under the age of 18 will also be Banned. The Restrictions would Not Apply to the Use of such Surgeries, Drugs, or Hormones, to Treat Children Born with a “medically verifiable disorder of sex development,” or to Treat Diseases Unrelated to a Gender Transition.

Changes to Threshold for Passing Amendments:

While most States require a Simple Majority for Voters to Pass Constitutional Amendments, the following states have Changes.

Florida and New Hampshire, require Supermajority. Multiple States could Join them after November 2025.

California: Voters will Decide on a Measure, Referred by the State Legislature, that would Require Initiatives. that a Constitutional Amendment must Pass via Supermajority. A Measure Proposing that Constitutional Amendments garner 60% Backing, from at least Six in 10 Voters.

In North and South Dakota, Measures that Propose Increasing the Threshold for Passing Constitutional Amendments from 50% plus One Vote, to 60% are on the Ballot. A “Yes” Vote Supports requiring a Supermajority, while a “No” Vote backs Keeping a Simple Majority Threshold. Both Initiatives were Added to the Ballot by the Neighboring States’ Respective Llegislatures.

Utah: Voters will decide whether to Increase the Threshold needed to Pass Ballot Measures on Imposing, Expanding, Increasing or Adjusting Taxes from a Simple Majority to 60%. The Initiative, also Backed by the State Legislature, does Not Apply to Laws Passed by Two-Thirds Majorities of the Utah Senate and House, as those are Not Subject to Ballot Initiatives.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker