Seven Key Ballot Measures to Watch on 2025 Election Day

Key Ballot Measures to Watch in the Upcoming Election

As the nation focuses on major states like New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City ahead of Election Day, several other states are also considering significant ballot measures that could impact their residents. These measures cover a range of issues, including gun control, elections, redistricting, and food assistance. Here's a closer look at some of the key ballot measures voters will decide on this Tuesday.

Maine: Questions 1 and 2

Maine Question 1 addresses changes to absentee voting and voter ID requirements. The proposed measure aims to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, and end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities. It would also ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo IDs before voting, and make other changes to election laws.

If passed, this measure would require voters to present qualifying photo identification when casting a ballot. Additionally, voters would need to provide their driver’s license number or a photocopy of their ID when applying for an absentee ballot. This would end the practice of automatically mailing absentee ballots to disabled voters and residents aged 65 and older each election. It would also stop the ability to request absentee ballots over the phone or for family members to do so on behalf of someone else.

Other provisions include limiting municipalities to one ballot drop box, reducing absentee balloting by two days, and requiring a bipartisan team to retrieve ballots from drop boxes daily. The measure would also prohibit towns from including prepaid postage on ballot return envelopes.

Maine Question 2 introduces a "red flag" gun control measure that allows family members to petition a judge directly without involving the police to temporarily remove guns from someone in their household who is deemed a "significant danger" to themselves or others. This measure would expand access to temporary gun removal beyond what is currently allowed under Maine's yellow flag law, which requires police involvement.

Colorado: Propositions LL and MM

Proposition LL is designed to help fund the Healthy School Meals for All Program, which provides free school meals to all students. This initiative was established through Proposition FF in 2022, which reduced tax deductions for Coloradans earning $300,000 or more. However, the program has faced recurring budget shortfalls of at least $50 million.

Proposition LL would allow the state to retain tax dollars collected under Proposition FF that exceed the original funding projections. It would also permit Colorado to continue collecting revenue beyond the original projection. If passed, this would enable the state to keep excess funds to support the school meal program instead of returning them to residents as per the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights.

Proposition MM would impose a tax hike on high-income households, generating approximately $95 million to sustain the Healthy School Meals for All program. It would further limit federal deductions that can be applied to Colorado taxable income, restricting it to $1,000 for individual filers with incomes above $300,000. For joint filers with more than $300,000 in household income, the deduction limit would drop from $16,000 to $2,000. State analysts estimate that about 200,000 households, or 6% of Colorado households, would pay the increased tax.

Texas: Propositions 15 and 16

Proposition 15 seeks to reinforce parental rights by adding language to the Texas Constitution that affirms parents as the primary decision-makers for their children. This measure would add Section 37 to Article 1 of the Texas Constitution, stating that parents have the responsibility to nurture and protect their children and the corresponding right to make decisions regarding their upbringing.

Proposition 16 clarifies that only U.S. citizens can participate in elections in Texas. Proponents argue that this makes it more difficult to allow noncitizen voting in the future, as any attempt would require a constitutional amendment rather than a simple statute. The measure would add language to the Texas Constitution stating that noncitizens cannot vote in the state. While noncitizens are already prohibited from voting in federal elections, there is no federal restriction on their participation in local elections.

California: Proposition 50

Proposition 50 focuses on redistricting efforts aimed at increasing Democratic representation in the House of Representatives. If approved, California would adopt a map drawn by the state legislature, which would redraw congressional district lines for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections.

This measure, supported by Governor Gavin Newsom, would shift five Republican-held House districts into areas more favorable to Democrats. These districts are represented by Reps. Kevin Kiley, Doug LaMalfa, Darrell Issa, Ken Calvert, and David Valadao. The new map would likely impact the balance of power in the state's congressional delegation.