As 2023 coincides neither with the calendar for regular federal elections nor with most elections for state offices (save for Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia), most 2023 ballot measures either coincided with municipal or judicial elections or were held on separate dates as the sole questions on the ballot. With 47 ballot measures sent to the statewide ballot in multiple states, 2023 had the highest number of statewide ballot measures approved for the ballot in an odd-year election since 2007, when 45 measures (four citizen initiatives, 41 legislative referrals) were certified for statewide ballots. Ballot measures were also held at the local and tribal level.
Legislatively-referred amendment:2023 Colorado Proposition HH, which would make several alterations to Colorado’s tax laws, including reduction of property tax rates. The measure was defeated.
2023 Maine Question 1, which would require voter approval before any state agencies, municipal electric districts, electrification cooperatives, or consumer-owned transmission utilities could assume more than $1 billion in debt. The state treasurer would be required to present an estimated cost of the debt increase with the ballot measure. The measure was approved.
Legislatively-referred amendment:August 2023 Ohio Issue 1, which would raise the threshold for ballot measures to amend the state constitution, requiring petition signatures from all 88 counties in the state instead of the current 44, removing a 10-day period for curing of petition signatures, and increasing the electoral threshold for passage from 50% to 60%. The measure was defeated.[2]
Citizen-initiated statute:2023 Oklahoma State Question 820, which would legalize the use of cannabis for recreational purposes for adults 21 years old and older. The measure was defeated.[3]
Legislatively-referred amendment:2023 Wisconsin Question 1, which would raise the conditions necessary for release, removing the word "bodily" from the phrase "All persons, before conviction, shall be eligible for release under reasonable conditions designed to ... protect members of the community from serious bodily harm". The measure was approved.
Legislatively-referred amendment:2023 Wisconsin Question 2, would insert an additional paragraph allowing judges wider latitude for when to apply cash bail for people accused of violent crimes. The measure was approved.
Legislatively-referred advisory question:2023 Wisconsin Question 3, which asks the question: "Shall able-bodied, childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits?” The measure was approved.[4]
