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Voters to Decide On 133 Ballot Measures This November

Media Alert

October 24, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Without a presidential contest, the 2022 elections put states front and center. Voters across the nation will decide on a range of closely watched issues via ballot measures, including abortion, recreational marijuana and election administration.

On Nov. 8, voters in 46 states will decide on 133 ballot measures and choose 6,279 state legislators and 36 governors. Earlier this year, voters weighed in on five measures, and Louisianans will see three more in December, bringing the total number of ballot measures this year to 141.

With 104 legislative referrals in 35 states and 29 citizen initiatives in 12 states and Washington, D.C., these are a few ballot measures to keep on the radar in November:

  • In the wake of the Supreme Court’s overruling of Roe v. Wade, voters will decide on six ballot measures related to abortion—the most ever in a single year. 
  • Voters in five states—Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota—will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana. 
  • Property taxes are by far the most common type of tax measure on voters’ ballots this year, and most are exemptions or reductions, such as those in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas and West Virginia.
  • At least 12 measures—far more than in most years—relate to legislatures and legislators. Lawmakers in Arkansas, Idaho and Kentucky are all seeking permission from voters to call themselves into special session, rather than relying on the call to come from the governor. 
  • Alabama voters will decide whether local governments can use American Rescue Plan Act funds for broadband internet infrastructure, while New Mexico voters will decide whether to authorize the Legislature to provide funds for household services infrastructure. 
  • At least 12 measures relate to elections, on topics ranging from ID requirements to early in-person voting to ranked choice voting and more. 

For more information on ballot measures, see NCSL’s Statewide Ballot Measure Database, with new measures added as they are certified and identified by NCSL’s elections team. The database includes measures from the late 1800s through the present. 

Additionally, NCSL’s elections team has created State Elections 2022, a comprehensive resource providing nonpartisan election analysis.


NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.

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