These are the notable ballot measures that voters approved or rejected
Five states pass drug-related legislation. Florida voters agreed to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15, like in Connecticut.
The 2020 election included a handful of state-level ballot questions that could signal a shift in American society’s view of recreational drugs, the gig economy and other issues.
Drugs
Oregon voters approved a ballot measure that de-criminalized possession of small amounts of a number of hard drugs – namely cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and methamphetamines. They also approved Measure 110, applying the sales tax from marijuana sales to help addicts pay for rehabilitation services.
Both New Jersey and Arizona voters approved the recreational use of marijuana in-state. South Dakota approved recreational and medicinal use.
Connecticut lawmakers said that they are considering the legalization of the recreational marijuana on a regional basis now that many neighboring states have done it. Medicinal marijuana is already legal in Connecticut.
Montana has legalized marijuana as well, for adults over the age of 21. They established a 20% sales tax on the sale of recreational marijuana. However, Montana law will allow counties to ban dispensaries through a public vote.
Mississippi approved an initiative to allow for the medicinal use of marijuana for 22 different debilitating ailments.
Abortion
Two states had election day abortion-related ballot questions and they went opposite ways.
Louisiana voters agreed to add language to their state constitution saying there is no right to abortion or public funding for abortion.
Meanwhile, Colorado voters rejected a provision banning abortion in pregnancies after the 22nd week.
Connecticut has had the language of Roe v. Wade legalizing the right to an abortion written into its state constitution since 1990.
Minimum wage and labor
By a margin of 60% to 40%, Florida voters approved a measure to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by Sept. 2026. Florida’s initiative is similar to the Connecticut’s gradual wage increase legislation from May 2019. Florida’s minimum wage will increase by a dollar each year until 2026.
In California, 58 percent of voters sided with companies such as Uber and Lyft to prevent the state from enacting a local labor law that would have forced companies to provide basic benefits—such as health insurance, minimum wage, overtime and reimbursement for expenses—to independent contractors. Policymakers in other states are now expected to take up their own “gig economy” labor reforms.