Voters in over three dozen states to decide nearly 150 ballot measures in 2024 midterm elections

In the November 2026 U.S. midterm elections, voters across more than three dozen states will decide on roughly 145 to 150 ballot measures, attracting over $400 million in ad spending. Key issues include a historic high of five state measures restricting transgender rights and care, conflicting abortion initiatives in Idaho and Missouri, voter ID rules, and California's Proposition 40, a novel 5% tax on billionaires opposed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

2026 midterm ballot measures

• ▪Alaskans will vote in November 2026 on whether to retain the state's ranked-choice election system amid a competitive Senate race involving Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola.
• ▪Ballot measures in California, Colorado, and Nevada in November 2026 would require mail-in voters to provide the last four digits of a government identification card.
• ▪Alabama voters will decide on a statewide ballot measure in November 2026 that would require schools to play the national anthem at least once a week.
• ▪Voters in more than three dozen states will decide roughly 145 to 150 statewide ballot measures during the November 3, 2026 U.S. midterm elections.
• ▪Montana voters will decide in November 2026 whether to bar corporations from spending money on state elections to sidestep the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling.
• ▪Ballot measures in Missouri and Maryland in November 2026 will shape future congressional redistricting and political seat balances.

Transgender athlete restrictions

• ▪Nebraska's November 2026 measure would codify its existing ban on transgender athletes competing in sports aligned with their gender identity into the state constitution.
• ▪Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, and Washington will decide on November 3, 2026 ballot measures to bar transgender girls and women from playing on all-female sports teams.
• ▪Washington state's proposed November 2026 ballot measure would require healthcare providers to verify an athlete's biological sex before joining a girls' team.
• ▪Arizona's November 2026 ballot measure would expand sports bans to private schools and mandate that school facilities match the gender on an athlete's birth certificate.

Gender-affirming care bans

• ▪Voters in five states will weigh in on transgender rights ballot measures in November 2026, representing the highest number of such initiatives in U.S. history.
• ▪Missouri's November 2026 legislative ballot measure would add an existing ban on gender-affirming medical treatment for minors to the state constitution.
• ▪Colorado voters will decide in November 2026 on a ballot measure proposing a ban on transition-related surgeries for minors.

Abortion rights initiatives

• ▪Missouri voters will consider a November 2026 measure introduced by the Republican-controlled legislature to reverse the state's 2024 vote and re-establish a ban on most abortions.
• ▪Idaho voters will decide in November 2026 whether to establish a constitutional right to abortion up to fetal viability at approximately 24 weeks.
• ▪The number of abortion-related ballot initiatives dropped significantly in 2026 compared to 2022 following post-Roe v. Wade legal adjustments by state legislatures.

Billionaire tax proposal

• ▪California Governor Gavin Newsom opposes Proposition 40, warning that the proposed billionaire tax could drive tech companies to relocate to other states.
• ▪California's Proposition 40 on the November 2026 ballot proposes a one-time 5% wealth tax on the worldwide assets of the state's roughly 250 billionaires to fund healthcare programs.

Ballot measure campaign spending

• ▪Political spending on 2026 ballot measures includes millions of dollars contributed by dark money groups representing both major political parties.
• ▪At least $400 million has been spent on television advertisements for 2026 state ballot initiatives, according to ad-tracking firm AdImpact.