Voters back abortion protections and election rules in state ballot measures

Voters protected abortion access in three states Tuesday while approving a series of voter identification and citizenship measures, as ballots across the country put tax policy, congressional maps and transgender rights directly before the public.

Voters considered 146 statewide measures across 39 states, Washington, D.C., and the Northern Mariana Islands, according to NPR. Some closely watched contests remained unresolved Wednesday, including a proposed tax on California billionaires.

Abortion rights measures passed in Nevada and Virginia. Nevada voters approved a constitutional protection for abortion through fetal viability for the second consecutive general election, satisfying a state requirement for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. Virginia voters approved a constitutional “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” that, NPR reported, includes abortion during the first two trimesters and in certain later cases, along with contraception, fertility and postpartum care.

Missouri voters rejected a Republican-backed effort to remove abortion protections from the state constitution. Voters had added protections through fetal viability in 2024. Idaho, where abortion is almost completely banned, rejected a measure that would have created a statutory right to abortion through fetal viability. NBC News reported that the Nevada and Virginia measures each passed by at least 24 percentage points.

Election rules also drew broad support. Voters in Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia approved constitutional amendments affirming that only U.S. citizens can vote in their elections. Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio passed measures adding photo identification requirements for in-person voting to their constitutions. NPR reported that California rejected a voter identification measure, while Massachusetts voters rejected a proposal to replace party primaries with an all-party primary advancing the top two candidates.

Virginia approved automatic restoration of voting rights for people convicted of felonies after they complete their sentences, according to NPR. Missouri voters blocked a Republican-drawn congressional map that sought to split one of the state’s two Democratic-held districts. Maryland approved an amendment that could allow Democrats to redraw its congressional map.

Results on transgender rights varied. Arizona approved a measure requiring school sports and intramural teams to be designated male, female or coed based on athletes’ sex assigned at birth, NBC News reported. NPR also described Arizona’s measure as restricting access to facilities, including restrooms and locker rooms, on that basis. Colorado passed measures restricting transgender children’s access to school sports and gender-affirming care, according to NPR. A Washington state measure concerning transgender students in girls’ sports was still leading Wednesday.

Virginia approved an amendment removing its constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and recognizing marriage between two adults regardless of sex, gender or race. Vermont voted to add constitutional equal-protection language covering categories including sexual orientation and gender identity, NPR reported.

On taxes, Washington voters rejected a measure to repeal a 9.9% tax on annual income above $1 million. California’s proposed one-time 5% tax on people with assets exceeding $1 billion remained undecided Wednesday; NBC News reported it was trailing by 11 points with 60% of the expected vote counted. NPR reported that Florida voters approved a property tax cut for homeowners, while North Carolina approved a 3.5% cap on the maximum personal income tax.

Massachusetts voters kept a 2024 law tightening firearm regulations. Local votes also showed opposition to data centers: NPR reported that jurisdictions in 10 states approved restrictions, while voters in Harwood, North Dakota, declined to restrict industrial projects, including data centers.