Although for the by-elections which were held on Tuesday at USA headlines monopolize the congressmen, senators and governors who faced each otherAmericans also participated in the not inconsiderable number of approx 100 referendumswhich, although they have not received as much media coverage, can potentially transform their daily lives.
Among these referendums, the ones that garnered the most attention were, as expected, associated with the abortion. These yielded a series of victories for supporters of the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy.
California, Vermont, and Michigan accepted to amend their state Constitutions to enshrine this right to abortion.
Also, although not expected, voters in the conservative state of Kentucky rejected an anti-abortion proposal, and those in Montana appear to have followed suit, according to provisional results.
The issue of medical costs has also been the subject of referendums in this country known for its high prices.
In South Dakota, although Republican, it voted by a large majority to expand access to Medicaid, the health insurance provided by the state to people with low incomes.
Arizona also appears to be on track to pass legislation limiting medical debt, according to preliminary results.
Work
Another crucial issue of these referendums was, as reported by APE-MPE, the work. More than 150 years after it was repealed by the 13th amendment, voters in 5 states were asked to decide on an exemption that is still in effect in much of the country: the forced labor of prisoners.
Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont prohibited “servitude” or “indentured servitude” as punishment for crimes or to pay debts and fines.
These votes will not automatically lead to a change in this status for the prisoners, but they could pave the way for legal proceedings.
Only Louisiana rejected this proposal. However, the text put to the referendum was controversial, as it was deemed too complicated.
About 20 US states still allow this type of forced labor.
Electoral system
Tuesday’s referendums also highlighted the tension about them voting rules. Accusations of fraud – which authorities have dismissed – have been back and forth among the Republican base, particularly in the key state of Arizona.
Several referendums, some of which have their roots in contesting the 2020 presidential election result, have also aimed to change the rules surrounding the election.
Connecticut, one of the few states that has yet to approve early voting, has paved the way for its implementation.
Michigan also voted to loosen the rules on this process, while Nebraska voted to tighten the ID verification process by requiring a photo ID.
Source: News Beast
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
