Media Releases

"We are seeing a real-time backlash from politicians who are unhappy with voters using ballot measures to pass progressive legislation around the country."

Millions of voters in dozens of states will vote on issues directly when they head to the polls, deciding on topics from abortion and Medicaid expansion to cannabis decriminalization and minimum wage increases.

Voters in Nebraska will soon decide whether to be the next state to pass a higher minimum wage.

“From abortion and Medicaid expansion, to raising the minimum wage and enacting police accountability, there is enormous potential for progressive issues to win big in November regardless of which candidates prevail."

In response to the success of progressive ballot measures on issues like Medicaid expansion and minimum wage, several state legislatures have moved to make citizen-initiated ballot measures more difficult to pass.

The “yes” campaign has raised over $200,000 from the ACLU and the Fairness Project, a social welfare nonprofit which advocates for ballot measures around the country. The “Yes on A” website says the measure is necessary to “protect the public from sheriffs who break the law."

The ad tells the story of an uninsured leukemia patient named Sarah. “My first hospital bill was over $70,000. I remember thinking, I cannot afford to live,” she says.

The speakers called attention to major issues before voters in the midterm elections and discussed the enormous potential of ballot measures to create change, despite gridlock in Congress and state legislatures, on key policy issues.