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145 statewide ballot measures will go before voters Nov. 3

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Voters will decide 145 statewide ballot measures in 39 states on Nov. 3, according to Ballotpedia. The count is part of 164 measures certified for 2026 elections in 40 states; 19 appeared on earlier ballots. Reuters described the November slate as around 150, with questions spanning abortion, transgender rights, election rules, redistricting and taxes.

Ballot measures are separate from contests for Congress, governor and state legislatures. Some ask voters to amend a state constitution, while others approve or reject legislation or set rules for state and local governments. The proposals are highly state-specific, so a measure appearing in one state would not change policy elsewhere.

Four states — Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska and Washington — will vote on restrictions affecting transgender girls and women in girls’ sports. Colorado’s Proposition 134 would require school and college teams to be designated for males, females or mixed participation based on biological sex. Arizona’s Proposition 318 would extend its team rules to private schools and regulate access to school athletic facilities. Supporters say the restrictions protect women’s sports; critics argue they exclude transgender students and can subject athletes to invasive scrutiny, Reuters reported.

Colorado and Missouri also have measures concerning gender-transition procedures for minors. Colorado’s Proposition 135 would prohibit certain transition-related surgeries for minors. Missouri’s Amendment 3 would place a prohibition on gender-transition procedures for minors in the state constitution; the state already has a law restricting gender-affirming medical treatment for children. The two proposals differ in scope and legal effect, so “gender-affirming care” is broader than what Colorado’s measure addresses.

Abortion measures are on ballots in Idaho, Nevada and Virginia, alongside a Missouri proposal that would roll back protections approved by voters in 2024. Idaho’s Proposition 1 would establish a statutory right to reproductive freedom and privacy, including abortion before fetal viability and in medical emergencies. Nevada Question 6 would add a constitutional right to abortion until fetal viability, with protection after that point when needed for a pregnant patient’s life or health. Virginia Question 1 would establish a constitutional right to reproductive freedom while allowing the state to regulate abortion in the third trimester, with exceptions for medical need or a nonviable fetus.

Missouri Amendment 3 asks voters to repeal the 2024 constitutional amendment protecting reproductive-health decisions. If approved, it would allow abortion for rape or incest during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, medical emergencies and certain fetal anomalies; it would also allow the legislature to regulate abortion, require parental consent for minors and prohibit gender-transition procedures for minors. A “no” vote would leave the 2024 protections in place, according to the Missouri Secretary of State’s official ballot language.

Voter-identification rules are another point of debate. California Proposition 39 would require government-issued photo identification to vote in person and additional identifying information for mail ballots. Colorado Amendment 84 and Nevada Question 7 would add identification requirements for mail voting, while Nevada’s proposal also requires photo ID for in-person voting. Reuters reported that Arizona voters will consider a separate mail-ballot photo-ID proposal; the measure’s language leaves details of implementation unresolved.

Missouri and Maryland have different redistricting questions. Missouri Proposition A is a referendum on a new congressional map adopted by the legislature; a “yes” vote would uphold the map, while a “no” vote would repeal it. Reuters reported that the map could break up the state’s only Democratic-leaning congressional district. Maryland Question 3 would clarify that existing constitutional criteria apply to state legislative districts, allow the General Assembly to give the state Supreme Court original jurisdiction over congressional maps, and say the state constitution sets no criteria for congressional boundaries. Maryland’s proposal could shape a later map fight, but it does not itself draw a new map.

California Proposition 40 would impose a one-time tax of up to 5% on covered assets worth more than $1 billion for people who were California residents on Jan. 1, 2026. The state’s official analysis says the tax would generally exclude real estate, pensions and retirement accounts, and permit payment over five years. Ninety percent of the revenue would go to health care, with the rest for food assistance, education-related programs and administration.

The California Legislative Analyst estimates the tax could raise tens of billions of dollars over several years, though the amount and timing are uncertain. The analysis also warns of a possible ongoing decline of less than $1 billion a year in income-tax revenue if wealthy residents change their behavior or leave. Gov. Gavin Newsom opposes Proposition 40, warning it could drive wealthy residents and companies out of the state; supporters argue the new revenue would help fund health services. The competing forecasts are estimates, not guaranteed outcomes.

Montana voters will consider Initiative 194, a proposed constitutional amendment restricting political spending by corporations and other “artificial persons.” Reuters described the proposal as a novel legal strategy aimed at the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision. The measure applies to nonprofits, trusts, partnerships and trade associations as well as corporations, and exempts bona fide news, commentary and editorial content, according to the Montana Secretary of State. In Alaska, voters will decide whether to repeal the state’s top-four primary and ranked-choice general-election system and restore party primaries and single-choice general elections. That is a vote to end the system, not retain it.

Alabama Amendment 3 would require public schools to adopt policies providing a daily opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and allowing student-initiated, student-led prayer. Participation would remain voluntary, under the ballot language. The measure does not require schools to play the national anthem weekly, as Reuters’ factbox described it.

The range of measures reflects how voters can shape state policy directly, from constitutional rights and election administration to taxes and school rules. Ballotpedia’s count includes statewide questions only; local measures may also appear on individual ballots. Voters can check their state or county election office for the exact wording and explanations printed for their ballot before Nov. 3.

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