I am aware of the existence of the midterms megathread, but I think it would be better to have another one specifically to discuss the ballot measures of last night's election, as the topic of the general thread is inevitably going to shift toward the candidates who ran and the power shifts in the national government.
So here is a thread where you can talk about what happened in your state, and if you're not an American then come here to learn some news that's not making headlines, to ask questions, and to discuss the merits of these ballot measures.
I'll start with my state, Florida, where a few interesting amendments passed:
Amendment 4: Voter Rights Restoration For Felons
This was the most consequential amendment for Florida this election. There are many US states in which being convicted of a felony either does not result in disenfranchisement, or one regains their voting rights at the end of their sentence. Florida had one of the most draconian felony disenfranchisement laws in the entire country: Anyone convicted of any felony forever loses their voting rights, unless a commission decides to restore it. And said commission doesn't even bother to have a hearing for even a small fraction of all the people appealing for their voting rights back.
Now, voting rights are automatically restored at the end of one's sentence, except for those convicted of murder or sex crimes. This amendment passing has added more than a million more eligible voters in Florida overnight.
Amendment 9: Ban On Offshore Drilling and Indoor Vaping
What do offshore drilling and indoor vaping have to do with one another? Absolutely nothing. So why were these two separate questions tied together to one yes or no vote? Because Florida has yet another commission, a constitutional reform commission, which can decide to merge whatever ballot initiatives they want. They claimed that they did this to shorten the length of the ballot. I don't buy it, and I say it was either some kind of poison pill, either to try to protect offshore drilling by getting e-cig users to vote against banning it, or to attack vaping by tying with offshore drilling. I voted "no" because I won't indulge such tricks, and because I think individual employers should have the right to decide whether people can vape in their building or not.
Anyway, "yes" was the answer. So offshore drilling is now prohibited and employers must prohibit vaping indoors. There are apparently some exemptions for this, hopefully vape shops and hookah lounges are exempt, but that remains to be seen.
Amendment 13: Prohibit Greyhound Racing
Greyhound racing will now be brought to an end in the state of Florida, as amendment 13 has also passed. I am glad for this development for the sake of the dogs. I have absolutely nothing against gambling and I don't think the state should restrict gambling at all, but one's right to gamble shouldn't include causing harm to animals. Get some humans volunteer to run races and bet on them.
Other interesting things: Michigan legalized recreational cannabis! North Dakota had a chance to legalize recreational cannabis but said no, which wasn't a surprise because 1) It's North Dakota and 2) Cannabis activists didn't throw much money or support at this thing.
And in Mass, voters said "yes" to preserving transgender peoples' rights. Another decision I am happy about, although I'm dismayed this was ever on the ballot in the first place - democracy shouldn't mean the majority having the chance to eliminate someone else's rights.
So, what went down in your state and how do you feel about it? Talk about it here:
Show your proof of move on.
