In addition to choosing a president and members of Congress, voters in several states will weigh in on high-profile social issues on Nov. 6. Here are some of the key voter initiatives on ballots:
1: Same-Sex Marriage
States: Washington, Maryland, Maine
State lawmakers in
and
passed legislation this year to allow same-sex marriage, but both laws are on hold until the public gets a chance to vote them up or down in November. In every state where same-sex marriage has been put to a popular vote before, it's been defeated. But supporters think this year may be different. A similar question is on the ballot in
.
2:
Abolish The Death Penalty
State: California
Opponents of the death penalty say it's costing the state too much; through
, they want to replace it with a maximum penalty of life without parole, and direct $100 million a year to other law enforcement priorities.
say the real problem is the constant legal delays and appeals that make the death penalty so expensive to enforce.
3:
Physician-Assisted Suicide
State: Massachusetts
Supporters of physician-assisted suicide are advocating for Question No. 2, the so-called "
." They say it would allow terminally ill patients — defined as those who've been told they have less than six months to live — to choose the time and manner of their death.
fear the law would encourage suicide when other options are also available.
4:
Undermine Obamacare
States:Florida,
,
, Montana
A host of ballot initiatives would attempt to undermine various provisions of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, better known as Obamacare. Ballot questions in
and
target the "individual mandate" — the part of the law that will require most Americans to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty. Opponents say it's a moot point because the Supreme Court has already upheld most of the controversial health care law.
5:
Legalize Marijuana
States:Colorado, Oregon, Washington
Activists in
,
and
have high hopes for ballot initiatives that would legalize and regulate marijuana. More than a dozen states have approved marijuana for medical uses. None has gone as far as legalizing and regulating the drug like alcohol, as these initiatives would do. But a
shows a majority of likely voters in Colorado support legalizing marijuana if it is regulated like alcohol, which the state's Amendment 64 provides for.
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