A guide to the key ballot measures voters will decide on Election Day

Alongside choosing members of Congress, voters in 39 states will decide 145 ballot initiatives this November, covering election rules, transgender rights, taxes and abortion. California and Colorado lead with 14 apiece. UCLA political science professor Rick Hasen says some measures are placed on ballots partly to boost turnout, which usually runs lower in midterm years. Procedures differ widely: California residents can skip the legislature, while other states need lawmakers to approve a measure, and Florida demands 60% for constitutional amendments, according to PBS NewsHour.

On elections, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota and West Virginia will consider writing citizen-only voting into state law or constitutions, even though noncitizens already cannot vote in federal contests or any statewide ones. PBS NewsHour reports no evidence backs President Donald Trump's claims of widespread noncitizen fraud. Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio will vote on constitutional voter ID requirements.

On transgender policy, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Washington have measures on the ballot. Several would restrict athletes, and Reid Wilson of Pluribus News says conservatives are using petitions in Democratic-led states where legislatures will not act. More than two dozen tax measures also appear.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →