(NewsNation) — While voters may expect to see former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on their ballots along with other prominent names, voters in several states should expect to see ballot measures that will decide important issues.
In 10 states, voters will decide whether to preserve or restrict abortion access, an issue that motivates voters to show up on Election Day, as evidenced in 2022. Meanwhile, eight states will choose whether or not to ban noncitizen voting in state-level elections, and an additional 10 states will decide on adopting or banning electoral systems like ranked-choice voting.
But some ballot measures in 2024 will deal with somewhat lighter issues. Voters in Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, South Dakota and West Virginia will have some interesting decisions to make come Election Day, from legalizing sports betting to changing the design of the state flag.
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Here’s a look at five intriguing ballot measures that will be decided in November:
Maine: New state flag design
Voters in the Pine Tree State will decide whether they support replacing the existing state flag with a flag consisting of a pine tree and the North Star on a buff (light tan) background, often called the Pine Tree Flag, according to Ballotpedia. You can view the proposed design here.
The current flag was established in 1909 and features the Maine coat of arms on a blue background. The coat of arms includes a moose and pine tree with a farmer and sailor on either side, with the North Star and a ribbon with the Latin phrase Dirigo, which means “I direct.”
The current Maine State Flag. (Photo By Encyclopaedia Britannica/UIG Via Getty Images)
Ahead of the ballot measure coming to voters, the state held a design contest that received more than 400 submissions. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced the winning design by Adam Lemire, of Gardiner, in an August news release. She described it as a “beautiful, faithful representation of an Eastern White Pine tree proper.”
The measure has sparked debates about state identity, with supporters claiming the new design better represents Maine’s heritage and natural beauty, while those opposed say changing the flag is unnecessary.
Read more about Maine’s State Flag Referendum here.
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Massachusetts: Regulating access to psychedelic substances
Massachusetts voters will consider whether to regulate access to five psychedelic substances for mental health treatment.
The measure would allow a licensed “facilitator” to prescribe the natural psychedelics as part of a mental health treatment. The natural psychedelic substances in question include plants and fungi that contain the following substances: dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, ibogaine, psilocybin and psilocin.
The Drug Enforcement Administration classifies these psychedelics as Schedule I drugs, with “high abuse potential with no accepted medical use.” Cannabis, which has been legalized for medical and recreational use in more than a dozen states, is still also classified as a Schedule 1 drug.
In 2020, Oregon decriminalized the use of psychedelics and the first psychedelic treatment centers opened in 2023, according to Axios. In 2022, Colorado voters decriminalized the same five psychedelic chemicals as those on the ballot this year in Massachusetts.
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Proponents argue that naturally occurring psychedelics have shown promise in treating depression, PTSD and anxiety. They claim regulation would ensure safe access for those who could benefit medically while maintaining controls to prevent misuse.
Adam Zaffuto, a veteran from Pittsburgh, told “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” that psychedelics dramatically improved his recovery.
“The side effects for me were immense amounts of self-love, immense amounts of self-transformation, an ability to be a better husband and a much more engaged father and to provide my daughter with the father that she deserves,” Zaffuto told NewsNation last year. “My wife got her husband back and got the man that she married back.”
Critics are concerned about the potential public health and safety risks, arguing more research is needed before such substances are made more widely available.
“We need larger studies. We need to see more long-term effects,” Virginia state Del. Wren Williams said last year.
Missouri: Legalize and regulate sports betting
NewsNation affiliate WDAF reported that a Missouri judge ruled a sports betting ballot initiative up for a vote in November would remain on state ballots.
The constitutional amendment would permit the Missouri Gambling Commission to allow in-person and online sports wagering.
Under the proposed initiative, at least $5 million annually in licensing fees and taxes would go toward problem gambling programs, with remaining tax revenues going toward elementary, secondary and higher education.
38 states and D.C. have legalized sports betting, according to Ballotpedia. Several neighboring states, including Illinois, Arkansas and Kansas, have already legalized sports betting. Without legalization, Missouri risks losing potential revenue from those who cross state borders to place bets.
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With strong support among Missouri’s professional sports teams, some are confident the measure could pass and pave the way to legal sports wagering in the state. One reporter told WDAF that Missourians regularly drive to neighboring states to place bets.
“Going to parking lots in kind of random industrial areas in Kansas City, Kansas and you look and you see the parking lots are just in and out with people with Missouri plates stopping on their phones maybe there for 5-10 minutes,” Ryan Butler, a Covers.com senior editor told WDAF.
“Every Sunday its lined up here,” said Austin Lewis, a Liberty, Missouri, man who drives to Kansas to place sports bets. “Thirty-minute drive everyday, it’s pretty much ready for it to be legal in Missouri.”
Opponents are concerned about the potential for increased gambling addiction. Other opponents say the amendment provides greater financial benefit for out-of-state funders. One committee, called Missourians Against Deceptive Online Gambling, has earned support from nearby Missouri casinos and Caesars Entertainment.
A new Emerson College/The Hill poll found that 52% of the respondents said they would support a sports betting measure in Missouri, 25% plan to oppose it and 23% were unsure.
South Dakota: Amend constitution to remove male pronouns
South Dakotans will decide whether to remove male-specific pronouns from the state constitution and replace them with gender-neutral language. This would involve changing words like “he” and “his” to terms like “the person” or “the governor’s.”
Nine state constitutions — California, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont — use gender-neutral language, according to Ballotpedia.
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Proponents argue that this change is long overdue and would make the constitution more inclusive, reflecting the reality that women can and do hold all offices in state government. They say the amendment is about accuracy and equal representation, not political correctness.
Critics argue the change is unnecessary. Some also express concerns about preserving the historical integrity of the document.
West Virginia: Ban people from participating in euthanasia
A controversial amendment to prevent physician-assisted suicide will be up for voters in November to decide. If this is approved, West Virginia would be the first state in the nation to formally do so.
NewsNation affiliate WOWK reported that House Joint Resolution 28 proposes amending West Virginia’s constitution to prevent any medical professional from committing euthanasia, or from helping a patient commit suicide.
Critics say current law already makes it illegal, but supporters argue it adds additional safeguards.
“It’s to help protect some of the most vulnerable people in our state. Those are individuals who have illnesses, that are going through a lot. And this will protect them from being encouraged to commit suicide,” said bill co-sponsor Del. Chris Pritt (R) Kanawha.
“Restoring Reproductive freedom, we should be voting on that. But the Republicans won’t let us vote on it because they know what the outcome will be, just like in every other state. So, instead, they put this meaningless Constitutional Amendment on that’s banning something that’s already banned,” said Del. Mike Pushkin, chair of the state Democratic Party.
The resolution to pass the ballot initiative won with 88 delegates voting yes and only 10 voting no. It also passed the Senate by a similar margin.
Even if physician-assisted suicide is outlawed, it will not prevent patients from choosing to stop taking lifesaving medications or stop them from enforcing DNR orders.
At least 12 states currently have bills that would legalize physician-assisted death. Eight states and Washington, D.C., already allow it, but only for their own residents. Vermont and Oregon permit any qualifying American to travel to their state for the practice. Patients must be at least 18 years old, within six months of death and be assessed to ensure they are capable of making an informed decision.
Two states including West Virginia have gone in the opposite direction. Kansas has a bill to criminalize further those who help someone with their physician-assisted death.
NewsNation affiliate WOWK-TV, WDAF and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
