Voters across seven states weighed in on 10 healthcare-related ballot measures in the midterm elections, with proposals spanning abortion rights, Medicaid, healthcare funding, medical research and gender-affirming care.
Five measures passed and five failed, according to a Nov. 10 Politico analysis
Abortion-related measures were on the ballot in four states. Voters in Nevada and Virginia approved new constitutional protections for reproductive rights, while Missouri voters rejected a measure that would have repealed existing abortion protections. Idaho voters rejected a proposal to establish a right to make personal reproductive healthcare decisions.
California and Colorado voters also considered measures that could affect healthcare funding, research and access.
Here are the five measures voters approved:
1. Nevada Question 6. Nevada voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing an individual right to abortion until fetal viability or when an abortion is needed to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient. The measure received 63% support.
2. Virginia Question 1. Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing reproductive rights — including access to abortion, contraception and fertility care — without state interference within the limits outlined by the measure. It received 63% support.
3. California Proposition 38. Voters authorized $8.4 billion in state bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research, including research involving cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions. The measure passed with 54% of the vote. The state estimated debt-service costs of roughly $500 million to $600 million annually for about 20 years.
4. Colorado Amendment 87. Colorado voters approved a measure replacing the state’s flat income tax with graduated rates. The proposal directs additional revenue toward public schools, early childhood programs and healthcare. It received 52% support.
5. Colorado Proposition 135. Voters approved a measure prohibiting certain surgeries for minors intended to alter sex characteristics in response to a child’s perceived gender or sex. The measure also prohibits state funding for those procedures. It received 52% support.
Here are the five measures voters rejected:
6. Idaho Proposition 1. Idaho voters rejected a proposed right to make personal reproductive healthcare decisions without government interference, including decisions involving contraception, fertility treatment and abortion up to fetal viability. About 44% voted in favor.
7. Missouri Amendment 3. Missouri voters rejected a proposal that would have repealed the state’s constitutional right to abortion until fetal viability. The measure also included restrictions on gender-affirming treatments and surgeries for minors. It received 45% support.
8. California Proposition 40. Voters rejected a proposed one-time 5% tax on individuals and trusts with more than $1 billion in covered assets. The proposal would have directed 90% of the revenue toward healthcare and 10% toward food assistance or education programs. About 47% voted in favor. California’s secretary of state said the tax could have generated tens of billions of dollars over several years.
9. California Proposition 44. California voters rejected a proposal that would have required nonprofit federally qualified health centers to spend at least 90% of their annual revenue on mission-related activities. The measure received 18% support.
10. South Dakota Amendment 1. Voters rejected a proposal that would have tied continued Medicaid expansion coverage for lower-income adults to the federal government maintaining at least a 90% share of program funding. The measure received 44% support.
The results reflected mixed voter sentiment across healthcare issues, though the Politico analysis noted that most states considering reproductive rights measures ultimately voted to preserve or create individual rights to healthcare decisions.
Click here to access the full Politico report.
