Welcome to the Friday, January 13, Brew.
By: Douglas Kronaizl
Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- 2022 had second-highest midterm voter turnout in two decades
- Two statewide ballot measures certified so far this year
- #FridayTrivia: How many state legislative districts were renamed or eliminated after the 2020 census?
2022 had second-highest midterm voter turnout in two decades
According to data compiled by the United States Election Project, 2022 had the second-highest midterm voter turnout in two decades.
Turnout in 2022 was 46.8%. Since 2002, midterm turnout has ranged from a low of 36.7% in 2014 to a high of 50.3% in 2018.
Oregon, one of eight states that use automatic, all-mail voting, had the highest turnout rate at 61.5%. Tennessee had the lowest rate at 31.3%.
South Carolina had the largest turnout increase over 2018, the last midterm election. Turnout there was up nine percentage points. North Dakota had the largest decrease—down 16 percentage points.
The table below shows the three states with the largest increases and decreases compared to 2018. Rows are colored based on the state’s trifecta status.
Two statewide ballot measures certified so far this year
As of Jan. 10, two statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in two states for 2023. Based on odd-year data since 2011, the average number of measures certified at the start of the year is four.
The two statewide measures certified so far are:
- Oklahoma State Question 820 would legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years and older. This measure was supposed to appear on the general election ballot last year. Due to legal challenges and statutory deadlines for ballot printing, the measure was moved to March 7, 2023.
- Louisiana Legislative Veto Sessions Amendment would change deadlines for when the governor must act on a bill. It would also allow the Legislature to consider vetoed bills during regular or extraordinary sessions rather than needing to convene a separate veto session. Originally slated to appear on the ballot on Nov. 8, 2022, last summer legislators voted to move this measure to Nov. 18, 2023.
Here are some other recent updates:
- Sponsors submitted signatures that are pending verification for an initiative in Maine:
- Officials verified enough signatures for three initiatives in Maine and Ohio to certify them to the legislature:
Since 2011, the average number of statewide ballot measures certified in odd-numbered years was 33.
#FridayTrivia: How many state legislative districts were renamed or eliminated after the 2020 census?
When discussing redistricting, we often imagine legislative boundaries shifting, growing, or shrinking. But states can also add, remove, or rename districts after each census. In Monday’s Daily Brew, we brought you a story about this, and how five states either renamed or eliminated at least one state legislative district during the latest redistricting cycle.
How many state legislative districts were renamed or eliminated after the 2020 census?
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