SUMMARY

Ballot measures across the country could have profound effects on people's everyday lives from abortion access to criminal justice to the way they vote. Geoff Bennett explored the measures with Reid Wilson, founder and editor of Pluribus News, a digital media outlet tracking public policy in the states.

View the transcript here.

key terms

ballot initiative = A measure such as a state or local law that is placed on ballots by citizen initiative. Different states have different laws and procedures for how citizens can add ballot initiatives to voting-day ballots, but they are often added after gathering a certain number of petition signatures.

ranked-choice voting = A system of elections where voters list candidates in order of preference. In many ranked-choice systems, voters' second or lower choice will be counted if their first choice is eliminated from any possibility of winning

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who is interviewed in this segment, and what is his background?
2. What are ballot initiatives?
3. Where are some of the states that have significant ballot initiatives this year?
4. Why are some states moving to ranked-choice voting?
5. What has been the outcome in every state that has had pro-abortion ballot initiatives?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

1. Do you think more of our laws should be instituted through ballot initiatives rather than just through the legislatures? Why do you think ballot initiatives are not more widely used?
2. If you could add one ballot initiative to your state's ballot this year, what would it be?

Media literacy: Do you know if there are any ballot initiatives on the ballot in your state or local community this year? If so, what are they?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

What students can do: Watch the video below about ballot initiatives in Montana and discuss as a class —

1. Why do you think Montana citizens have added these ballot initiatives?
2. Do you agree that the changes could reduce partisanship?
3. If you could add a ballot initiative to change elections in your state, what changes would you seek?

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