Forget the Senate: These are the midterm contests that will affect people

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• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Well, as you just heard, most of the election talk this year is centered on the battle to control the U.S. Senate. But some other choices to be made may affect Americans' lives and issues more directly. That is the scores of ballot measures up for a vote.

  "NewsHour" political editor and reporter Lisa Desjardins begins our coverage with a pitched battle in North Dakota, one of the largest fights this year between environmentalists and energy companies.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  In North Dakota, the profits of drilling are gushing in, and, as a result, so are tax revenues. The industry sends around $2 billion in taxes to the state each year. Conservationists now are trying to ensure that some of that money goes to preserving land and water.

  So an alliance of groups placed this amendment to the state constitution on the ballot. Ballot Measure No. 5 would devote 5 percent of that energy tax revenue to a clean water, wildlife, and parks fund. That's likely somewhere around $100 to $150 million a year.

• MAN:

  The land, our water, they're our heritage, and our livelihood. We have to protect it.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Ads like these featuring North Dakota farmers and hunters are running thanks in part to millions of dollars from national groups. That includes Ducks Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund, groups that see Ballot Measure 5 as a battle line in a national fight.

  And so do their opponents. North Dakota's expenditure files showed that the American Petroleum Institute has pumped $1 million into the state in recent weeks, helping launch ads like this, saying that more money for conservation would mean less money for other things.

• WOMAN:

  It will take money from our schools, law enforcement, programs for the elderly, and roads.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Conservationists call that argument misleading. They say that schools and other needs can still use the vast majority of energy tax funds.

  The fight took on new life in just the past few months, as state polls showed conservationists ahead. That's when the American Petroleum Institute got involved, and the most recent polls, they show the energy vs. environment measure is too close to call.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  And Lisa joins me now, your first on-air appearance with the "NewsHour."

  Lisa, welcome.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  It's an honor. Thank you.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  So, you talked about the state of North Dakota, but we know there are some 140 some ballot propositions…

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Right.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  … before the voters across the country.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Right.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Want to ask you about a couple of them…

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Great.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  … including minimum wage. Tell us where it is on the ballot, what its says.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Minimum wage is on the ballot in five states.

  And there's a little political context that is important here. In a way, minimum wage has been Democrats' answers to the health care onslaught. Hey, we're Democrats, we believe in increasing wages for workers. So, it's a political aspect, but this is something that really affects real people's lives.

  There are minimum wage increases on the ballot in Arkansas, Alaska, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Illinois. And what is particularly significant, I think, Judy, is that we see in Arkansas, for example, the minimum wage now is below the federal wage. So, it's actually $6.25.

  Arkansas wants to raise it to $8.50. And two more things we see in Alaska and also in South Dakota, they want to index the minimum wage to inflation. That's significant, because it's a signal almost that those states don't want to deal with this issue again. They want to automatically have a kick-in for minimum wage, a very political issue Washington is not dealing with, but some of the states will be voting on just next week.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  But looking at it in different ways, different wording in different states.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Right.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  We know marijuana is also on the ballot.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Right.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  But I want to ask you about a couple of other issues.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Yes. Yes.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Abortion on the ballot in a few places.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  For years, we have seen opponents of abortion gain in states where they haven't gained nationally in Supreme Court rulings and et cetera.

  This year, we're seeing three states take on the abortion issue particularly. There, you see them. Tennessee would basically allow state lawmakers to further restrict abortion. But the two I think that are most worthy of looking at are Colorado and North Dakota.

  Both of them have different variations on something called the personhood amendment, basically defining life, defining a person at a very early stage in conception. Colorado is interesting for political reasons. We can get into that later.

  But I think North Dakota may be more significant, Judy, because, up until now, no state has actually passed one of these personhood amendments. They have all failed. But it look likes in North Dakota they could pass this amendment that would define life not just at conception, but at any moment in life.

  Those who are against it say this could block birth control. Those who are for it say it is an important advance for those who oppose abortion.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  And the one other one I want to ask you about is guns on — only on the ballot in, what, a limited number of states.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Right. That's right.

  The main place to watch there is Washington State, where, fascinatingly enough, they actually have competing ballot measures. One would prohibit background checks unless the federal government requires it, essentially prohibiting background checks at gun shows. And the other would require background checks at gun shows and private sales.

  And what is happening right now in Washington State is, we're seeing millions of dollars being put into this gun fight. The NRA has gotten involved in the last couple of weeks. I think this is particularly fascinating because, remember, this is the first national election that this country will face after the Newtown massacre, and in Washington State, they just had that shooting in Marysville last week…

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  That's right.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  … where two high school students were killed.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  And, again, as you said a minute ago — excuse me — an example of an issue not dealt with in Washington, they're trying to deal with it in states.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Yes.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Just very quickly here at the end, are these ballot initiatives expected to get more people to the polls? Some of them, we know, were put on the ballot deliberately to get interest in this midterm vote.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Right.

  No question about it. The ones we have talked with here, the base wants to drive out their votes. That's why I think Colorado is very interesting for having that personhood amendment in a year where they have a major Senate race. On the other hand — we didn't talk about it — Colorado has some anti-fracking, pro-environmental measures on their ballot as well.

  Alaska is interesting. They also have that minimum wage increase. They also have some environmental measures. They're hoping to get young people out. We talked about marijuana. Alaska would legalize marijuana use, small amounts, for adults. They're hoping that get out Democrats — the Democrats do, anyway.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  And you are going to be with us on election night.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Yes.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Helping us look at these ballot measures.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  I can't wait, yes.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Welcome once again, Lisa Desjardins.

• LISA DESJARDINS:

  Thank you.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Thank you.

  And there is more online. Lisa has posted a list of key ballot initiatives by state. You can see those on the Rundown.