Voters Decide Abortion, Redistricting and ID Measures in Midterm Elections

Voters in several states are deciding 145 proposed laws and constitutional amendments on Tuesday, including measures that could affect voting in future elections. The ballot measures serve as a political undercard for a high-profile midterm election that will determine which party controls Congress, state legislatures and gubernatorial offices in many states.

Some measures put President Donald Trump’s priorities to a public test by gauging support for his attempts to reshape congressional districts, limit transgender athletes in sports and strengthen voter identification requirements.

“Two years ago, Missouri voters became the first in the nation to pass a ballot measure undoing an existing ban on most abortions.”

In Missouri, voters are deciding whether to repeal the 2024 abortion rights amendment and replace it with a new prohibition that allows exceptions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, and cases of rape or incest up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The proposed ban was placed on the ballot by the Republican-led Legislature.

Ballot measures in Idaho and Nevada would block bans on abortion before fetal viability, usually considered after 21 weeks. Nevada voters already approved the measure once but must do so a second time for it to become official. In Virginia, an amendment would ensure abortion is allowed for the first two trimesters.

Nine states are using new congressional districts in the midterm elections after a rare spate of mid-decade redistricting encouraged by Trump. Missouri’s Republican lawmakers also adopted new House districts designed to help the GOP win an additional seat, but courts ruled they cannot be used unless first approved by voters in a November referendum.