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Voters defend democracy itself: maps, voting rights and ballot power
From Missouri to Virginia, voters rejected gerrymanders and power grabs and expanded the vote.
Missourians rejected a GOP congressional map 62% to 38% and protected their initiative power, Maryland cleared the way for a new map, and Virginia restored voting rights to people with felony convictions once they leave prison. Some voter ID measures passed and some failed.
The midterm ballots weren't only about candidates. In state after state, voters were asked about the rules of democracy itself, and they mostly sided with themselves over their legislators, according to an analysis by the State Court Report.
Missouri says no to the gerrymander
Missouri's Republican lawmakers rushed a new congressional map through in 2025. Voters rejected it 62% to 38%, which means the map can't be used in the 2028 elections, the State Court Report notes.
Missourians also voted to bar lawmakers from repealing or changing any voter-approved initiative without 80% approval in both legislative chambers plus voter approval. And 55% rejected a legislative amendment that would have repealed the abortion-rights amendment voters passed in 2024 (State Court Report).
Maryland and Colorado
Maryland voters approved a Democratic-backed constitutional amendment that paves the way for a new congressional map. In Colorado, a conservative-backed amendment that would make it harder to redraw congressional maps before 2028 was still too close to call Wednesday afternoon, with "No" leading at more than 53% (State Court Report). Blue Wire won't call it until a reliable source does.
Voting rights: wins and losses
- Virginia amended its constitution so people convicted of a felony can vote once they're out of prison (State Court Report).
- Massachusetts approved same-day voter registration.
- California rejected a Republican-backed voter ID requirement at the polls, and Colorado voters, by more than 63%, rejected requiring part of a Social Security or driver's license number on mail ballots.
- But Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio approved voter ID amendments to their constitutions (State Court Report).
Protecting the power of the petition
Montana added constitutional protection for the right to propose ballot measures and referendums. North Dakota and South Dakota rejected raising the threshold for future amendments to 60%, and more than 60% of Utah voters rejected requiring 60% approval for certain tax changes. Alaska voters appeared likely to reject repealing ranked-choice voting, though that result isn't final (State Court Report).
Money in politics
Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved the "money out of politics" proposal, which bans campaign contributions from certain government contractors; a federal lawsuit is challenging it. Montana approved, with 65% of the vote, a ban on corporations, nonprofits and unions contributing to campaigns (State Court Report).
For full measure-by-measure results, see Ballotpedia's tracker.
Sources
- What 2026 Ballot Measure Results Tell Us — State Court Report
- Election results, 2026: Ballot measures — Ballotpedia