Election Day is fast approaching on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024. While the focus may be on national races, down-ballot voting on state and local measures and initiatives has a direct and lasting impact on our communities. These choices empower us to influence the policies that impact our daily lives.
This year’s voter guide aligns with Dr. Bronner’s Cosmic Principles, advocating for fairness, justice, and sustainability. Whether it’s advancing social equity, reforming criminal justice, or protecting the environment, these initiatives embody principles like “Treat All as Equals,” “Be Fair to All,” and “Treat the Earth Like Home.” Voting allows us to help shape a future that is more just, sustainable, and rooted in these principles.
Educate yourself and make a plan to vote on or before November 5th! Check your registration status or state’s voting rules through the Election Assistance Commission’s website. Your voice matters and reflects your commitment to community and progress, from the top of the ticket and all the way down the ballot.
This year, you may see ranked choice voting measures on your state ballot. Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference—first, second, third, and so on. If no candidate wins a majority (more than 50% of first-choice votes), the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated. Voters who chose the eliminated candidate as their top choice will have their votes reallocated to their second-choice candidate. This elimination and redistribution process repeats until one candidate achieves a majority of the active votes. By ensuring that the winner has broad support, ranked choice voting can reduce the likelihood of “spoiler” candidates and encourage more positive campaigning. Dr. Bronner’s grandson, Eric Bronner, is a strong supporter of ranked choice voting and founder of Veterans for All Voters. This year he’s supporting the Make All Votes Count DC campaign. Eric believes ranked choice voting can improve elections by encouraging broader appeal and reducing negative campaigning. While some critics worry about voter confusion, the organization aims to highlight how ranked choice voting could enhance fairness and representation in elections.
Let’s engage fully in the democratic process and ensure our votes embody a collective vision for a fair, equitable, and sustainable world!
Civil Rights
California Proposition 3, Right to Marry and Repeal Proposition 8 Amendment
A “yes” vote supports this constitutional amendment to: repeal Proposition 8 (2008), which defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and declare that a “right to marry is a fundamental right” in the California Constitution.
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Hawaii Remove Legislature Authority to Limit Marriage to Opposite-Sex Couples Amendment
A “yes” vote supports removing a provision of the constitution that states that “the legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples.”
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Criminal Justice
California Proposition 6, Remove Involuntary Servitude as Punishment for Crime Amendment
A “yes” vote supports amending the state constitution to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime and authorize the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to award credits to incarcerated persons who voluntarily participate in work assignments.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
California Proposition 36, Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandated Felonies Initiative
A “no” vote opposes this initiative that makes changes to Proposition 47 (2014), thereby maintaining certain drug and theft crimes as misdemeanors.
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Drug Policy
Florida Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative
A “yes” vote supports legalizing marijuana for adults 21 years old and older and allowing individuals to possess up to three ounces of marijuana.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass (amendment received a majority of “yes” votes, but not the required 60% for passing)
North Dakota Initiated Measure 5, Marijuana Legalization Initiative
A “yes” vote supports legalizing recreational marijuana, allowing individuals to possess up to 1 oz of marijuana, 4g of concentrate, 300mg of edibles; and allowing individuals to grow three plants with a limit of six plants per household.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
Massachusetts Question 4, Legalization and Regulation of Psychedelic Substances Initiative
A “yes” vote supports establishing a commission to regulate psychedelic substances, allowing adults 21+ to grow, possess, and use personal amounts, imposing a 15% excise tax on sales, and permitting localities to add up to a 2% tax and regulate operations.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
South Dakota Initiated Measure 29, Marijuana Legalization Initiative
A “yes” vote supports legalizing the recreational use, possession, and distribution of marijuana.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
Economic Justice
California Proposition 33, Prohibit State Limitations on Local Rent Control Initiative
A “yes” vote supports: repealing the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (1995), thereby allowing cities and counties to limit rent on any housing and limit the rent for first-time tenants and; adding language to state law to prohibit the state from limiting “the right of any city, county, or city and county to maintain, enact or expand residential rent control.”
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
California Proposition 32, $18 Minimum Wage Initiative
A “yes” vote supports increasing the state minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026 for all employers and thereafter adjusting the rate annually by increases to the cost of living.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
Education
California Proposition 2, Public Education Facilities Bond Measure
A “yes” vote supports issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund construction and modernization of public education facilities.
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Environment
California Proposition 4, Parks, Environment, Energy, and Water Bond Measure
A “yes” vote supports issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, energy projects, and flood protection projects.
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Minnesota Continue to Provide Lottery Revenue to Environment and Natural Resources Fund Amendment
A “yes” vote supports this ballot measure to: extend the dedication of revenue from the state-operated lottery to the Environment and Natural Resources Fund through December 31, 2050; increase the amount of money that can be spent from the fund each year from 5.5% to 7.0% of the fund’s market value; and create a grant program to provide funding for projects related to addressing environmental issues in affected communities, environmental education, and natural resource conservation.
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Rhode Island Environmental and Recreational Infrastructure Bond Measure
A “yes” vote supports issuing $53 million in bonds for environmental-related infrastructure, local recreation projects, and for preservation of land.
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Washington Initiative 2117, Prohibit Carbon Tax Credit Trading and Repeal Carbon Cap-and-Invest Program Measure
A “no” vote opposes prohibiting state agencies from implementing a cap and trade or cap and tax program and opposes repealing the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), a state law that provided for a cap and invest program designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 95% by 2050.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
Housing
California Proposition 5, Lower Supermajority Requirement to 55% for Local Bond Measures to Fund Housing and Public Infrastructure Amendment
A “yes” vote supports lowering the vote threshold from 66.67% to 55% for local bond measures to fund housing projects and public infrastructure.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
Voting Rights
Connecticut No-Excuse Absentee Voting Amendment
A “yes” vote supports authorizing the Connecticut State Legislature to provide by law for no-excuse absentee voting, thereby allowing any voter to request a mail-in ballot.
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Washington, D.C., Initiative 83, Ranked-Choice Voting & Semi-Open Primary Initiative
A “yes” vote supports allowing independent voters to participate in primary elections and establishes ranked-choice voting for elections in Washington, D.C., beginning in 2026.
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Idaho Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative
A “yes” vote supports establishing open top-four primaries and ranked-choice voting for general elections, which would apply to congressional, gubernatorial, and state, and county elected offices.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
Maine Question 1, Limit Contributions to Super PACs Initiative
A “yes” vote supports limiting the amount of campaign contributions to $5,000 from individuals and entities to political action committees that make independent expenditures.
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Missouri Require Citizenship to Vote and Prohibit Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment
A “no” vote opposes this amendment, thereby maintaining that “all citizens of the United States” who are 18 years of age or older may vote in elections and that ranked-choice voting may be enacted at the local or state level via ordinance or state statute.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
Nevada Question 3, Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative
A “yes” vote supports establishing open top-five primaries and ranked-choice voting for general elections, which would apply to congressional, gubernatorial, state executive official, and state legislative elections.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
Nevada Voter Identification Initiative
A “no” vote opposes amending the constitution to require that Nevada residents present a form of photo identification to verify their identity while voting in person, or to verify their identity using the last four digits of their drivers license or social security number when voting by mail.
OUTCOME: Yes, passed
Ohio Establish the Citizens Redistricting Commission Initiative
A “yes” vote supports establishing the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC), a 15-member non-politician commission responsible for adopting state legislative and congressional redistricting plans.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
Oregon Measure 117, Ranked-Choice Voting for Federal and State Elections Measure
A “yes” vote supports implementing ranked-choice voting primary and general elections for federal and state executive offices beginning in 2028.
OUTCOME: No, did not pass
This Voter Guide represents the views and opinions of Dr. Bronner’s and is intended solely for informational purposes. It does not reflect the opinions, beliefs, or positions of every individual employee, contractor, or affiliate associated with the Company. The recommendations and statements made in this guide are the Company’s position and should not be interpreted as personal endorsements or viewpoints of any specific individual within the organization.