Recent ballot decisions saw the electorate preserve abortion access in Nevada and Virginia while sustaining an established ban in Idaho. Concurrently, measures barring transgender youth from school sports advanced in Arizona, Colorado, and Washington, accompanied by a Colorado ban on gender-affirming surgery for minors. This occurred despite an NCAA confirmation that zero transgender athletes currently compete in women's collegiate sports. Because Colorado's newly approved restrictions are statutory, the incoming governor indicated they will face thorough scrutiny before taking effect.
Key points
Abortion policies preserved the status quo across all four states where the issue was pla…: Abortion policies preserved the status quo across all four states where the issue was placed on the ballot.
Transgender youth restrictions succeeded even as voters simultaneously elected six transg…: Transgender youth restrictions succeeded even as voters simultaneously elected six transgender state lawmakers in newly receptive districts.
Colorado's Democratic-led legislature retains the authority to modify the recently passed…: Colorado's Democratic-led legislature retains the authority to modify the recently passed youth gender-affirming care and sports statutory bans.
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The blue wave that handed Democrats power in both the House and Senate did not filter neatly through ballot measures across the country.
Measures on abortion, marijuana, science funding, and Medicaid largely reflected a more liberal national sentiment. But multiple states voted to implement or enhance restrictions on transgender youth.
In Arizona, Colorado, and Washington, voters approved or were poised to approve measures to enact or expand prohibitions on transgender youth participation on school athletics teams aligned with their gender identity. Colorado also was on track to approve a new ban on gender-affirming surgery for minors.
While critics called the measures on transgender rights “ballot candy” for Republicans, there was no correlation between the measures and winning candidates’ affiliations. Colorado Democrats, for example, won the Senate, most House seats, and both the governor and attorney general offices.
The results indicate that many voters are concerned about gender, sports, and fairness in particular, but those worries may be outsized compared to the number of young transgender people these laws will apply to. Existing data suggest around 300,000 youth ages 13 to…
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