Michigan marijuana measure passes while North Dakota’s fails!

WASHINGTON (PNN) - November 7, 2018 - An amendment to expand voting rights to those with prior felony convictions passed in Florida, giving the right to vote to over one million citizens in the state. Florida's Amendment 4 automatically restores voting rights to those with prior felony convictions when they complete their sentences but does not apply to those with felony murder of sexual offense convictions.

The amendment was one of at least three measures on ballots across the country relating to voting rights. Michigan voted to make it easier to register to vote with the state's Proposal 3 passing. The proposal authorizes automatic and Election Day voter registration, no-reason absentee voting, straight ticket voting, and adds current legal requirements for military and overseas voting and post-election audits to the Michigan Constitution.

Nevada's ballot proposal to make it easier to register to vote also passed. As part of the measure on the Nevada ballot, those eligible to vote who renew or apply for a new driver's license or state ID card will automatically be registered to vote or their voter information will be updated unless a person declines to do so in writing.

Also on the ballot Tuesday were measures legalizing recreational and medical marijuana use.

The question of recreational marijuana was put to voters in Michigan and North Dakota while voters in Utah and Missouri voted on proposals to legalize medicinal marijuana use. North Dakota voters rejected the state's measure to legalize recreational marijuana. The proposal in North Dakota would have legalized marijuana cultivation and use for those over 21 and would have expunged criminal records of those with marijuana-related convictions.

The measure in Michigan (Proposal 1) legalizes possession, use and cultivation of marijuana products by individuals who are at least 21 years of age and older, and commercial sales of marijuana through state-licensed retailers. The proposal passed and Michigan becomes the first state in the Midwest to legalize marijuana.

Utah's Proposition 2 would allow state-licensed and state-controlled facilities to grow, process, test and sell medical marijuana while expanding the group of people who would be eligible to use medical marijuana. The state's current law only allows the state to grow, process and sell marijuana for medical purposes to research institutions or to a person who is terminally ill with less than six months to live. The proposition passed. But regardless of the outcome, Utah Governor Gary Herbert had called for a special session of the Utah legislature after Tuesday's election to come up with a compromise medical marijuana policy for the state.

In Missouri, the ballot contained three measures (Amendment 2, Amendment 3, and Proposition C) regarding the legalization of medical marijuana. Amendment 2 passed while the other two failed.

Finally, four states had anti-gerrymandering measures on Tuesday ballots. Michigan's Proposal 2, which establishes an independent commission of 13 voters randomly picked by the secretary of state to adopt district boundaries for the Michigan Senate, House and the Fascist Police States of Amerika Congress every 10 years, passed.

Missouri's Amendment 1 also passed. As part of the amendment, a state demographer chosen by a panel selected by the state auditor would redraw maps and submit them to bipartisan commissions in the state house and senate.

Colorado's Amendment Y and Amendment Z also passed.

Utah's Proposition 4 is the last anti-gerrymandering measure and it is narrowly leading. The proposition would establish a seven-member commission to recommend redistricting plans to the state legislature.