Ballot initiatives to watch in 2022 midterms, from abortion to slavery – USA TODAY

Heres how midterm elections work and why they're so important

Midterm elections have the ability to shift the power of the presidency. Here's how the midterms work and why they're so important.

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Forget waiting for Congress or state legislaturesto act.This years midterm elections are offering voters an opportunity to shape public policy directly in the form of various state ballot initiatives that deal with major national issues.

The country witnessed the power of those referendums when voters in Kansas, which is typically considered a safe red state, rejected an anti-abortion measure on the ballot bya decisive59%-41% margin.

As the fall elections approach, voters in 2022 arebeing asked to weigh-in on how their states should handle ending a pregnancy, the right to contraceptives, legalizing certain narcotics and extending health care coverage. Even slavery is on the ballot.

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In at least five states, voters will have to grapple with whether to officiallyabolishslavery, a questionthat could lead to a national rethinking on U.S. prison policy.

Many of those topics have stalled in Washington, where gridlock has devoured many reform efforts.

But whether through direct ballot initiative grown by grassroots organizations viapetition orindirect referendums first raised by a state legislature, these measures could have major ramifications going forward.

Here are the issues on the ballot to watch:

Kansas voters overwhelmingly chose to uphold the right to an abortion in August, which has emboldened progressives hoping the momentumcan mobilize their base through similar ballot initiatives elsewhere.

At least three other states California, Kentucky and Vermont will have similar questions for voters to consider. While one other, Montana, is asking voters to decide rules around a "born-alive" infant from a failed abortion.

A similar question could appear before voters inMichigan,wherea coalition of reproductive rights groupshave asked thestate Supreme Court this month to allow theirproposed measure that would guarantee the right to an abortion on the ballot this fall.

Poll:Most Americans want chance to support abortion rights on state ballot

Roe v. Wade: Abortion to remain divisive issue in states, courts

The proposed amendments in California and Vermont, which already have liberal state laws ensuring abortion right, encompass reproductive freedom as a wholeincludingother protections such as guaranteeingaccess to contraceptives.

Voters in Kentucky, a more conservative-leaning state,are being asked this November to restrict abortion rights by declaring that the state Constitution doesntrecognize such access or require taxpayerfunding of abortion.

Montana's referendum deals withwhetherinfants born alive atany stage of development will be considered "legal persons." If so, the proposal says, they must be provided medical care. Violatorsfacea$50,000 fine andup to 20 years in prison.

Voters inAlabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont will decide whether to abolish slavery as a part of a larger criminal justice reform movementaimed at prison labor.

The 13thAmendment to the Constitution ended slavery and involuntary servitude when it was ratified in 1865. But a loophole allows it as punishment for someone convicted of a crime and roughly 20 states have a similarexception.

Most referendums are asking voters to declareno form of slavery or involuntary servitudebe permitted.

Others go further, such as Alabama's questionwhichseeks to remove "all racist language" from the state constitution.InOregon,the amendmentwould add provisions allowing the state courts orparole agency to order alternatives to incarceration for a convicted individual.

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Criminal justice reform advocates say the referendums are more than symbolic, and could spark larger changes forpeople who are incarcerated, such as paying them higher wages for prison work orendingforced labor altogether.

In 2018, voters in Colorado, Nebraska and Utahoverwhelminglystruck down slavery and involuntary servitude through ballot initiatives.

Legislation has been introduced in California, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio and Texas to put similar ballot questions before voters infuture elections.

Multiple states will give voters a direct say over drug policies with ballot questions on decriminalizing marijuana andcertain psychedelics.

At least five states Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota are looking to legalize marijuana for residents age 21 or older.

But the provisions in some places go further.

In Missourithe proposed amendment would decriminalize marijuana use and alsoallowpeople convicted of non-violent cannabisoffensesa chance to seek an early release from prison and have their criminal records expunged.

News: Marijuana is being legalized in parts of the U.S.That's not helping everyone with convictions

Poll:Marijuana use is outpacing cigarette use for first time ever in U.S.

A legal battle is still ongoing in Oklahoma to determine if voters there will have a chance to tackle the issue with similar reforms this fall.

Colorado has a ballot initiative asking voters whether the state should definecertain psychedelic plants and fungi as natural medicine, including mescaline.

Under the amendment, personal use, possession, transportation and growthwould be legal for those age 21 or older. The changes would also createa regulatory agency that would overseelicensed healing centers to administer natural medicine services.

Nevada voters will be given a chance to give workers a pay raise this fall when they're asked toincreasethe minimum wage to $12 an hour for all employees.

Right now the state'sfloor for how much a person is paid sits between $9.50 to $10.50 per hour, depending on whether they have health insurance.

In 2019, the Nevadalegislature passed a measure raising the minimum wage by increments without address the health insurance discrepancy.The ballot question will establish a flat rate for all regardless of theirinsurance status.

More: Nevada's minimum wage increases but is less of a living wage than a year ago

On Tuesday, Nebraska secretary of state certified aballot measure that if approved wouldincrease the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026.

Illinois voters are being asked to establish aconstitutional right to collective bargaining,which would guarantee workers the right to organize a union.

On the opposite end of the political spectrum, Tennessee voters will weighapproving a right-to-work amendment to the state constitution, whichwould prohibitworkplaces from requiringlabor union membership as a condition for employment.

One of the major debates about the Affordable Care Act from a decade ago was whetherstates would accept or reject federal incentives to expand Medicaid eligibility.

As of this year,38states and the District of Columbia have done just thatwith many doing so through ballot initiatives. Voters in Idaho, Nebraska and Utah, for example,did it in 2018.

Report: 5 million to 14 million Americans could lose Medicaid coverage when COVID-19 pandemic ends

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South Dakota, one of 12 states that has not expanded Medicaid,will have an opportunity thanks to a coalition of health care groups who joined forces this year to push the idea to the ballot box.

Under the amendment,adults 18 to 65 earningincomes below 133% of the federal poverty level would receive Medicaid.That is roughly $18,000 per person or $37,000 for a family of four.

Other health care related questions are sprinkled around the country.

In Oregon, a ballot initiative would ensureevery resident "has access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate and affordable health care as a fundamental right."

California voters will considerbanning the sale of flavored tobacco products.

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Ballot initiatives to watch in 2022 midterms, from abortion to slavery - USA TODAY