Even if no candidates were running, Tuesday’s elections would be dramatic, as voters across the United States consider referendums on a slew of hot topics: abortion, gay marriage, illegal immigration, sex crimes, even legalising marijuana.

In all, there are 205 such measures on the November 7 ballots in 37 states. Ballot measures are proposed state laws that must be approved or rejected directly by voters within states. They can be placed on the ballot by legislatures, citizen petitions or other methods, and are often held in conjunction with general elections.

A measure in the conservative, sparsely populated state of South Dakota is perhaps the nation’s most momentous: Voters must decide whether to uphold or reject a new law banning abortions except when necessary to save a pregnant woman’s life. Activists on both sides of the national abortion debate see it as a historic test of public sentiment.

South Dakota lawmakers passed the ban in hopes that a subsequent court challenge might lead to the US Supreme Court overturning its 1973 Roe vs Wade decision legalising abortion. Instead of going to court, abortion-rights activists gathered enough petition signatures to put the measure to a statewide vote.

In Arizona, voters face 19 ballot measures, the most of any state, including one lottery-style proposal: As incentive for citizens to vote, it would award $1 million to a random voter in each general election.

Frustration over illegal immigrants also is huge in Arizona, which borders Mexico. Weeks after federal lawmakers approved a 1,125-km fence along the US-Mexico border, Arizonans will vote on four immigration measures: One would make English the state’s official language, another would deny bail to illegal immigrants charged with a serious felony.

... contd.