Colorado has approved an income tax increase on higher-earning households to fund meals for public school students

Voters in several states approved amendments to state constitutions and changes to state law during Tuesday’s election. Among the most notable were a California redistricting proposal tied to the broader national fight over control of the U.S. House after the 2026 elections, a “red flag” gun law in Maine, and a Texas measure on water preservation.

Ballot measures were also considered in Colorado, New York, and Washington. A large share of the total—17 of the 26 statewide measures—were on the ballot in Texas, and all 17 are projected to pass. Below is a breakdown of key issues and the results as of Wednesday afternoon.

Redistricting

California voters passed Proposition 50, a constitutional amendment sent to the ballot by the legislature that allows the state to use a new congressional district map until 2030. Although counting continues, the measure is passing by a substantial margin and ranks as one of the most expensive campaigns in California history.

The new map is expected to benefit Democrats in U.S. House races, making five seats more competitive or potentially Democratic-leaning. Gov. Gavin Newsom backed the measure as a response to Texas Republicans, who approved a map expected to flip five Democratic-held seats. After the 2030 election, Proposition 50 requires that the authority to draw district boundaries be returned to California’s independent redistricting commission.

Typically, congressional maps are only redrawn following the decennial census; mid-decade changes are uncommon. However, multiple states are now weighing adjustments to their maps.

Voting

Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment stating that “persons who are not citizens of the United States” cannot vote in the state. Eight other states adopted comparable language in 2024. Voting in U.S. elections is already restricted to citizens under state and federal law, and instances of noncitizen voting are exceedingly rare.

In contrast, Maine voters rejected a citizen-led proposal that bundled together several changes to state voting laws, including limiting absentee voting and requiring voters to show a photo ID before casting a ballot, either in person or by absentee ballot.

Gun Laws

Maine voters passed Question 2, a citizen-initiated “red flag” measure allowing courts to “temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger” to themselves or others. PBS News noted that this vote comes two years after Maine’s deadliest mass shooting.

Parental Rights

Texas voters also approved a constitutional amendment affirming “that parents are the primary decision makers for their children.” The Texas Tribune previously described the measure as reinforcing rights already recognized in federal court rulings. Although the proposal received bipartisan legislative backing, The Nation reported that advocacy supporting the amendment was primarily driven by conservative groups.