On Nov. 3, the nation will head to the polls for the midterms, where Brown students have historically not pulled their weight. In 2022, the last midterm election cycle, only 32.1% of eligible Brown students cast their ballots according to Brown Votes’s internal polling records, compared to 46% nationally. Continuing this pattern would see Brown students turning out at a disappointing rate next week. With many critical issues on the ballot across the country, it’s more important now than ever to make your voice heard.
There are some high-profile congressional campaigns that are getting a lot of airtime this cycle. However, high-profile Senate races like those in Michigan, Texas and Maine aren’t the only things on the ballot in November: There are also consequential ballot measures being put to voters in 40 states. While you may feel as if ballot measures in states ruled by a single-party are a foregone conclusion, they still present divisive questions. Even if your state feels strongly red or blue, many of these entrenched states have hotly-contested ballot measures that should get you excited to vote.
Though some assume that voters will vote along party lines on ballot measures, there are cases across the country where ballot measures could go either way. Proposition 39 in California, for example, would institute a voter identification rule for both mail and in-person voting. This law, which would require personal identifying information to be attached to all mail in ballots, could affect Brown students’ right to vote in future elections. It’s shocking how close of a race this is, as voter ID laws are typically passed in Republican states rather than Democratic ones. Even though California is a solidly blue state, 10 recent polls show a vast gap in predicted outcomes of the measure — from +17 in favor to +13 against. Idaho, Nevada and Virginia will decide whether to enshrine abortion rights in their state constitutions this upcoming election. Although Idaho has been solidly red for over 60 years, voting Republican in every presidential election since 1968, polls taken last November show that around 59-61% of voters support Proposition 1, which would protect reproductive freedom in the state.
Therefore, you cannot write off a state’s election based on how strongly blue or red the state is. In fact, you might even be surprised by how states choose to vote on certain issues. For example, several traditionally conservative states have enshrined abortion protections since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. While President Trump won the 2024 elections in Montana and Missouri, these two deep-red states voted in favor of preserving abortion access that same election, showing that the outcomes of ballot elections are far from a foregone conclusion.
The issues on Brown students’ ballots are ones they should care about. Reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights and redistricting are just examples of what they will decide this election cycle. Colorado voters, for example, will consider Proposition 135, which would ban gender-affirming surgery for minors, and Virginia voters will decide whether to recognize same-sex marriage in their state constitution. Missouri will put a gerrymandered map drawn by Republican lawmakers to voters for approval. Other states, such as Texas, Florida and Indiana, have considered redistricting, which means your vote for state senator or representative could affect this issue even further. These issues deal with the constitutional rights of Americans and deserve to be carefully considered by all eligible voters. Ballot measures give Brown students the opportunity to directly provide their voice on these issues.
Even when it comes to measures that aren’t closely contested, their results in stronghold states can still encourage action in swing districts and on the national level. This phenomenon is known as policy diffusion, when initiatives passed in one state influence other states to adopt similar legislation. New measures can sometimes spread rapidly throughout states — AMBER Alert laws were passed across all fifty states in the span of just six years. If ballot measures cannot garner support in stronghold states, it sets a tone about taking action in other states, making turnout in local elections important to other states across the country.
Even in a solidly blue city like Providence, there are issues on the ballot where just one vote can make a difference. Brunonians who vote in Providence will decide on five statewide ballot measures and two city-level ballot questions on the November ballot. Though Rhode Island is one of the most Democratic states in the country, these state and local ballot measures are divisive — particularly Providence’s Question 7, which asks about divestment from “foreign countries conducting ethnic cleansing, apartheid, illegal military occupation, or genocide.” Providence officials have said that Question 7, which was supported by Providence for Palestine, is the first-ever citizen-led initiative to make the ballot in Providence. Mayor Smiley opposes the initiative, while State Rep. David Morales MPA ’19, the Democratic nominee for mayor, has expressed support for it.
So get out and vote this Nov. 3rd! If you haven’t requested your absentee ballot yet, make sure to do so now. To see what is on your ballot this November, check with Ballotopedia’s sample ballot lookup.
Nihil Suthy ’27 and Alissa Kraus ’29 are the Advocacy Chairs of Brown Votes, Lillian Gale ’28 is a Civic Engagement Fellow, Rosie Shultz ’27 is a Civic Engagement Communications Fellow and Ava Srivastava ’29 is a member of Brown Votes’ advocacy team. They can be reached at nihil_suthy@brown.edu, alissa_kraus@brown.edu, lillian_gale@brown.edu, rosetta_shultz@brown.edu and ava_srivastava@brown.edu. Please send responses to this op-ed to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
