Candidates are not the only thing on the ballot Tuesday. Voters in 39 states are weighing in on 145 statewide questions. A record 39 of them deal with how elections themselves are run. Others take on abortion, congressional maps, taxes and the rights of transgender youth.

Abortion in four states

Abortion is before voters in four states. Idaho, Nevada and Virginia have measures that would protect abortion rights, generally up to fetal viability. Idaho stands apart because it currently enforces a total ban, so a win there would likely end up in court.

Missouri is moving in the other direction. Amendment 3 would repeal the abortion rights amendment voters approved in 2024 and replace it with a broad ban that allows exceptions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies and rape or incest before 12 weeks. It would also limit gender transition care for minors. A no vote keeps the current protections in place.

A record year for election rules

Six voter identification measures are on the ballot this fall, the most ever. California voters are considering a Republican-backed constitutional change requiring ID at the polls and the last four digits of an ID number for mail ballots, though polls suggest it faces a tough climb. A similar plan in Arizona, Proposition 144, shows much stronger support.

Voter ID proposals have a strong track record. Of 13 such measures between 2004 and 2025, voters approved 10. Six states also have measures saying only U.S. citizens may vote, a type of proposal that has passed every time since 2018 even though noncitizens already cannot vote in federal races.

In Alaska, Measure 2 would scrap the top four primary and ranked choice general election and bring back a traditional party primary. Alaskans narrowly kept the current system two years ago by just 743 votes.

Maps on the line

Missouri, Colorado and Maryland voters will settle redistricting fights that could shape House races in 2028. Missouri's Proposition A asks whether to keep new congressional lines drawn last fall by the Republican-led legislature. Polls show the state split almost evenly on it.

Results for many of these questions may come in faster than the close candidate races, though a handful are expected to be tight enough to take days to call.