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Voters in several states approved ballot measures on November 3 restricting transgender participation in women's and girls' sports and tightening citizenship and voter-identification rules, even as Democrats won control of Congress in the same election.
Multiple states pass measures blocking men in women's sports and requiring citizenship to vote. Nebraska, Colorado, Washington and Arizona ban males on female teams, while Arkansas, North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia strengthen citizenship and ID requirements for voting.
Women's sports: In Nebraska, Initiative Measure 442 passed with about 68% support, putting into the state constitution that school sports teams designated for females are not open to students of the male sex; the Associated Press called the measure. In Arizona, Proposition 318 passed with about 58% support according to Decision Desk HQ, requiring athletes to play on teams and use private locker rooms and facilities based on their biological sex and extending the state's existing public-school restrictions to private schools.
In Colorado, Proposition 134 passed with 52.2% support in unofficial Secretary of State returns, requiring school and college teams to be designated male, female or coed based on biological sex; it applies to public and private K-12 schools and colleges and takes effect January 1. In Washington, Initiative 638 was leading with 56.76% (1,119,192 votes to 852,539) with about 60% counted, but had not been formally called as of Wednesday morning — it would require a health-care provider's statement verifying the biological sex of students seeking to compete on girls' K-12 teams. Washington was leading, not yet called; it is not presented here as finally certified.
Citizenship and voter ID: In Arkansas and South Dakota, voters backed new laws barring noncitizen voting in local elections, and West Virginia added a similar restriction to its state constitution. In North Carolina, a voter ID measure passed with 60% support, and in Ohio a voter ID amendment was approved by 66% of voters — in both states Democrats also won a Senate seat, underlining that the ballot-measure results did not simply track the top of the ticket.
Supporters argue the measures protect fairness in women's sports and the integrity of elections. Critics argue noncitizen voting is already forbidden in federal elections and rare, and that the sports measures discriminate against transgender students and the voting measures could restrict ballot access. Results remain unofficial until canvassed and certified.
Note the other direction for balance, briefly: in California, 60% of voters rejected a proposed voter ID law, and Arizona voters turned down a broad election-reform measure that included citizenship and voter ID requirements.
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