As states prepare for November’s midterm elections, many of them have already placed key referenda on the ballot. Yesterday, The Epoch Times shared a list of some of the most important ballot issues that could drastically change state laws and constitutions.

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Here are the issues you need to be praying about.

Abortion

Both Missouri and Nevada are set to consider constitutional amendments that would impact the availability of abortion in the state. Nevada voters are seeking to guarantee abortion access until fetal viability, which usually begins after 23 weeks of pregnancy. In Missouri, meanwhile, voters will consider a referendum that would repeal the state constitution’s protection of abortion until fetal viability. Though Missouri is a Republican-led state, this provision was added in 2024 with a slim margin of 51.6% support.

Meanwhile, voters in Oregon, a Democrat-led state, will consider a ballot initiative that would make abortion a protected class of activity under anti-discrimination law, allowing women to sue schools, employers, and public facilities if they face discrimination for having an abortion. In Virginia and Idaho, meanwhile, groups are still gathering signatures to add pro-abortion constitutional amendments to the ballot for November.

Transgenderism

In addition to the abortion referendum, Missouri voters will also decide this November where the state should stand on transgenderism. If this referendum is passed, minors would be protected by the state’s constitution from all forms of “gender-affirming care,” including surgeries, cross-sex hormones, and puberty blockers.

Colorado, meanwhile, will see two referenda on the ballot in November that would ban trans athletes from competing on sports teams as their chosen gender and ban “gender-affirming care” respectively. In Main, parental rights advocates are gathering signatures in support of a referendum like the former that would prohibit trans women (biological men) from competing with women and accessing women-only spaces like restrooms and locker rooms.

The Epoch Times notes that these referenda follow last year’s decisive Supreme Court ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti. In this case, the high court ruled that Tennessee’s law banning “gender-affirming care” for minors was constitutional. When this ruling was announced, we prayed it would inspire similar bans across the country. Now, it seems that prayer is being answered.

Cannabis

Nebraskans are facing a ballot initiative that would legalize recreational marijuana for people over 21. Meanwhile, voters in Idaho are facing competing referenda. One would cede the right to legalize marijuana to state legislators, preventing voters from deciding in future referendums. Two other initiatives still accumulating signatures would decriminalize cannabis and legalize its medicinal use.

Procedure

Interestingly, several states have introduced referenda to change how referendums are conducted. Both North and South Dakota will feature referendums on the ballot that would raise the threshold to pass referenda from a simple majority to 60%. Utah voters, meanwhile will decide whether to require 60% for certain tax-related changes, while Californians are expected to consider raising the vote threshold for raising a vote threshold.

Sharia

Though The Epoch Times doesn’t mention it, Steve Bannon highlighted an upcoming referendum in Texas. According to Bannon, who spoke with both state Representative Brian Harrison and national committee woman for the RNC from the state of Texas Debbie Georgatos, Texas voters will have the opportunity to ban Sharia law from the state of Texas on March 3.

This proposal follows the development of an Islamic city governed by Sharia law in the state, which dominated headlines last year. Islam is on the rise in the Lone Star State, and voters will have the chance to stop it in just a few more weeks.

As we learned in previous years, ballot initiatives can have drastic effects on states and the people who live in them. Let’s pray that voters in these states choose wisely and in ways that honor God!

How are you praying about these referenda? Share your thoughts and prayers below.

(Information taken from The Epoch Times. Photo Credit: 4kodiak/Getty Images Signature via Canva Teams)