Don’t Forget: Gay Marriage, Marijuana & Death Penalty On The Ballot, Too

Presidential election can overshadow lesser-known initiatives with big impacts

Did you know that voters in four states are today deciding whether gays and lesbians should have the same marriage rights are heterosexuals? What about the three states pushing legalization of recreational use of weed? And, in California, they may overturn the state’s death penalty. With so much focus on the contest between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, little attention has been given to state ballot initiatives that could have significance for the country as a whole. Here’s a breakdown of what to watch as election results come in across the nation this evening:

Gay Marriage: Voters in Maine, Maryland and Washington will decide whether they will legalize same sex marriage. Voters in Minnesota will vote on a ban. President Obama has endorsed the legalization in the latter three states and urged a NO vote on Minnesota’s ban.

Marijuana Legalization: Voters in Washington, Oregon and Colorado might do something that no other state has done. The Associated Press reports that Oregon’s proposal has lagged in gaining support, while Washington and Colorado laws are looking like they’ll pass. Legalization, of course, would put the states at odds with federal drug laws.

Death Penalty: Voters in the Golden State could repeal their state’s death penalty, which would result in sentence conversions for hundreds of inmates on death row in California.

[ALSO READ: ‘Don’t Be Scurred:’ Avoiding Problems At The Polls]

To see other state interesting ballot initiatives, click here. (AP)