07 November, 2016
American voters are electing more than a new president and vice president on Tuesday.
Voters will also be filling all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives. In addition, they are deciding 34 U.S. Senate races, 12 state governorships and hundreds of local issues.
The issues include legalization of the drug marijuana, gun control, health care and even the minimum wage.
The website Ballotpedia.com reports there are a total of 154 statewide measures on ballots in 35 states, affecting over 200 million people.
The site reports that 82 million people live in states where voters could legalize marijuana. Reports say more than 21 million live in states where voters could increase the minimum wage -- the lowest wages permitted under the law.
Ballot measures to increase restrictions on gun ownership could affect more than 50 million people. Taxes on tobacco products could increase for more than 51 million people.
In California, voters will decide if the state government should ban plastic bags -- those used in many stores. They also are being asked whether the state should require men in pornographic films to wear condoms.
Voters in Maine will decide if they want their state to create a system of voting that requires one or more votes until the winner receives a majority of the ballots.
The website Curbed.com says voters in 25 states are being asked to approve spending a total of $200 billion on transportation infrastructure, such as road improvements.
Politico.com reports medical marijuana could soon be legal in a majority of the states. And the number of states that ban executions could reach 21 -- the highest in American history.
I'm Christopher Jones-Cruise.
Christopher Jones-Cruise wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
minimum wage – n. an amount of money that is the least amount of money per hour that workers must be paid according to the law
bag – n. a container made of thin material (such as paper, plastic, or cloth) that opens at the top and is used for holding or carrying things
condom – n. a form of birth control used by men