attention, and money over the next 11 months.

But, as Lisa Desjardins explains, other votes next## year could significantly influence the# presidential cam LISA DESJARDINS: Activists around# the country are teeing up state## ballot measures on a host of issues in 2024 Watching all of them has been Reid# Wilson, founder of Pluribus News,# which focuses on state-level news and# policy, also friend of the "NewsHou OK, Reid, I can imagine some people# hearing this will be like, OK,## state initiatives, not the most, let's# say, scintilla can you help us understand how big and# important these measures have become?

REID WILSON, Founder, Pluribus News: Yes, in# a lot of states, a ballot measure most expensive political campaign# that happens on a statewid LISA DESJARDINS: Really?

And we're seeing the same level of# spending in a lot of other states on## issues where these big corporations# have billions of dollars at stake.

LISA DESJARDINS: These are niche# issues sometimes, but, sometimes,## they're broad issues as well, like we# have We have seen, when abortion is on the# ballot or perceived to be on the ballot,## voters have been turning out.

That# includes in Ohio in 2023, when that## state pretty easily passed a measure changing the# Constitution, enshrining abortion rights there.

So I want to ask you, in 2024, what do you see for# the landscape for abortion the ballot in states?

REID WILSON: This really reminds me of 20 years# ago, when gay marriage was on -- gay marriage## bans were on the ballot in 11 states# during a presidential year.

In 2024,## we're likely to see abortion-related ballot# measures on the ballot in about a dozen states.

And that includes some pretty swing# states, places like Nevada, Arizona,## even Florida.

We could see abortion rights# measures on the ballot.

We will see an abortion## restriction measure on the ballot in Iowa.

Now,# a lot of these are still collecting signatures,## so we're not 100 percent certain that# they're going to be on the ballot.

But it's very clear that abortion# rights supporters have figured that putting these measures in front# of voters is a really good way to d (CROSSTALK) it is policy, but this is also politics.

REID WILSON: Well, sure.

It's po supporters have not lost at the ballot box# since Roe v. Wade was struck down.

And I'm## including in states like Montana, Kansas,# and Kentucky.

And those are very red states.

If they can get this issue in front of voters,# so far, they have got a perfect record.

LISA DESJARDINS: We have also seen in this# political era elections themselves o What do you see in terms of voters being# able to weigh in on who gets to vote and how?

REID WILSON: Yes, there are a wide variety of## election-related measures that are# out there circ The most popular are measures to implement# ranked-choice voting.

That i to pick four or five candidates who would# advance to a general election and then pick## among four or five, regardless of party.

Only# two states allow ranked-choice voting now,## Alaska and Maine, but it's going to be on# the ballot this year in Nevada and Oregon.## And it may be on the ballot in places like# Colorado, Idaho, Missouri and Montana as well.

Alaska, as a matter of fact, is trying# to roll back their ranked-choice voting.## Some other measures, independent redistricting# committees, are likely to be on the ba Ohio, changing the way that they draw# their congressional district lines,## and then things like no-fault absentee voting,# which is going to be on the ba We think of Connecticut as a very liberal state.# Well, you can't get an absentee ballot there,## like you can in swing states# or very conservative states.

LISA DESJARDINS: In the last bit of time that# we have, I want to ask about In California, a state that is# facing a real budget crunch,## there is a ballot measure where voters# will get to weigh in on maybe a new## large expense about housing and# mental health.

What's going on?

REID WILSON: Governor Gavin Newsom and# the Democratic legislature a measure this year that would# -- now goes to voters in March.

Voters will be asked to approve $6.4 billion# in bonds to pay for housing for those with## mental health challenges or substance# use disorder, and focused, by the way,## on veterans as well.

I mean, homelessness# is a massive crisis in California and in## the rest of the country as well.

This# represents a massive investment in## trying to get a lot of people off the# streets into housing, into treatment.

It would spend more than a billion dollars# on housing alone, more than $4 bill treating those with some issues that# are keeping them on the streets.

LISA DESJARDINS: And all of this direct# democracy, we will see what the voters say.

Thank you so much, Reid Wilson.

REID WILSO