Homeowner’s Guide to the Midterm Election Ballot Measures: Key Initiatives on Property Taxes, Zoning, and Affordable Housing

Voters in 10 states will have the chance to approve ballot measures this year, including a half-dozen changes to property taxes and one that could change statewide zoning.The 2026 midterm elections include six different proposed changes to property tax systems, all in states across the South and West. There are also three voter-created referenda in California, as well as one each in Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Rhode Island. Voters will consider statewide law changes for starter homes, homebuyer assistance, bond authority, and more.Housing affordability has been top of mind this year in both Washington, DC, and statehouses nationwide. Dozens of states have pitched new housing laws aimed at making it easier to buy a home. Congress passed the 21st Century Road to Housing Act to expedite building. But it will take years for its impacts to show.For new buyers, it's been a difficult housing market, and many say housing is a top concern. Young people are increasingly pessimistic they'll ever afford a home.California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Rhode Island all earned an F grade on the Realtor.com® State-by-State Housing Report Card, part of the Let America Build campaign, which tracks how ...