Latest Update: Ballot Measure Results
November 5, 2025: Below are the results of key industry ballot measures in the 2025 election.
Colorado
- A Louisville, Colo. ballot measure would adopt an ordinance to amend the city’s code to prohibit residential rezoning of the Centennial Valley, Redtail Ridge and Avista Adventist Hospital; and to create an exception to such prohibition for the development of housing that includes 30% on-site deed-restricted affordable housing limited to households at or below eighty percent (80%) of the area median income (AMI).
- Status: Failed.
- A Louisville, Colo. ballot measure would adopt an ordinance to amend the city’s code to increase the categories of capital facilities for which impact fees are imposed in connection with new development (specifically including library, transportation, parks and trails, open space, recreation, emergency services, municipal buildings, water, wastewater, sewer, flood control and affordable housing).
- Status: Failed.
Montana
- A Bozeman, Mont. ballot measure would amend the code to allow developers to provide cash-in-lieu of water rights (CILWR) if they commit to designating 33% of new dwelling units as affordable. The affordable dwelling units are available to renters making 60% or less of Bozeman’s area median income (AMI) or available for sale to purchasers making 120% or less.
- Status: Failed.
New York
- New York City Question 2 would create new fast-track public processes for affordable housing by creating a new action at the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) that would grant zoning relief for publicly financed affordable housing projects. It would also establish a new, streamlined public review procedure for applications that deliver affordable housing in the community districts that have permitted the least affordable housing.
- Status: Passed.
- New York City Question 3 would create ELURP, a new, simplified review process for certain land use changes, including modest increases in how much housing is allowed, acquisition and disposition of land to facilitate affordable housing, and urgently needed climate resiliency projects.
- Status: Passed.
- New York City Question 4 would create a new Affordable Housing Appeals Board, made up of the relevant Borough President, the Speaker of the City Council and the mayor, that would replace the mayor’s veto at the end of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) for projects that would create affordable housing.
- Status: Passed.
Washington
- Bellingham Initiative 25-03 would prevent housing providers from interfering with or retaliating against renters engaging in “protected actions,” including tenant organizing, reporting legal violations, registering other residents to vote and passing out leaflets in common areas or under other tenants’ doors.
- Status: Passed.
- A Ferndale Initiative would require housing providers to disclose the monthly rent of a unit, all utilities for which the tenant is responsible for, and the amounts of any optional or mandatory fees. It also prohibits unfair or excessive fees, as well as unreasonable optional fees.
- Status: Passed.
Democrats Win Key Contests
November 5, 2025: Democratic candidates won nearly all key contests in last night's election, including:
- Virginia Governor (Abigail Spanberger)
- New Jersey Governor (Mikie Sherrill)
- New York City Mayor (Zohran Mamdani)
Deeper Dive: View full election results from the Associated Press. A further analysis of key ballot measures is expected later today.
What We’re Monitoring Ahead of Election Day
November 3, 2025: While this year is technically an “off-year” election – meaning there are few federal races on the ballot – there are still several important contests and trends for the rental housing industry to monitor.
This year’s election, which focuses heavily on local leadership and policy, will also serve as an important bellwether for the nation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, where all of the U.S. House and a third of the U.S. Senate will be up for reelection.
Some key contests this year include:
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Two states – New Jersey and Virginia – will vote for their next governor in Tuesday’s election. In New Jersey, businessman Jack Ciattarelli (R) faces Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D) and in Virginia, incumbent Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears (R) is running against former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D).
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New York City will also elect a new mayor in this year’s election, where housing affordability has been a central focus on the campaign trail for all three main candidates.
States, Localities Consider Housing Ballot Measures
November 3, 2025: 26 states and Washington, D.C. allow citizen-initiated ballot measures that place laws, issues or topics on the ballot for voters to decide. The National Apartment Association (NAA) is currently monitoring seven main ballot initiatives related to rental housing in three states.
Colorado
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A Louisville, Colo. ballot measure would adopt an ordinance to amend the city’s code to prohibit residential rezoning of the Centennial Valley, Redtail Ridge and Avista Adventist Hospital; and to create an exception to such prohibition for the development of housing that includes 30% on-site deed-restricted affordable housing limited to households at or below eighty percent (80%) of the area median income (AMI).
- Status: On the November 4, 2025, ballot.
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Louisville, Colo. ballot measure would adopt an ordinance to amend the city’s code to increase the categories of capital facilities for which impact fees are imposed in connection with new development (specifically including library, transportation, parks and trails, open space, recreation, emergency services, municipal buildings, water, wastewater, sewer, flood control and affordable housing).
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Status: On the November 4, 2025, ballot.
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Montana
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A Bozeman, Mont. ballot measure would amend the code to allow developers to provide cash-in-lieu of water rights (CILWR) if they commit to designating 33% of new dwelling units as affordable. The affordable dwelling units are available to renters making 60% or less of Bozeman’s area median income (AMI) or available for sale to purchasers making 120% or less.
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Status: On the November 4, 2025, ballot.
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New York
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New York City Question 1 would create new fast-track public processes for affordable housing by creating a new action at the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) that would grant zoning relief for publicly financed affordable housing projects. It would also establish a new, streamlined public review procedure for applications that deliver affordable housing in the community districts that have permitted the least affordable housing.
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Status: On the November 4, 2025, ballot.
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New York City Question 2 would create ELURP, a new, simplified review process for certain land use changes, including modest increases in how much housing is allowed, acquisition and disposition of land to facilitate affordable housing, and urgently needed climate resiliency projects.
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Status: On the November 4, 2025, ballot.
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New York City Question 3 would create a new Affordable Housing Appeals Board, made up of the relevant Borough President, the Speaker of the City Council and the mayor, that would replace the mayor’s veto at the end of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) for projects that would create affordable housing.
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Status: On the November 4, 2025, ballot.
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Washington
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Bellingham Initiative 25-03 would prevent housing providers from interfering with or retaliating against renters engaging in “protected actions,” including tenant organizing, reporting legal violations, registering other residents to vote and passing out leaflets in common areas or under other tenants’ doors.
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Status: On the November 4, 2025, ballot.
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Additionally, two statewide ballot measures have been filed in Massachusetts ahead of the 2026 election. The first measure would establish a limit on any annual rent increase for a covered dwelling unit which shall not exceed the increase in Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 5%, whichever is lower. The second would establish an eviction right to counsel program and would provide legal representation to eligible low-income tenants, occupants or owner-occupants of 1-3 unit dwellings in any eviction proceedings. Both measures still need to collect enough signatures to be on the November 2026 ballot.
California also has two measures to monitor ahead of 2026:
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Salinas Ordinance 25-188 would repeal the city’s rent stabilization and rental protection ordinance. This measure has been voted on by the city council to put the ordinance on the 2026 ballot.
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Redwood City has an initiative to add a Fair and Affordable Housing Ordinance, which would limit rent increases to 5% a year or 60% of the inflation rate based on the CPI, whichever less, and strengthen protections such as Just Cause Eviction to prevent evictions. This ordinance is currently in the beginning stages of gathering signatures in support of the ordinance to place it on the 2026 ballot.
What’s Next
As always, NAA will continue to stand strong for the rental housing industry and promote sustainable solutions that ease affordability challenges and protect the nation’s housing infrastructure for the future. Stay updated with the latest in housing politics with NAA’s Apartment Advocate.