They can vote to legalise marijuana, gay marriage or assisted suicide. They can choose to ban late abortion, affirmative action for women, or the use of languages other than English. They can set limits on logging and gun use, and they can delete and impose tax regulations.
Voters in the United States mid-term elections tomorrow have many decisions to take. For a large number of voters, the task of electing congressional, state and local political leaders is just the beginning. In most states, voters must also decide on dozens of 'ballot propositions' - in effect referendums on some of the most divisive public issues of the age.
Twenty years after California's landmark Proposition 13 tax revolt - which slashed the state's property taxes - government by referendum has penetrated deep into the electoral process, especially in states west of the Mississippi. In several US states, every election is routinely accompanied by a list of propositions, often placed there by citizens' groups which have collected the requisite signatures to put the issue on the ballot.
"There's something on the list for everyone," said Brandon Bailey, a California journalist who is covering his state's 12 ballot measures.
Historically, most citizen initiatives have come from rightwing campaigners. Originally, they focused on taxpayer issues like Proposition 13, and tax remains a frequent target. In recent elections, however, ballot propositions have been used to promote a wider conservative agenda, such as rolling back affirmative action or restricting immigrant rights.
But environmental campaigners have also used ballots, to promote restrictions on logging and nuclear power and to protect hunted and endangered species. Special interest groups, such as homosexuals and native Indians, have attempted to get support for causes through the ballots.
More recently, business and industry have starting pressing for referendums on causes matching their interests - in such areas as planning regulations and union rights.
"The issues that have generated the most heat this year have been the ones on which special interests have been spending millions of dollars," Mr Bailey said in California.
"By that standard the big three here are a dispute over Indian casinos [on native reservations], a proposal for raising tobacco taxes, and a plan to slash electricity rates."
Overall, fewer ballot propositions will be decided in this year's mid-term elections than in 1994 and 1996. But the key referendums are being fought as fiercely as ever and in some states they have become the dominant campaign controversies.
Among the principal battles this year are:
Abortion Voters in Colorado and Washington state must decide on whether late-term "partial birth" abortions should be prohibited. Colorado voters are also asked to decide whether a minor seeking an abortion should be required to notify both parents.
Affirmative action Washington state must decide whether to end gender and racial preferences for public sector jobs and contracts.
Assisted suicide Michigan, the state at the centre of the 'mercy killing' campaign by Jack Kevorkian, will vote on whether to overturn a ban on assisted suicide, allowing doctors to provide medication to end the life of a terminally ill patient.
Drugs Five states and the District of Columbia will vote on whether to legalise the possession and distribution of marijuana for medical use. The five are Alaska, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. In addition, Oregon will vote on whether to legalise marijuana possession for non-medical use.
Gambling California must decide whether to widen existing permission for casinos on Indian land. In Missouri, where riverboat gambling is legal, voters must decide whether to shut permanently moored boat casinos.
Gay marriage Alaska and Hawaii both face votes on banning same-sex marriage laws. Alaska's ballot would amend the state constitution to confine marriage to "one man and one woman", while Hawaii will decide whether to give the state legislature the power to make a similar restriction.
Hunting Several states have votes on anti-hunting and species preservation measures. Among the animals whose fates are in the voters' hands are wolves in Alaska, coyotes in California, pigs in Colorado and fighting cocks in Arizona and Missouri.
Among several states with tax reform ballots on Tuesday, Montana will decide whether to insist that all state and local taxes must be put to a referendum before they can be levied. In Nebraska, a business-sponsored proposition to put a cap on state spending and taxation has dwarfed all other election issues as politicians from both parties struggle to prevent the proposition's spending curbs.
Tobacco Film director Rob Reiner is leading a campaign in California for a vote to raise tobacco taxes by 50 cents a pack, with the proceeds earmarked for child development programmes.
Voting Oregon decides whether to become the first state to require all voting in state elections and primaries to be conducted by postal ballot.
