With the legalization of marijuana on the line for several states in yesterday's elections more young voters came out to hit the polls.
Young voters made a larger share of the electorate in Florida yesterday than they did in the past to vote for Amendment 2 - a proposed law that could have legalized marijuana.
Data from a preliminary exit poll on Florida's Amendment 2 ballot measure, which would have legalized marijuana if passed, shows that voters ages 18-29 made up 14 percent of the electorate this year. This number is up compared to 2010 where only 8 percent of voters were from the same age bracket.
Amendment 2 was short three percent of the vote, causing marijuana to remain illegal in the state.
Several other parts of the country did legalize marijuana during yesterday's elections.
Oregon passed a ballot measure that legalized recreational marijuana for residents 21 and older to possess and grow the plant. It's up to the state liquor control commission to regulate the pot, reports TIME.
In Washington D.C. a ballot measure referred to a "soft legalization" of marijuana was passed. It's now legal for residents of the nation's capital who are 21 and older to possess up to two-ounces of pot, grow up to six plants and give one-ounce to someone else without payment, reports TIME. Marijuana is still illegal on federal land, as well as selling the substance.
Alaska approved Ballot 2 yesterday, which also legalized marijuana. The law was years in the making - similar proposed laws were shut down in 2000 and 2004, reports Alaskan Dispatch News.
Also during the elections Guam became the first U.S. territory to legalize medical marijuana and South Portland, Maine legalized carrying one-ounce of marijuana although it's illegal on the state level.
