2009 ballot measures
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 2009.
In the United States, a ballot measure is a law, issue, or question that appears on a statewide or local ballot for voters of that jurisdiction to decide.
- HBM Factbooks
- List of ballot measures by state
- Other years
Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks
The inventory of statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks, which document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and voters on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life. Click here to access the state historical ballot measure factbooks.
List of ballot measures by state
California
See also: California 2009 ballot measures
May 19
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1A | Taxes; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Extend tax increases passed under the February 2009 budget bill for one to two years |  | 1,668,216 (35%) | 3,152,141 (65%) | |
| Proposition 1B | Education | Make supplemental appropriations for K-12 schools and community colleges annually beginning in 2011-12 until reaching a total of $9.3 billion, dependent on approval of Proposition 1A | | 1,834,242 (38%) | 2,975,560 (62%) | |
| Proposition 1C | Gambling policy; Taxes; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Authorize borrowing against future lottery proceeds, repeal the requirement that lottery revenue be used only for education, and revise lottery management details | | 1,708,800 (36%) | 3,085,138 (64%) | |
| Proposition 1D | Healthcare facility funding; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Tobacco laws | Redirect $268 million in annual tobacco tax revenue currently earmarked for First Five early childhood development programs | | 1,633,107 (34%) | 3,157,680 (66%) | |
| Proposition 1E | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Redirect funds from Proposition 63 of 2004 for a two-year period to support mental health programs through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program | | 1,597,907 (34%) | 3,169,163 (66%) | |
| Proposition 1F | Salaries of government officials | Prohibit pay increases for state legislators and certain state executive officials in years that the state is experiencing a budget deficit |
| 3,565,419 (74%) | 1,237,694 (26%) |
Maine
See also: Maine 2009 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Family-related policy; LGBTQ issues | Prohibit same-sex couples from marrying |
| 300,848 (53%) | 267,828 (47%) | |
| Question 2 | Sales taxes; Transportation | Reduce the municipal excise tax on newer motor vehicles and exempting hybrid, alternative energy, and highly fuel-efficient vehicles from sales tax and three years of excise tax | | 145,610 (28%) | 370,391 (72%) | |
| Question 3 | Public education governance | Repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restoring the prior school governance laws | | 228,952 (42%) | 320,334 (58%) | |
| Question 4 | Tax and revenue administration; Revenue and spending limits | Change the formulas that limit state and local government spending and requiring voter approval for spending above those limits and for state tax increases | | 223,059 (40%) | 336,144 (60%) | |
| Question 5 | Marijuana laws | Expand the medical marijuana law to cover more medical conditions and establishing a regulated distribution system |
| 332,038 (59%) | 232,024 (41%) | |
| Question 6 | Bond issues; Transportation | Allow an issue of $71.25 million in bonds for transportation and infrastructure improvements, including funding for LifeFlight |
| 363,537 (65%) | 192,789 (35%) | |
| Question 7 | Initiative and referendum process | Increase amount of time that local officials have to certify the signatures on direct initiative petitions from five days to ten days | | 260,887 (48%) | 285,385 (52%) |
New Jersey
See also: New Jersey 2009 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Space Bond Issue | Environment; Bond issues |
| 818,986 (52%) | 744,814 (48%) |
New York
See also: New York 2009 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Forestry and timber; Public land policy | Authorize a six‑acre forest preserve land exchange with National Grid to install a 46 kV transmission line in St. Lawrence County. |
| 968,505 (67%) | 469,666 (33%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Prison work regulations | Authorize inmates to voluntarily work for nonprofit organizations. |
| 998,829 (68%) | 467,679 (32%) |
Ohio
See also: Ohio 2009 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issue 1 | Veterans policy; Bond issues | Authorize the issuance of bonds to provide compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts |
| 2,277,521 (72%) | 876,520 (28%) | |
| Issue 2 | Animal treatment laws | Establish the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to establish and implement standards of care for livestock and poultry |
| 2,020,851 (64%) | 1,148,538 (36%) | |
| Issue 3 | Gambling policy | Authorize one casino facility within certain cities, levy a fixed tax of 33% of gross casino revenue, and establish the distribution of tax revenue |
| 1,713,288 (53%) | 1,519,636 (47%) |
Texas
See also: Texas 2009 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Authorize financing for buffer zone purchases near military installations to prevent encroachment and for infrastructure projects supporting the installation. |
| 580,030 (55%) | 470,746 (45%) | |
| Proposition 10 | Local official term limits | Set term limits up to four years for elected members of emergency services district boards. |
| 759,059 (73%) | 279,566 (27%) | |
| Proposition 11 | Eminent domain policy | Prohibit government land acquisition for non-public use and require individual property assessments for blight before labelled as blighted. |
| 848,651 (81%) | 198,822 (19%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Property; Taxes | Allow the legislature to tax a residence homestead based on the value of that property |
| 722,427 (68%) | 336,559 (32%) | |
| Proposition 3 | Taxes; Property | Provide uniform standards and procedures for property appraisal for tax purposes. |
| 691,294 (66%) | 363,703 (34%) | |
| Proposition 4 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Education | Create the national research university fund to support state universities' national prominence, utilizing resources from the higher education fund. |
| 593,773 (57%) | 453,319 (43%) | |
| Proposition 5 | Taxes | Allow homestead taxation based on residential value, a board of equalizations by adjoining appraisal entities, and uniform appraisal standards. |
| 631,365 (62%) | 390,080 (38%) | |
| Proposition 6 | Veterans policy; Bond issues | Authorize the sale of state bonds to finance land and home loans for Texas veterans, ensuring outstanding bonds do not exceed limits. |
| 672,285 (66%) | 351,036 (34%) | |
| Proposition 7 | Military service policy | Allow members of the Texas State Guard and other state military forces to hold civil offices. |
| 764,994 (73%) | 281,855 (27%) | |
| Proposition 8 | Healthcare facility funding; Veterans policy | Authorize the state to allocate funds, property, and resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans hospitals. |
| 789,703 (75%) | 265,627 (25%) | |
| Proposition 9 | Property | Provide protections for public beach access and use. |
| 805,362 (77%) | 241,522 (23%) |
Washington
See also: Washington 2009 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiative 1033 | Revenue and spending limits; Tax and revenue administration | Limitsgrowth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth | | 434,051 (45%) | 538,768 (55%) | |
| Referendum 71 | Family-related policy; LGBTQ issues | Expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded to state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses |
| 951,822 (53%) | 838,842 (47%) |
Other years
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also
Footnotes
