2009 ballot measures
From Ballotpedia
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| Measures by year |
| Measures by state |
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Three states -- Maine, Ohio and Washington -- of the several dozen states with initiative or referendum offer this option in odd-numbered years. In each of the three states, the petition process was used to qualify measures for the ballot that are traditional hot-button issues, including marriage, taxes, casinos, school consolidation, and marijuana.
The less-well-known veto referendum process took center stage in 2009, with R-71 in Washington and Question 1 and Question 3 in Maine. (In the off-year election of 2007 in Utah, voters used their right of veto referendum to toss out a school choice law.)
Comparison to other years
There are typically far fewer statewide ballot measures on the ballot in odd-numbered years than in even-numbered years. This is because:
- Only three states that allow ballot initiatives allow them in odd-numbered years.
- Laws about amending state constitutions also prohibit many state legislatures from putting legislatively-referred constitutional amendments on the ballot at times other than general elections in even-numbered years.
- Ohio voters may see livestock care standards countermeasure
- Push for Bingo amendment apparent in Alabama
- Proposed Arizona sales tax increase solidified for May ballot
- Majority of school bond referendums defeated in Illinois
- Two measures slated for May ballot removed in Nebraska
- Maine legislators propose stricter rules for petition circulation
- Tax increase one step closer to Arizona ballot
- Majority of Chicagoland referenda defeated
- Ohio Third Frontier bond issue headed for May ballot
- Mississippi personhood amendment supporters seek signature deadline clarification
Comparing 2009 just to other odd-numbered years, there are fewer statewide measures on the ballot than has been the case for at least the last 20 years.
| Year | # of states with measures | # of measures on ballot |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 7 | 32 |
| 2007 | 9 | 43 |
| 2005 | 12 | 45 |
| 2003 | 14 | 67 |
| 2001 | 9 | 39 |
| 1999 | 16 | 71 |
| 1997 | 7 | 41 |
| 1995 | 7 | 33 |
| 1993 | 10 | 44 |
| 1991 | 5 | 34 |
| 1989 | 8 | 36 |
Statistical summary of 2009 election results
- See also: 2009 ballot measure election results
Initiated measures
This chart includes all initiated statewide measures on 2009 ballots.
| Type of ballot measure | How many on ballot? | How many won? | How many lost? |
|---|---|---|---|
| initiated state statute | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| initiated constitutional amendment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Initiative to the People | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Veto referendum | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 4 | 4 |
Legislative and other referrals
This chart includes all referred statewide measures on 2009 ballots.
| Type of ballot measure | How many on ballot? | How many won? | How many lost? |
|---|---|---|---|
| legislatively-referred state statute | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| legislatively-referred constitutional amendment | 16 | 15 | 1 |
| Total | 18 | 17 | 1 |
November statewide
Maine
- See also: Maine 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VR | Question 1 | Marriage | Attempt to repeal new same-sex law | 
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| CISS | Question 2 | Taxes | Tax reduction for citizens who follow certain energy efficiency requirements | 
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| CISS | Question 3 | Education | Repeal the law mandating school district restructuring |
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| CISS | Question 4 | Taxes | Increases in government spending tied to inflation and population increases |
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| CISS | Question 5 | Marijuana | De-criminalize marijuana used medically |
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| LRSS | Question 6 | Bonds | $71 million in bonds |
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| LRCA | Question 7 | Elections | Increase the amount of time to certify signatures |
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New Jersey
- See also: New Jersey 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRSS | Open Space Bonds | Bond issues | $400 million for open space, farmland, historic areas |
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New York
- See also: New York 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Proposal 1 | Environment | Retroactively approve power line along State Route 56 on six acres of forest preserve lands |
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| LRCA | Proposal 2 | Admin of gov't | Allow prisoners to perform volunteer work for nonprofit organizations |
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Ohio
- See also: Ohio 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Issue 1 | Bonds | $200 million for vets of Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq |
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| LRCA | Issue 2 | Animals | Establish board to set livestock care standards |
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| CICA | Issue 3 | Gambling | Allow casinos in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo |
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Texas
- See also: Texas 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Proposition 1 | Bond issues | To aqcuire open spaces adjacent to military installations |
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| LRCA | Proposition 2 | Property tax | Provide for the taxation of a residence on basis of value, procedures for ad valorem. |
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| LRCA | Proposition 3 | Property tax | Providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property |
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| LRCA | Proposition 4 | Education | Funding research universities |
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| LRCA | Proposition 5 | Property tax | Single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities |
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| LRCA | Proposition 6 | Bond issues | Issue general obligation bonds same or less than authorized |
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| LRCA | Proposition 7 | Admin of gov't | Allow state militia to hold other civil offices |
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| LRCA | Proposition 8 | Veterans' affairs | Authorization of state to give money to veterans hospitals. |
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| LRCA | Proposition 9 | Property rights | Right of access to public beaches |
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| LRCA | Proposition 10 | Term limits | Terms of members on board of emergency service districts will not exceed four years |
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| LRCA | Proposition 11 | Eminent domain | Limiting public from private properties |
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Washington
- See also: Washington 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITP | Initiative 1033 | Taxes | Limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth |
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| VR | Referendum 71 | Marriage | Expansion of domestic partnership rights |
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May statewide
California
In order to free up $5.8 billion to help close the state's $42 billion budget gap, a special election took place on May 19 where voters statewide voted on a package of constitutional amendments.[1]
| Number | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1A | Prop 1A combines a 4-year tax hike of about $16 billion with a state spending cap |
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| Proposition 1B | Modification of California Proposition 98 (1998) to free up money for state's budget overruns. |
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| Proposition 1C | Sell rights to future lottery proceeds as a way of raising some cash now for state budget. |
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| Proposition 1D | Asks voters to approve taking money from Prop 10 in 1998 for purposes not allowed in that 1998 vote. |
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| Proposition 1E | Asks voters to take money from Prop 63 for purposes not allowed in that 2004 vote. |
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| Proposition 1F | No pay raises for state legislators in years when there is a state budget deficit |
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Hundreds of local measures
- See also: Local ballot measures in 2009
Local ballot measures were on the November 3, 2009 ballot in at least 29 states.
See also
- 2009 ballot measure calendar
- Petition drive deadlines, 2009
- Polls, 2009 ballot measures
- How to find campaign finance information about ballot measure campaigns
- Six states prepare to face off in November 3rd elections
External links
Additional reading
- USA Today,"State ballots tackle controversial issues Tuesday," November 1, 2009
- Daily Kos,"Election Night 2009: A Viewer's Guide," November 1, 2009
- Initiative & Referendum Institute,"Ballotwatch 2009," October 17, 2009
References
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "With budget stalemate over, next move is up to California voters", February 20, 2009
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