Results are in from yesterday's elections in Idaho, Nebraska, and Oregon. Check back soon for a summary of what happened.
2012 ballot measures
From Ballotpedia
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98 ballot questions are certified for spots on 31 statewide ballots in 2012, as of May 14, 2012.
Historically, even-numbered election years feature significantly higher measures than odd-numbered years. In 2010 alone, 184 ballot questions were certified for spots on 38 statewide ballots. In comparison, only 34 ballot measures were on the ballot in 9 states in 2011.
So far, a total of 6 elections have been scheduled for 2012.
Overview pages
By date
May 8
a North Carolina Same-Sex Marriage, Amendment 1 (May 2012)
June 5
- California Proposition 28, Change in Term Limits (June 2012)
- California Proposition 29, Tobacco Tax for Cancer Research Act (June 2012)
June 12
- North Dakota State Office Appointment Amendment, Measure 1 (June 2012)
- North Dakota Property Tax Amendment, Measure 2 (June 2012)
- North Dakota Religious Freedom Amendment, Measure 3 (June 2012)
- North Dakota University "Fighting Sioux" Referendum, Measure 4 (2012)
July
August 28
November 6
By state
Alabama
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Health Care Amendment | Health care | Would prohibit mandatory participation in any health care system. |
| LRCA | Secret Ballot Amendment | Labor | Would allow for the use of secret ballots in union votes. |
| LRCA | Forever Wild Amendment | Environment | Extend payments made to the Forever Wild Land Trust for a 20-year period. |
| LRCA | Reference Ban Amendment | Civil rights | To remove references to segregation of schools in the state constitution. |
| LRCA | Assets and Liabilities Transfer Amendment | Natural resources | Transfer liabilities to Mobile Area Water and Sewer System. |
| LRCA | Marion County Court Charges Amendment | Judicial reform | Allows legislature to regulate costs and charges of court in Marion County. |
Alaska
August 28:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndISS | Property Tax Exemption Act | Property tax | Act increasing the maximum residential property exemption. |
| IndISS | Coastal Management Question | Environment | To establish a new coastal management program. |
November 6:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABR | Constitutional Convention Question | Constitutional conventions | Would create a convention to revise, alter or amend the state constitution. |
| LRSS | Bonding Proposition A | Bond issues | General obligation bonds for the purpose of transportation projects. |
Arizona
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Judicial Selection Amendment | Judiciary | Relating to the modification of the Appellate and Trial Court Commissions. |
| LRCA | Crime Victims Amendment | Law enforcement | Prohibits crime victims from being subject to a claim for damages for causing death or injury. |
| LRCA | Property Tax Amendment | Taxes | Give tax break to business with newly acquired equipment. |
| LRCA | State Sovereignty Amendment | Environment | Would declare state sovereignty over state natural resources based on the argument of "equal footing." |
| LRCA | Funds Amendment | Budgets | Yearly Permanent Fund distribution be 2.5% of monthly market values of the fund from 5 previous years. |
| LRCA | Trust Land Amendment | Property | Lets legislature to enact a process to exchange trust land if related to protecting military installations. |
| LRCA | Valuation Amendment | Taxes | Limit annual growth in limited property value of locally assessed properties. |
Arkansas
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRSS | Diesel Tax Increase Question | Taxes | Would place a five-cent diesel tax to an existing bond issue for highway needs. |
| LRCA | Sales Tax Increase Amendment | Taxes | Would place a half-cent sales tax in the state. |
| LRSS | Highway Bonds Question | Bond issues | Would allow for issuance of tax revenue bonds for highways. |
California
June 5:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| CICA | Proposition 28 | Term limits | Limit of 8 years (senate)/6 years (assembly) replaced with 12-year limit on combined service |
| CISS | Proposition 29 | Taxes | Increase the tax on cigarettes to fund cancer research |
November 6:
Colorado
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| CICA | Marijuana Legalization | Marijuana | Legalize recreational use of marijuana with regulations. |
Florida
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Amendment 1 | Health care | Prevents penalties for not purchasing health care coverage in order to comply with federal health care reforms |
| LRCA | Amendment 2 | Taxes | Would allow for property tax discounts for disabled veterans |
| LRCA | Amendment 3 | State budgets | Replaces existing revenue limits with a new limitation based on inflation and population changes |
| LRCA | Amendment 4 | Taxes | Would amend commercial and non-homestead property taxes |
| LRCA | Amendment 5 | Judicial reform | Would modify the existing State Supreme Court |
| LRCA | Amendment 6 | Abortion | Prohibits public funds for abortions |
| LRCA | Amendment 8 | Religion | Repeals ban of public dollars for religious funding |
Georgia
July:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Sales Tax Increase to Fund Transportation Projects | Taxes | Would increase the sales tax in Georgia by one-cent. |
November:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Charter Schools Amendment | Education | Regarding the establishment of public charter schools |
Idaho
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| VR | Proposition 1 | Education | One of three referenda that would repeal a newly passed law relating to education reform in the state. |
| VR | Proposition 2 | Education | One of three referenda that would repeal a newly passed law relating to education reform in the state. |
| VR | Proposition 3 | Education | One of three referenda that would repeal a newly passed law relating to education reform in the state. |
| LRCA | Hunting and Fishing Amendment | Hunting | Would add to the state constitution the right to hunt and fish. |
| LRCA | State Prison Control Amendment | Law enforcement | State Board of Correction to have control, direction and management of felony probation and parole. |
Illinois
November 6:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Public Pension Amendment | Pension | Would make it more difficult to increase the benefits off any pension or retirement system of the State. |
Kentucky
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Hunting and Fishing Amendment | Hunting | Would protect the right of residents to hunt and fish in the state. |
Maine
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndISS | Same-Sex Marriage Question | Marriage | Would overturn a ban on gay marriage in the state. |
Maryland
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Orphans' Court Judge Qualifications | Judicial reform | Prescribes different qualifications for judges of the Orphans' Court for Prince George's County |
| VR | In-State Tuition Referendum | Education | Would overturn legislation that guarantees in-state tuition to illegal immigrants |
Minnesota
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Marriage Amendment | Marriage | Would ban same-sex marriage. |
| LRCA | Voter Identification Amendment | Elections | Would require people to present photo identification to vote. |
Missouri
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Voter ID Amendment | Elections | Requires voters to show photo identification |
| LRCA | Public Prayer Amendment | Religion | Guarantees right to pray and worship on public property |
| LRCA | Judicial Appointment Amendment | State judiciary | Grants Governor the power to appoint four members to the Appellate Judicial Commission |
Montana
November 6:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRSS | Parental Notification Measure | Abortion | Relating to parental involvement for a minor’s abortion. |
| LRSS | Proof of Citizenship Question | Immigration | Would require citizenship proof in order to receive state services. |
| LRSS | Health Care Measure | Health care | Would allow residents to choose their health care insurance plans. |
| LRSS | Taxpayer Dividend Measure | Taxes | Would allow residents to receive refunds of surplus state tax collections. |
| VR | Medical Marijuana Reform Referendum | Marijuana | Would place a legislative repeal of 2004 initiative to a vote, instead of automatic law. |
Nebraska
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Grounds for Impeachment Amendment | Term limits | Would make any misdemeanor while in pursuit of office grounds for impeachment of a civil officer. |
| LRCA | Hunting and Fishing Amendment | Hunting | Would protect the right of residents to hunt and fish in the state |
| LRCA | Term Limits Amendment | Term limits | Would allow legislators to hold three consecutive terms instead of two. |
| LRCA | Legislative Salary Amendment | Legislative salaries | Would raise lawmaker salaries to $32,000 a year |
Nevada
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndISS | Harrah's Sports Arena Initiative | Gambling | Would allow for a 20,000-seat sports arena on the Las Vegas Strip |
| LRSS | Special Tax District Ban Measure | Taxes | Would prohibit special tax districts in the state |
New Hampshire
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConCon | Constitutional Convention Question | Admin of gov't | The measure would create a convention to revise, alter, or amend the state constitution. |
New Mexico
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Judicial Standards Amendment | Judicial reform | Adds two members to the Judicial Standards Commission. |
| LRCA | Public Defender Office Amendment | Admin. of gov't. | Would make the office separate from the state government. |
| LRCA | Commissioner Qualifications Amendment | State executive officials | Raise the qualifications required to be public regulation commissioner. |
| LRCA | Corporation Chartering Amendment | Admin. of gov't. | Remove the chartering of corporations from the PRC to the secretary of state. |
| LRCA | Insurance Division Amendment | Admin. of gov't. | Would remove insurance division from PRC. |
North Carolina
May 8:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Amendment 1 | Marriage | Would define marriage in the state as between one man and one woman | |
North Dakota
June 12:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Measure 1 | Admin of gov't | Would allow legislators to be appointed to full-time appointive state office |
| CICA | Measure 2 | Taxes | Eliminates property taxes as a source of state revenue |
| CICA | Measure 3 | Religion | Prohibits gov't from burdening person or organization from religious liberty |
| VR | Measure 4 | Motto and symbols | Repeals the North Dakota Legislature's decision to allow UND to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname. |
November 6:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Measure 1 | Admin of gov't | Would revoke the authority for the poll tax and remove the offensive language |
| LRCA | Measure 2 | Admin of gov't | Would require the governor and other executive officials to take an oath of office |
Ohio
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| VR | Election Law Veto Referendum | Elections | A referendum to repeal a new elections law in the state. |
| ABR | Constitutional Convention Question | Constitutional convention | Would create a convention to revise, alter or amend the state constitution. |
Oklahoma
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Property Tax Amendment | Taxes | Would prevent annual increases in property taxes. |
| LRCA | Affirmative Action Ban Amendment | Affirmative action | Would ban affirmative action programs in the state. |
| LRCA | Parole Process Amendment | State executive official measures | Would remove the state governor from the state parole process. |
Oregon
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Government Branches Amendment | Admin of gov't | Changes terminology in the state Constitution for the three state gov't branches |
| LRCA | Catastrophic Disaster Amendment | Admin of gov't | Revision to responses to catastrophic disasters; requires approval by a 2/3rds majority |
Rhode Island
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Casino Gambling Amendment | Gambling | Would ask voters if they want state-operated casino gambling at the Twin River slot venue. |
| LRCA | Newport Grand Casino Amendment | Gambling | Would authorize casino games at Newport Grand. |
South Dakota
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Corporate Language Amendment | Language | Deals with modernizing language dealing with corporations in the state. |
| LRCA | Travel Reimbursement Amendment | Admin. of gov't. | Would strike a travel reimbursement provision from the state constitution. |
| LRCA | Budget Balance Amendment | State legislatures | Would say in the state constitution that the budget must be balanced. |
| LRCA | Cement-Plant Trust Amendment | State budgets | Would change amount taken each year from state cement-plant trust fund. |
| VR | Referred Law 14 | Taxes | Would dedicate part of tax revenues for grants to some business projects in the state. |
| CISS | Initiated Measure 15 | Taxes | Would implement a one-percent sales tax increase. |
Virginia
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Eminent Domain Amendment | Eminent domain | Would limit instances when private property could be taken for public use |
Washington
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITL | Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, Initiative 502 | Marijuana | Would legalize and regulate the sale of small amounts of marijuana to people 21 and older |
West Virginia
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | County Sheriff Term Limit Amendment | Admin of gov't | Would end term limits for county sheriffs |
Wyoming
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Health Care Amendment | Health care | Would amend the state constitution regarding the federal Affordable Health Care Act |
| LRCA | Hunting Rights Amendment | Hunting | Would preserve citizens' rights to hunt and fish |
| LRCA | District Court Commissioners Amendment | Judicial reform | Would allow district court commissioners to act even if the district court judge is present |
See also
- Potential 2012 ballot measures
- Polls, 2012 ballot measures
- 2012 ballot measure calendar
- Petition drive deadlines, 2012
- 2012 ballot measure endorsements
- How to find campaign finance information about ballot measure campaigns
References
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