Ballotpedia:The BP Review/April 27, 2010/Ballot news
| Vol. 1, Issue 16: 4/27/2010 | Ballot measure news |
Ballot measures
It's a good week for ballot measure news junkies:
Our Tuesday Count has surpassed the century mark. There are now 101 certified statewide ballot measures on the ballot in 32 states. Watch the front page of Ballotpedia every Tuesday, late afternoon, for the newest count.
Pundits have predicted that state legislation challenging the individual mandate part of the new federal health care bill will be a significant feature of the 2010 ballot, noting efforts in more than a dozen states. The Florida Legislature just approved the proposed Florida Health Care Freedom Act for the November 2, 2010; making Florida just the second state to certify such a measure for the ballot. Other new measures include an amendment to increase the size of the Alaska State Legislature, a tax rebate amendment in Hawaii, and a $380 million bond proposition in Alaska.
Deadlines and elections
- Idaho's petition drive deadline is this Friday, April 30. 20 initiatives were filed for the 2010 ballot. We predict that none of them will qualify for the ballot, including the Idaho Bible Study Initiative.
- The petition drive deadline in Missouri (Sunday, May 2) comes hard on the heels of the Idaho deadline. Closely-watched initiatives in the Show-Me State include the Judicial Selection Amendment, which would change some features of Missouri's famous "Missouri Plan" for choosing judges, and the Dog Breeding Regulation Initiative. 2010 is the 100 year anniversary of Missouri's adoption of initiative & referendum.
- Next Tuesday, May 4, is the second date for a statewide ballot election in 2010 as voters in Ohio will head to the polls to decide on a bond renewal and the Columbus Casino measure.
Students walk out over school votes
Local school bond and tax issues are stepping into the spotlight. New Jersey students walked-out of school to protest what happened on April 20, when voters in 59% of New Jersey's school districts went to the polls and declined to pass school budgets. On Tuesday, May 4, there are 9 parcel tax measures on local California budgets. The results will be closely watched, especially by school and library districts with measures on the June 8 ballot. Supporters of Measure CC in Pasadena have spent more than $200,000 in advance of next Tuesday's election, which is more than will be spent on about 25% of this year's statewide ballot measures.
State legislative elections
As of April 27, signature-filing deadlines for candidates for state legislature have elapsed in 31 states.
About 84% of the country's 7,300-some state legislative seats are up for re-election in this volatile election year, and Ballotpedia is building articles to cover those elections. We hope you'll join us.
