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Voter Guides Title • Summary & Analysis Fiscal note (impact statement) Arguments pro and con Features, compared by state Publication requirements

This page is a comparative look at official voter guides for state ballot measures.

What are voter guides

What is an official voter guide for ballot measures? For the purpose of a this analysis, with a few exceptions as noted, a voter guide is defined as:

• Being produced by a state agency or authority
• Containing at least part of the information detailed below pertaining to ballot measures
• Being addressed specifically to voters as a guide
• Being in a booklet or pamphlet format (unless it is specifically available online only)
• Referenced or published on state websites

What does not count as an official voter guide for ballot measures?

• A voter guide by a third party group, such as the League of Women Voters
• A voter guide describing only candidates for public offices
• A press release describing a ballot certification

Inside a voter guide

As noted above, ballot measure voter guides are specific booklets or pamphlets published by state governments to educate voters on the initiatives and referendums they will be voting on in upcoming elections. While ballots between states can variety largely in language and form, voter guides often have some of the following features:

• The official ballot language - this may include Ballot title and official ballot summary.
• A neutral explanation or analysis - this is a short summary by a governmental of the key points. Some summaries can run multiple pages, while other only a paragraph or two.
• A fiscal impact statement - this is generally a detailed explanation on how the measure will affect state finances.
• Arguments for and against the measure - these are typically statements written by support or opposition detailing their argument, but they may also be general points compiled by the agency publishing the guides. Some states allow comments from the public to be submitted as well.
• A statement of legal changes - this may be the full text of the statute or amendment that will become law if the measure is approved, and often includes mark-ups to show exactly how the law was changed.
• Languages - Official voter guides are always published in English, but some states will publish them in other languages, such as Spanish, and formats, such as audio.

Other points of interest that are not specifically covered in this comparison include:

• How do voters find a copy of it?
• When exactly does it become available?
• Is it available in a non-electronic format?
• How widely distributed is it?
• Are there any specific laws dictating its publication?

Comparison of 2012 voter guides

Note: The 2012 comparison currently covers ballot measure elections only before July

Ballot Measure Chart	Official Voter Guide	Publisher	Official ballot language	Explanation or Analysis	Fiscal note	Pro and Con Arguments/Public Comments	Text of statute or amendment		Available languages	Notes
							Without markup	With markup
CA 2012	California Presidential Primary Election Tuesday, June 5, 2012: Official Voter Information Guide	California Secretary of State	a	a	a	a	d	a	English, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese	Large Print and Audio guides were also available on order
NC 2012	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	Only available voter guide was for candidates covered by North Carolina public funding programs
ND 2012	North Dakota Ballot Measures Portal	North Dakota Secretary of State	a	a	d	d	d	a	English	Online edition only; Publication per North Dakota Century Code 16.1-01-17

Notable changes

• California added three language to its large list of languages the voter guide is available in: Hindi, Khmer, and Thai

Comparison of 2011 voter guides

Ballot Measure Chart	Official Voter Guide	Publisher	Official ballot language	Explanation or Analysis	Fiscal note	Pro and Con Arguments/Public Comments	Text of statute or amendment		Available languages	Notes
							Without markup	With markup
AR 2011	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
CO 2011	Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book)	Colorado Legislative Council	a	a	a	a	d	a	English, English Audio, Spanish	A separate detailed fiscal impact statement is also available
LA 2011	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
ME 2011	Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election: Tuesday, November 8, 2011	Maine Secretary of State	a	a	a	a (None filed)	d	a	English	tc
MS 2011	2011 Constitutional Initiatives	Mississippi Secretary of State	a	d	a	a	d	a	English	tc
NJ 2011	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
OH 2011	Ohio Issues Report: State Ballot Issues Information for the November 8, 2011 General Election	Ohio Secretary of State	a	a	d	a	a	d	English	tc
TX 2011	Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments November 8, 2011, Election	Texas Legislative Council	a	a	d	a	d	a	English	The analysis is not specifically address to voters
WA 2011	2011 General Election Voter Pamphlet	Washington Secretary of State	a	a	a	a	d	d	English	Online edition only; Video Voter's Guide with pro and con argument is also available

Comparison of 2010 voter guides

Ballot Measure Chart	Official Voter Guide	Publisher	Official ballot language	Explanation or Analysis	Fiscal note	Pro and Con Arguments/Public Comments	Text of statute or amendment		Available languages	Notes
							Without markup	With markup
AL 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
AK 2010	State of Alaska Ballot Measures Pamphlet: August 24, 2010	Alaska Division of Elections	a	a	a	a	d	a	English and Tagalog	Also contains information on candidates
	State of Alaska Official Ballot Measures Pamphlet: November 2, 2010	Alaska Division of Elections	a	a	a (For bonds only)	a (For amendment only)	d	a
AZ 2010	State of Arizona Special Election May 18, 2010 Ballot Proposition Guide Publicity Pamphlet & Sample Ballot	Arizona Secretary of State	a	a	a	a	d	a	English and Spanish	tc
	State of Arizona General Election November 2, 2010 Ballot Propositions & Judicial Performance Review Publicity Pamphlet	Arizona Secretary of State	a	a	a (Not for all measures)	a	d	a		tc
AR 2010	Election Information: 2010 Ballot Issues	Alabama Secretary of State	d	d	d	d	d	a	English	Online version only
CA 2010	California Statewide Direct Primary Election Tuesday, June 8, 2010: Official Voter Information Guide	California Secretary of State	a	a	a	a	d	a	English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese	Large Print and Audio guides were also available on order
	California Statewide General Election Tuesday, November 2, 2010: Official Voter Information Guide	California Secretary of State
CO 2010	2010 State Ballot Information Booklet and Recommendations on Retention of Judges	Colorado Legislative Council	a	a	a	a	d	a	English, Spanish	tc
FL 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	Basic ballot status is listed on the Florida Division of Elections website
GA 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
HI 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
ID 2010	2010 General Election Proposed Constitutional Amendment	Idaho Secretary of State	a	a	d	a	d	d	English	Online version only
IL 2010	Illinois Voters Guide	Illinois State Board of Elections	a	a	d	a	d	d	English and Spanish	Available online only at vote.illinois.gov.
IN 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
IA 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
KS 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
LA 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
ME 2010	Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election Tuesday, June 8, 2010	Maine Secretary of State	a	a	a	a	d	a	English	tc
	Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election Tuesday, November 2, 2010	Maine Secretary of State
MD 2010	2010 General Election Ballot Questions	{Maryland State Board of Elections	a	a	d	d	d	a	English	Online version only
MA 2010	Massachusetts Information for Voters 2010 Ballot Questions: State Election Tuesday, November 2, 2010	Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth	a	d	d	a	a	d	English and Spanish	tc
MI 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
MO 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
MT 2010	Voter Information Pamphlet Your Guide to the 2010 Ballot Issues	Montana Secretary of State	a	d	d	a	d	a	English	Montana allows for support and opposition to submit rebuttals to the initial arguments of the opposite side
NE 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
NV 2010	Questions to Appear on the 2010 General Election Ballot	Nevada Secretary of State	a	a	a	a	d	d	English	Available online only at Nevada Secretary of State
NM 2010	Voter Guide: Constitutional Amendments and General Obligation Bonds New Mexico General Election 2010	New Mexico Secretary of State	a	a	d	a	d	a	English and Spanish	Voter guide no longer available online
NC 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
ND 2010	Ballot Measures to be Considered	North Dakota Secretary of State	a	a	d	d	d	a	English	Online edition only
OH 2010	Ohio Issues Report: State Issue Ballot Information for the May 4, 2010, Primary Election	Ohio Secretary of State	a	a	d	a	d	a	English	tc
OK 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
OR 2010	Voters’ Pamphlet: Oregon Special Election January 26, 2010	Oregon Secretary of State	a	a	a	a	d	a	English, Spanish, and English Audio	tc
	Voters’ Pamphlet: Oregon Primary Election May 18, 2010	Oregon Secretary of State
	Voters’ Pamphlet: Oregon General Election November 2, 2010	Oregon Secretary of State
RI 2010	Rhode Island Voter Information Handbook 2010: November 2, 2010 - A Guide to State Referenda and Voting Procedures	Rhode Island Secretary of State	a	a	a	d	d	a	English	tc
SC 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
SD 2010	South Dakota 2010 Ballot Questions	South Dakota Secretary of State	a	d	d	a	d	d	English, English Audio, Braille	tc
TN 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
UT 2010	Constitutional Amendments: 2010 General Election	Utah Lieutenant Governor	a	a	a	a	tc	a	English	Online version only; Utah allows for support and opposition to submit rebuttals to the initial arguments of the opposite side
VT 2010	Statewide Candidate Information Publication	Vermont Secretary of State	a	d	d	d	d	d	English	The Statewide Candidate Information Publication contains information on candidates and a sample ballot, but no separate documentation on the ballot measure was listed
VA 2010	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
WA 2010	2010 General Election Voter Pamphlet	Washington Secretary of State	a	a	a	a	d	d	English	Online edition only; Video Voter's Guide with pro and con argument is also availabl.

Comparison of 2009 voter guides

Ballot Measure Chart	Official Voter Guide	Publisher	Official ballot language	Explanation or Analysis	Fiscal note	Pro and Con Arguments/Public Comments	Text of statute or amendment		Available languages	Notes
							Without markup	With markup
CA 2009	California Statewide Special Election Tuesday, May 19, 2009: Official Voter Information Guide	California Secretary of State	a	a	a	a	d	a	English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese	Large Print and Audio guides were also available on order
ME 2009	Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2009	Maine Secretary of State	a	a	a	a (None filed)	d	a	English	tc
NJ 2009	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc
NY 2009	No voter guide found	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	tc	In New York it remains up to the individual municipalities to publish voter guides at their discretion; New York City published a voter guide
OH 2009	Ohio Issues Report: State Issues Ballot Information for the November 8, 2011 General Election	Ohio Secretary of State	a	a	d	a	a	d	English	tc
TX 2009	Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments November 3, 2009, Election	Texas Legislative Council	a	a	d	a	d	a	English	The analysis is not specifically address to voters
WA 2009	2009 General Election Voter Pamphlet	Washington Secretary of State	tc	tc	tc	tc	d	d	English	Online edition only; Video Voter's Guides for Referendum-71 and I-1033 with pro and con argument are also available

Notable changes

• Washington added a video voter's guide specifically for ballot measures. They had previously been available only for state offices.

See also

• Official voter guides to 2010 statewide ballot measures
• Publication requirements for proposed state constitutional amendments
• California Voter Guide (official)

Additional reading

• Washington Secretary of State,"Elections: Complying with minority languages," July 21, 2011

References

Category:Features of ballot measures Category:2012 ballot measures Category:2011 ballot measures Category:2010 ballot measures Category:2009 ballot measures Category:Voter guides