2012 ballot measures

2013 →

← 2011

90 ballot questions are certified for spots on 30 statewide ballots in 2012, as of April 25, 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

Tuesday Count and 2012 Scorecard

Potential measures • Filed Initiatives

Local ballot measures

May 8 • June 5 • June 12 • July 31 August 7 • August 28 September 18 • November 6

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas California • Colorado • Florida • Georgia Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Kansas Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota Missouri • Montana • Nebraska Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey New Mexico • North Carolina • North Dakota Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Rhode Island South Carolina • South Dakota • Utah • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wyoming

Abortion • Admin of gov't • Affirmative action • Assisted death • Bonds • Business regulation • Constitutional conventions • Civil rights • Education Elections • Eminent domain • Environment • Firearms • Gambling • Health care • Hunting • Immigration • Insurance Judiciary • Labor • Language • Law enforcement • Marijuana • Marriage • Motto and symbols • Natural resources • Pension Redistricting • Religion • Legislative salaries • State budgets • State executives • State judiciary • Taxes • Term limits Tobacco • Transportation

Polls

Newspaper endorsements

Advocacy websites

2012 local measures

By date

May 8

• 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

• Georgia Sales Tax Increase to Fund Transportation Projects (July 2012)

August 28

• Alaska Property Tax Exemption Act (August 2012)

November 6

• See 2012 Ballot Measure Scorecard

By state

Alabama

Alabama 2012 ballot measures

September 18:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Health care	Transfer of $145.8 million from an oil and gas trust fund to the General Fund for Medicaid budget.	a

November 6:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Environment	Extend payments made to the Forever Wild Land Trust for a 20-year period.	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Bond issues	Aims to allow issuance of general obligation bonds of no more than $750 million.	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Admin. of gov't.	Would define the Stockton Landmark District within Baldwin County.	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Civil rights	To remove references to segregation of schools in the state constitution.	d
LRCA	Amendment 5	Natural resources	Transfer liabilities to Mobile Area Water and Sewer System.	a
LRCA	Amendment 6	Health care	Would prohibit mandatory participation in any health care system.	a
LRCA	Amendment 7	Labor	Would allow for the use of secret ballots in union votes.	a
LRCA	Amendment 8	Legislatures	Provide that the compensation paid to legislators do not increased during term of office.	a
LRCA	Amendment 9	Taxes	Allows legislature to implement business privilege tax on corporations.	a
LRCA	Amendment 10	Admin. of gov't.	Relating to authority of state legislature and banking in the state.	a
LRCA	Amendment 11	Admin. of gov't.	Prohibit any municipality outside of Lawrence County from imposing any municipal ordinance.	a

Alaska

Alaska 2012 ballot measures

August 28:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
IndISS	Ballot Measure 1	Taxes	Act increasing the maximum residential property exemption.	a
IndISS	Ballot Measure 2	Environment	To establish a new coastal management program.	d

November 6:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Bonding Proposition A	Bond issues	General obligation bonds for the purpose of transportation projects.	a
ABR	Ballot Measure 1	Constitutional conventions	Would create a convention to revise, alter or amend the state constitution.	d

Arizona

Arizona 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposition 114	Law enforcement	Prohibits crime victims from being subject to a claim for damages for causing death or injury.	a
LRCA	Proposition 115	Judiciary	Relating to the modification of the Appellate and Trial Court Commissions.	d
LRCA	Proposition 116	Taxes	Give tax break to businesses with newly acquired equipment.	d
LRCA	Proposition 117	Taxes	Limit annual growth in limited property value of locally assessed properties.	a
LRCA	Proposition 118	Budgets	Yearly Permanent Fund distribution to be 2.5% of monthly market values of the fund from 5 previous years.	a
LRCA	Proposition 119	Property	Lets legislature enact a process to exchange trust land if related to protecting military installations.	a
LRCA	Proposition 120	Environment	Would declare state sovereignty over state natural resources based on the argument of "equal footing."	d
CICA	Proposition 121	Admin. of gov't.	Implement a top-two style open primary system.	d
CISS	Proposition 204	Taxes	Would renew the sales tax increase approved in 2010.	d

Arkansas

Arkansas 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Issue 1	Taxes	Would place a half-cent sales tax in the state.	a
LRCA	Issue 2	Taxes	Authorize cities and counties to create districts for redevelopment projects.	d
CICA	Issue 3	Gambling	Would allow for casinos in the state.
CICA	Issue 4	Gambling	Would allow for a casino in seven state counties.
CISS	Issue 5	Marijuana	Authorize the use of medical marijuana in the state.	d

California

California 2012 ballot propositions

June 5:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Proposition 28	Term limits	Limit of 8 years (senate)/6 years (assembly) replaced with 12-year limit on combined service	a
CISS	Proposition 29	Taxes	Increase the tax on cigarettes to fund cancer research	d

November 6:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Proposition 30	Taxes	Jerry Brown's Tax Increase (revenues for general fund and education)	a
CICA/SS	Proposition 31	State budget	Two-Year Budget Cycle	d
CISS	Proposition 32	Labor	Ban on corporate and union contributions to state and local candidates	d
CISS	Proposition 33	Insurance	Car insurance rates can be based on a person's history of insurance coverage ("persistency discounts")	d
CISS	Proposition 34	Death penalty	"End the Death Penalty"	d
CISS	Proposition 35	Law enforcement	Increased Penalties for Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery	aot
CISS	Proposition 36	Law enforcement	Modification of the "Three Strikes" Law	a
CISS	Proposition 37	Regulations	Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food	d
CISS	Proposition 38	Taxes	Molly Munger's State Income Tax Increase for Education	d
CISS	Proposition 39	Taxes	Income Tax Increase for Multistate Businesses	a
VR	Proposition 40	Redistricting	Referendum on the State Senate Redistricting Plan	a

Colorado

Colorado 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Amendment 64	Marijuana	Legalize recreational use of marijuana with regulations.	a
AQ	Amendment 65	Elections	Set policy on prohibiting corporate contributions and expenditures in elections.	a
LRCA	Amendment S	Admin. of gov't.	Change aspects to the state personnel system.	a

Florida

Florida 2012 ballot measures

November 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Health care	Prevents penalties for not purchasing health care coverage in order to comply with federal health care reforms	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Taxes	Allows for property tax discounts for disabled veterans	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	State budgets	Replaces existing revenue limits with a new limitation based on inflation and population changes	d
LRCA	Amendment 4	Taxes	Amends commercial and non-homestead property taxes	d
LRCA	Amendment 5	Judicial reform	Gives the Legislature increased control over the judicial branch.	d
LRCA	Amendment 6	Abortion	Prohibits public funds for abortions	d
LRCA	Amendment 8	Religion	Repeals ban of public dollars for religious funding	d
LRCA	Amendment 9	Taxes	Authorizes the legislature to totally or partially exempt surviving spouses of military veterans or first responders who died in the line of duty from paying property taxes	a
LRCA	Amendment 10	Taxes	Provides an exemption from ad valorem taxes levied by local governments on tangible personal property that's value is greater than $25,000 but less than $50,000	d
LRCA	Amendment 11	Taxes	Authorizes counties and municipalities to offer additional tax exemptions on homes of low-income seniors.	a
LRCA	Amendment 12	Government Administration	Revises selection process for student member of Board of Governors of State University System	d

Georgia

Georgia 2012 ballot measures

July 31:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Referendum 1	Taxes	Would increase the sales tax in regions that pass the referendum by one-cent.	ad

November 6:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Education	Regarding the establishment of public charter schools.	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Admin of gov't	Gives the State Properties Commission the authority to enter into multiyear lease agreements.	a

Idaho

Idaho 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Proposition 1	Education	One of three referenda that would repeal a newly passed law relating to education reform in the state.	d
VR	Proposition 2	Education	One of three referenda that would repeal a newly passed law relating to education reform in the state.	d
VR	Proposition 3	Education	One of three referenda that would repeal a newly passed law relating to education reform in the state.	d
LRCA	HJR 2	Hunting	Would add to the state constitution the right to hunt and fish.	a
LRCA	SJR 102	Law enforcement	State Board of Correction to have control, direction and management of felony probation and parole.	a

Kentucky

Kentucky 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	House Bill 1	Hunting	Would protect the right of residents to hunt and fish in the state.	a

Maine

Maine 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
IndISS	Question 1	Marriage	Would legalize same-sex marriage in the state.	a
LRSS	Question 2	Bond issues	$11 million bond for higher education in order to expand the state's community college system.	d
LRSS	Question 3	Bond issues	One of two measures that would allow for a bond for water and sewer projects in the state.	a
LRSS	Question 4	Bond issues	Allow for a $51 million transportation bond, most of it to pay for road and bridge repairs in the state.	a
LRSS	Question 5	Bond issues	One of two measures that would allow for a bond for water and sewer projects in the state.	a

Maryland

Maryland 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	Judicial reform	Prescribes different qualifications for judges of the Orphans' Court for Prince George's County	a
LRCA	Question 2	Judicial reform	Prescribes different qualifications for judges of the Orphans' Court for Baltimore County	a
LRCA	Question 3	Law	Specifies condition under which and elected official convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors is to be removed form office	a
VR	Question 4	Education	Would approve legislation that guarantees in-state tuition to illegal immigrants	a
VR	Question 5	Redistricting	Would approve Maryland's congressional redistricting plan passed in October 2011.	a
VR	Question 6	Marriage	Would approve a law that allows same-sex couples to obtain a civil marriage license.	a
LRSS	Question 7	Gambling	Allows the construction of a new casino in Prince George's County.	a

Minnesota

Minnesota 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Marriage	Would ban same-sex marriage.	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Elections	Would require people to present photo identification to vote.	d

Missouri

Missouri 2012 ballot measures

August 7:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 2	Religion	Guarantees right to pray and worship on public property	a

November 6:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 3	State judiciary	Grants Governor the power to appoint four members to the Appellate Judicial Commission	d
CICA	Proposition A	Law enforcement	Requires that all municipal police forces or departments be controlled by the local governing body.	a
CISS	Proposition B	Tobacco	Imposes an additional $1 tax on each package of twenty cigarettes	d
LRSS	Proposition E	Health care	Prohibits creation of a health insurance exchange unless created by legislature or initiative.	a

Montana

Montana 2012 ballot measures

November 6:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	LR-120	Abortion	Relating to parental involvement for a minor’s abortion.	a
LRSS	LR-121	Immigration	Would require citizenship proof in order to receive state services.	a
LRSS	LR-122	Health care	Would allow residents to choose their health care insurance plans.	a
VR	IR-124	Marijuana	Would place a legislative repeal of 2004 initiative to a vote, instead of automatic law.	a
CISS	I-166	Elections	Set policy on prohibiting corporate contributions and expenditures in Montana elections.	a

Nebraska

Nebraska 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Admin. of Gov't	Makes any misdemeanor while in pursuit of office grounds for impeachment of a civil officer.	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Hunting	Protects the right of residents to hunt and fish in the state.	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Term limits	Allows legislators to hold three consecutive terms instead of two.	d
LRCA	Amendment 4	Legislative salaries	Raises lawmaker salaries to $22,500 a year.	d

Nevada

Nevada 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	State legislatures measures	Would provide that the Legislature convene a special legislative session upon a petition signed by 2/3 of each chamber.	a

New Hampshire

New Hampshire 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	CACR 13 (Question1)	Taxes	Would ban new taxes on personal income	d
LRCA	CACR 26 (Question 2)	State judiciary	Would make the chief justice of the state supreme court to be administrative head of all the courts.	d
ConCon	ConCon (Question 3)	Admin of gov't	The measure would create a convention to revise, alter, or amend the state constitution.	d

New Mexico

New Mexico 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment 1	Judiciary	Adds two members to the Judicial Standards Commission.	a
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment 2	State executive officials	Raise the qualifications required to be public regulation commissioner.	a
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment 3	Admin. of gov't.	Remove the chartering of corporations from the PRC to the secretary of state.	a
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment 4	Admin. of gov't.	Would remove insurance division from PRC.	a
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment 5	Admin. of gov't.	Would make the office separate from the state government.	a
LBM	Bond Question A	Bond issues	Bonds to make capital expenditures for certain senior citizen facility improvement.	a
LBM	Bond Question B	Bond issues	Bonds to make capital expenditures for public library resource acquisitions.	a
LBM	Bond Question C	Bond issues	Bonds to make capital expenditures for certain higher education improvements.	a

North Carolina

North Carolina 2012 ballot measures

May 8:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Marriage	Would define marriage in the state as between one man and one woman	a

North Dakota

North Dakota 2012 ballot measures

June 12:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Measure 1	Admin of gov't	Allows legislators to be appointed to full-time appointive state office	a
CICA	Measure 2	Taxes	Eliminates property taxes as a source of state revenue	d
CICA	Measure 3	Religion	Prohibits gov't from burdening person or organization from religious liberty	d
VR	Measure 4	Motto and symbols	Repeals the North Dakota Legislature's decision to allow UND to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname.	a

November 6:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Measure 1	Admin of gov't	Revokes the authority for the poll tax and remove the offensive language	a
LRCA	Measure 2	Admin of gov't	Requires the governor and other executive officials to take an oath of office	a
CICA	Measure 3	Animal rights	Blocks any law which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers.	a
CISS	Measure 4	Smoking bans	Bana smoking in all indoor workplaces.	a
CISS	Measure 5	Treatment of animals	Makes it a felony to maliciously harm a cat, dog, or horse, with exemptions for people with occupations involving animals.	d

Ohio

Ohio 2012 ballot measures

November 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
ABR	Issue 1	Constitutional convention	Would create a convention to revise, alter or amend the state constitution.	d
CICA	Issue 2	Redistricting	Would create a citizen commission to draw legislative and congressional district maps.	d

Oklahoma

Oklahoma 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	State Question 758	Taxes	Would prevent annual increases in property taxes.	a
LRCA	State Question 759	Affirmative action	Would ban affirmative action programs in the state.	a
LRCA	State Question 762	State exec	Would remove the state governor from the state parole process.	a
LRCA	State Question 764	Bond issues	Creation of the Water Infrastructure Credit Enhancement Reserve Fund.	a
LRCA	State Question 765	Admin. of gov't.	Create department to provide for public welfare for state residents.	a
LRCA	State Question 766	Taxes	Abolish property taxes on intangible personal property.	a

Oregon

Oregon 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Measure 77	Admin of gov't	Revision to responses to catastrophic disasters; requires approval by a 2/3rds majority	a
LRCA	Measure 78	Admin of gov't	Changes terminology in the state Constitution for the three state gov't branches	a
CICA	Measure 79	Taxes	Would ban real estate transfer taxes.	a
CISS	Measure 80	Marijuana	Would create a cannabis commission to regulate the cultivation and sale of cannabis.	d
CISS	Measure 81	Animal rights	Bans Columbia River commercial salmon fishing with gillnets by non-tribal persons, allows seine nets instead.	d
CICA	Measure 82	Gambling	Authorizes establishment of privately-owned casinos.	d
CISS	Measure 83	Gambling	Authorizes Multnomah County casino.	d
CISS	Measure 84	Taxes	Phases out estate and inheritance taxes.	d
CICA	Measure 85	Taxes	Allocates corporate income/excise tax "kicker" refund to additionally fund K through 12 public education.	a

Rhode Island

Rhode Island 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	Gambling	Would ask voters if they want state-operated casino gambling at the Twin River slot venue.	a
LRCA	Question 2	Gambling	Would authorize casino games at Newport Grand.	a
LBM	Question 3	Bond issues	Issue general obligation bonds (up to $50,000,000) for renovations and modernization of academic buildings at Rhode Island College.	a
LBM	Question 4	Bond issues	Issue general obligation bonds (up to $94,000,000) for the construction of a new Veterans’ Home.	a
LBM	Question 5	Bond issues	Issue general obligation bonds (up to $12,000,000) to finance drinking water infrastructure projects.	a
LBM	Question 6	Bond issues	Issue general obligation bonds (up to $20,000,000) for environmental and recreational purposes.	a
LBM	Question 7	Bond issues	Issue general obligation bonds (up to $25,000,000) for affordable housing.	a

South Dakota

South Dakota 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment M	Constitutions	Deals with modernizing language dealing with corporations in the state.	d
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment N	Admin. of gov't.	Strikes a travel reimbursement provision from the state constitution.	d
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment O	State budgets	Changes amount taken each year from state cement-plant trust fund.	a
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment P	State legislatures	Places language in the state constitution saying that the budget must be balanced.	a
VR	Referred Law 14	Taxes	Dedicates part of tax revenues for grants to some business projects in the state.	d
VR	Referred Law 16	Labor	Blocks a bill that would ban tenure and give bonuses to top teachers among other provisions.	d
CISS	Initiated Measure 15	Taxes	Implements a one-percent sales tax increase.	d

Virginia

Virginia 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	Eminent domain	Would limit instances when private property could be taken for public use	a
LRCA	Question 2	State legislatures	Allows the legislature to delay the start of its veto session by up to one week.	a

Washington

Washington 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
ITP	Initiative 1185	Taxes	Would require either two-thirds legislative approval or a vote by the people in order to raise taxes.	aot
ITP	Initiative 1240	Education	Allow 40 public charter schools in the state over five years.	a
VR	Referendum 74	Marriage	Would ask if same-sex marriage should be legalized in the state.	a
ITL	Initiative 502	Marijuana	Would legalize and regulate the sale of small amounts of marijuana to people 21 and older	a
LRCA	SJR 8221	Budgets	To include the recommendations of the commission on state debt.	a
LRCA	SJR 8223	Education	Provide authority to state research universities to invest funds.	d
AQ	Advisory Vote 1	Taxes	Declares an intent to improve the long-term sustainability of the state budget.	a
AQ	Advisory Vote 2	Insurance	Delays the expiration of the pollution liability insurance agency's funding.	a

West Virginia

West Virginia 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Admin of gov't	Would end term limits for county sheriffs	d

Wyoming

Wyoming 2012 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment A	Health care	Would amend the state constitution regarding the federal Affordable Health Care Act	a
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment B	Hunting	Would preserve citizens' rights to hunt and fish	a
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment C	Judicial reform	Would allow district court commissioners to act even if the district court judge is present	d

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