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"5 Best" and "5 Worst" lists of 2010 ballot measures
From Ballotpedia
by Leslie Graves, Bailey Ludlam and Al Ortiz
Making lists of the best and worst ballot propositions on the ballot is a time-honored way for political pundits and advocates to pare down the many dozens of measures in dozens of state to shine a light on those that strike a chord as being particularly interesting, noteworthy, controversial or trend-setting.
In 2010, Josh Goodman at Governing has weighed in with Four Ballot Measures the Political Establishment Hates, Paul Jacob has his list of The 10 measures to watch, and Justin Elliott at Salon has drawn up a list of The five most alarming right-wing ballot initiatives.
What's your take? From now through the election, we'll be collecting the lists we find and the lists you send us. We'll be soliciting lists as well. If you manage a website or an e-list, we encourage you to ask your readers what they think. We'll tweet any list you publish, and we're starting a scorecard here as well.
- See specific lists at Lists and commentary about 2010 ballot measures
If you'd like to submit a list directly to us, or if you've published a list on your website and you'd like us to include it, please email Leslie Graves or Bailey Ludlam.
Political topics
There are 159 ballot measures on the November 2 ballot in 36 states. The list below is a selection of 58 of the most notable, most discussed and in some cases, most controversial ballot measures.[1]
| Subject | State | Ballot measure | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abortion | Colorado | Amendment 62 | Fertilized egg to be defined as a person |
| Affirmative action | Arizona | Proposition 107 | Government entities banned from race/gender preferences |
| Alcohol | Washington | I-1100 | Privatize state liquor stores, |
| Alcohol | Washington | I-1105 | Privatize state liquor stores, revise licensing laws |
| Animals | Missouri | Proposition B | Adopt new rules for dog-breeders in the state |
| Campaign finance | Florida | Amendment 1 | Repeal of public financing of statewide candidates who agree to spending limits |
| Education | Florida | Amendment 8 | Changes the current "maximum" class sizes to school-wide "average" class sizes |
| Education | Idaho | SJR 101 | Impose rates of tuition and fees on students in the University of Idaho |
| Education | Oklahoma | SJR 101 | Mandates level of spending State of Oklahoma must provide to public schools |
| Eminent domain | Nevada | Question 4 | Make it easier for gov't agencies to use eminent domain |
| English | Oklahoma | SQ 751 | Declaration that English is the official language of Oklahoma |
| Environment | California | Proposition 23 | Suspend AB 32, the "Global Warming Solutions Act" until unemployment falls below 5.5% |
| Gambling | Maine | Question 1 | Authorize a casino in Oxford, Maine |
| Healthcare | Arizona | Proposition 106 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance |
| Healthcare | Colorado | Amendment 63 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance |
| Healthcare | Oklahoma | SQ 756 | Can't be forced to buy health insurance |
| Hunting | Montana | I-161 | Increase big game license fees |
| Hunting | North Dakota | Measure 2 | Impose a ban on fenced hunting |
| Judicial reform | Nevada | Question 1 | Appoint (instead of elect) state court judges |
| Judicial reform | Oklahoma | SQ 755 | Oklahoma judges not allowed to use international law, including Sharia Law |
| Labor | Arizona | Amendment A | Union elections by secret ballot |
| Labor | South Carolina | Amendment 2 | Union elections by secret ballot |
| Labor | South Dakota | Amendment K | Union elections by secret ballot |
| Labor | Utah | Amendment A | Union elections by secret ballot |
| Labor | Washington | I-1082 | Privatize industrial worker's comp insurance |
| Law enforcement | Michigan | Proposal 2 | Politicians can't be felons |
| Law enforcement | North Carolina | SL 2010-49 | Sheriffs can't be convicted felons |
| Law enforcement | Oregon | Measure 73 | Increased minimum sentence for some sex crimes and repeat DUIs |
| Marijuana | Arizona | Proposition 203 | Medical marijuana |
| Marijuana | California | Proposition 19 | Legalize marijuana |
| Marijuana | Oregon | Measure 74 | Medical marijuana |
| Marijuana | South Dakota | Init. Measure 13 | Medical marijuana |
| Property rights | Florida | Amendment 4 | Voter approval required for all changes to land-use plans ("Hometown Democracy") |
| Recall | Illinois | Recall Amendment | Create a system whereby the Governor of Illinois could be recalled |
| Redistricting | California | Proposition 20 | Congressional district lines to be re-drawn by a committee |
| Redistricting | California | Proposition 27 | Return task of redistricting to the California State Legislature (repealing Prop 11) |
| Redistricting | Florida | Amendment 5 | Amends the current practice of drawing legislative district boundaries |
| Redistricting | Florida | Amendment 6 | Amends the current practice of drawing congressional district boundaries |
| Redistricting | Oklahoma | SQ 748 | Change method of appointing member to re-apportionment commission |
| Spending/taxes | Arizona | Proposition 302 | Take dedicated funds from child-health program, put into general fund |
| Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 25 | Simple majority, not 2/3rds vote, required for legislature to pass state budget |
| Spending/taxes | California | Proposition 26 | 2/3rds vote required to enact new taxes/fees |
| Spending/taxes | Colorado | Amendment 60 | Property tax limits, rollbacks |
| Spending/taxes | Colorado | Amendment 61 | Forbid debt by loans in any form |
| Spending/taxes | Colorado | Amendment 61 | Forbid debt by loans in any form |
| Spending/taxes | Colorado | Proposition 101 | Eliminate vehicle taxes, repeal alternative minimum tax, other tax changes |
| Spending/taxes | Indiana | Public Question 1 | Put property tax caps in Indiana Constitution |
| Spending/taxes | Louisiana | Amendment 1 | Increase salaries of elected officials in state |
| Spending/taxes | Massachusetts | Question 1 | Eliminate sales tax on alcohol |
| Spending/taxes | Massachusetts | Question 3 | Roll 6.25% sales tax back to 3% |
| Spending/taxes | Missouri | Amendment 3 | Prohibit taxes for the sale/transfer of homes or any other real estate |
| Spending/taxes | Missouri | Proposition A | Cities with earnings taxes would periodically have to put up for public vote |
| Spending/taxes | Montana | CI-105 | Prohibit any new tax on the sale or transfer of real property |
| Spending/taxes | North Dakota | Measure 1 | Certain oil and gas tax revenues to be deposited in a "state legacy fund" |
| Spending/taxes | Oklahoma | SJR 101 | Mandates level of spending State of Oklahoma must provide to public schools |
| Spending/taxes | Washington | I-1053 | Re-instate requirement of a supermajority vote in state legislature to raise taxes |
| Spending/taxes | Washington | I-1098 | Taxes gross income above $200,000 for individuals, $400,000 for couples, reduce property tax 4% |
| Smoking | South Dakota | Referred Law 12 | Statewide smoking ban including in bars, casinos |
| Voting rights | Oklahoma | SQ 746 | Potential voters must provide proof of identity |
Footnotes
- ↑ Inclusion of specific ballot questions in the list is somewhat subjective. The list isn't intended as a pronouncement on which ballot questions are this year's most noteworthy or controversial but as a discussion starter. If you believe that a ballot measure should be added, please do add it. There are a number of ballot questions on the 2010 ballot, as there are every year, that were referred by state legislatures and are not likely to attract much controversy or opposition. In this category one might include the 7 statewide measures that offer a variety of tax exemptions or benefits to veterans. In a manner of speaking, some of these generally non-controversial measures might be among the year's best. This list, though, is about the ballot propositions that are more controversial that might yet be regarded as some as among the year's best.
