1881 ballot measures
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1881.
In the United States, a ballot measure is a law, issue, or question that appears on a statewide or local ballot for voters of that jurisdiction to decide.
- HBM Factbooks
- List of ballot measures by state
- Other years
Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks
The inventory of statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks, which document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and voters on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life. Click here to access the state historical ballot measure factbooks.
List of ballot measures by state
Colorado
See also: Colorado 1881 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Capital Location Measure | State capitals | Select a location for a state capital |
| 30,248 (66%) | 15,249 (34%) |
Michigan
See also: Michigan 1881 ballot measures
April 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal 1 | Revenue allocation; Public education funding | Allow money from penal fines to be used for either libraries or school purposes |
| 51,475 (86%) | 8,370 (14%) | |
| Proposal 2 | State judicial authority; State judiciary structure | Allow the Michigan Supreme Court to appoint its own clerk |
| 62,593 (90%) | 6,640 (10%) | |
| Proposal 3 | State judiciary structure | Allow the state legislature to provide for the election of more than one circuit judge in Wayne County |
| 53,840 (89%) | 6,628 (11%) |
Minnesota
See also: Minnesota 1881 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Taxes; Water | Authorize a levy on all lands fronting any water main or water pipe by the linear foot |
| 35,019 (66%) | 18,320 (34%) | |
| Amendment 2 | State legislative processes and sessions | Remove time limitations on legislative session length |  | |||
| Amendment 3 | State legislative structure; Salaries of government officials | Limit compensation for legislators to $5 per day, not to exceed $450 for each regular session, or not to exceed $200 for each special session | | |||
| Amendment 4 | State legislative processes and sessions | Prohibit special legislation on a variety of specific subjects such as altering highways, changing county seats or incorporating any town or village |
| 56,491 (87%) | 8,369 (13%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Environment; Property | Permit the sale of swamp lands and for the appropriation of proceeds from said sale |
| 51,903 (86%) | 8,440 (14%) |
Texas
See also: Texas 1881 ballot measures
September 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Salaries of government officials | Set the maximum compensation for legislators at $5 per day and limited regular legislative sessions to 100 days. | | 12,493 (22%) | 44,569 (78%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Salaries of government officials; State judiciary | Increase the Supreme Court from three to seven members and increase the annual salary from $3,550 to $3,600. | | 20,149 (35%) | 36,647 (65%) |
Wisconsin
See also: Wisconsin 1881 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State legislatures measures; Administration of government; Salaries of government officials | Provide for biennial sessions, two-year assembly terms, four-year senate terms, and $500 yearly salary for the legislature |
| 53,532 (79%) | 13,936 (21%) |
Other years
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also
Footnotes
