1886 ballot measures
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1886.
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
California
See also: California 1886 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Taxes; Property | The measure provided that all property, except for railroads, that is not exempt under federal law be taxed in proportion to its value. |
| 123,173 (92%) | 9,992 (8%) |
Colorado
See also: Colorado 1886 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Courts Establishment Amendment | State legislative authority; State judiciary structure | Authorize the General Assembly to establish separate criminal courts in certain counties |  | 7,549 (29%) | 18,512 (71%) | |
| District Court Judges Amendment | State judiciary structure | Increase the number of district court judges and authorizing additional judges within judicial districts |
| 14,938 (58%) | 10,867 (42%) | |
| Judicial Power Structure Amendment | State judicial authority | Vest the state’s judicial power in a supreme court, district courts, county courts, justices of the peace, and other courts established by law, and restructuring constitutional provisions governing the courts |
| 17,068 (64%) | 9,629 (36%) | |
| Legislative Authority Over Judicial Districts Amendment | State legislative authority; State judiciary structure | Authorize the General Assembly to change the number of judicial districts and judges and adjust their terms |
| 14,568 (51%) | 14,022 (49%) | |
| Police Magistrates Amendment | State judiciary structure; State legislative authority; Law enforcement | Authorize the General Assembly to create police magistrate courts in cities and towns | | 7,148 (28%) | 18,553 (72%) | |
| Supreme Court Size Amendment | State legislative authority; State judiciary structure | Authorize the General Assembly to increase the number of Colorado Supreme Court justices | | 6,478 (30%) | 15,132 (70%) | |
| Supreme Court Written Opinions Amendment | State judicial authority | Require the Colorado Supreme Court to issue written opinions in cases and allowing advisory opinions when requested by the governor or legislature |
| 16,897 (64%) | 9,453 (36%) |
Florida
See also: Florida 1886 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitution of 1885 Ratification Question | State constitution ratification | Ratify state constitution of 1885 |
| 31,803 (60%) | 21,243 (40%) | |
| Local Prohibition Option Amendment | Alcohol laws | Amend provisions relating to the right for people to enact prohibition of alcohol locally |
| 29,831 (70%) | 12,902 (30%) |
Illinois
See also: Illinois 1886 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Contract Convict Labor Amendment | Prison work regulations | It proposed that prisons may not contract out, as labor, the convicted individuals residing in the prison. |
| 306,565 (64%) | 169,327 (36%) |
Michigan
See also: Michigan 1886 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salaries of Certain State Officers Amendment | Salaries of government officials | Amend the state constitution relating to the salaries and the setting of salaries of certain state officers | | 40,445 (40%) | 60,220 (60%) | |
| Wayne County Board of Auditors Amendment | Administrative organization; Local government organization | Amend the powers of the Wayne County Board of Auditors | | 15,020 (42%) | 20,755 (58%) |
Minnesota
See also: Minnesota 1886 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Education; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance |
| 131,533 (88%) | 17,914 (12%) |
Nebraska
See also: Nebraska 1886 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State legislative processes and sessions | Provide that state legislators have terms of two years, salaries of $5 per day while in session, and that legislative sessions last no more than 60 days at one time |
| 72,497 (77%) | 22,135 (23%) |
Nevada
See also: Nevada 1886 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State legislative vote requirements; Ballot measure process; State legislative processes and sessions | Allow future constitutional amendments to be submitted to voters after approval by one legislative session. |
| 9,135 (89%) | 1,129 (11%) | |
| Question 2 | Residency voting requirements | Require one year of residency in the state to gain the right to vote. |
| 7,471 (81%) | 1,726 (19%) | |
| Question 3 | Public economic investment policy; Public education funding; State legislative authority | Allow state school funds to be invested in U.S., Nevada, or other state bonds. |
| 9,624 (94%) | 629 (6%) |
New York
See also: New York 1886 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State constitutional conventions | Call for a constitutional convention to revise and amend the constitution |
| 574,993 (95%) | 30,766 (5%) |
Wisconsin
See also: Wisconsin 1886 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Sex and gender issues; Women's suffrage | Provides for women's suffrage in elections relating to school matters |
| 43,581 (53%) | 38,998 (47%) |
Other years
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also
Footnotes
