1898 ballot measures
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1898.
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
Florida
See also: Florida 1898 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment of Courts Amendment | State judiciary structure | Limit the establishment of judicial courts |
| 12,061 (92%) | 1,102 (8%) | |
| Guaranteeing of Bonds Amendment | Bond issues | Amend provisions relating to the guaranteeing of bonds |
| 11,582 (90%) | 1,270 (10%) | |
| Impeachment and Succession of Officers Amendment | Impeachment rules; State legislative processes and sessions | Amend provisions relating to impeachment of members of the Legislature and succession of officers |
| 11,145 (94%) | 770 (6%) |
Idaho
See also: Idaho 1898 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| HJR 10 | County and municipal governance; Salaries of government officials |
| |
| HJR 8 | County and municipal governance; Property |
|
Michigan
See also: Michigan 1898 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constitutional Convention Question | State constitutional conventions | Hold a state constitution convention |  | 162,163 (56%) | 127,147 (44%) |
Minnesota
See also: Minnesota 1898 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Women's suffrage; Sex and gender issues | Allows women to vote for and serve on school and library boards |
| 71,704 (62%) | 43,660 (38%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Ballot measure supermajority requirements | Require constitutional amendments to be approved by a simple majority of all votes cast at the election |
| 69,760 (68%) | 32,881 (32%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Local government organization; Ballot measure process | Make a number of changes to how cities and villages can institute home rule |
| 68,754 (68%) | 32,068 (32%) | |
| Amendment 4 | Property taxes; Highways and bridges | Create a state road and bridge fund, allow the legislature to create a state highway commission, and permit the legislature to levy a property tax to fund the construction and improvement of roads |
| 70,043 (65%) | 38,017 (35%) |
Montana
See also: Montana 1898 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Election of County Commissioners Amendment | Local government officials and elections; Local government organization | Elect county commissioners |
| 8,858 (70%) | 3,791 (30%) | |
| Use of District Court Judges Amendment | State judiciary structure | Call district judges to replace missing supreme court justices to compose a full bench |
| 8,605 (69%) | 3,823 (31%) |
South Dakota
See also: South Dakota 1898 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiative and Referendum Process Amendment | Initiative and referendum process | Provides for the initiative and referendum process in the state constitution |
| 23,816 (59%) | 16,483 (41%) | |
| State Control of Liquor Amendment | Alcohol laws; Business regulations | Establish the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors to be under state jurisdiction |
| 22,170 (52%) | 20,557 (48%) | |
| Women's Suffrage Amendment | Sex and gender issues; Women's suffrage | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | | 19,698 (46%) | 22,983 (54%) |
Texas
See also: Texas 1898 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Salaries of government officials | Extend the $5 per diem compensation of legislators to the first 100 days of a session and increase the per diem for the remainder of the session to $3 | | 35,901 (12%) | 255,121 (88%) |
November 1
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Veterans policy | Authorize direct aid to disabled and dependent Confederate veterans and their widows |
| 56,913 (52%) | 53,074 (48%) |
Utah
See also: Utah 1898 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State judicial selection; State executive powers and duties | Alter the powers of the governor to appoint state judges and officials | | 7,397 (41%) | 10,510 (59%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Public education funding | Permit counties to institute a tax on first and second-class cities to fund public schools | | 11,008 (50%) | 11,081 (50%) | |
| Amendment 3 | State legislative processes and sessions | Make every act of the legislature evidence of its due enactment if overseen by the Secretary of State | | 5,846 (39%) | 9,068 (61%) | |
| Amendment 4 | State judicial authority | Allow an appeal of any ruling of a district court | | 5,365 (37%) | 9,282 (63%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Property tax exemptions | Create a property tax exemption for household furniture with a value up to $200 | | 7,474 (47%) | 8,297 (53%) |
Washington
See also: Washington 1898 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal Property Tax Classification Amendment | Local government finance and taxes | Allow municipal governments, with voter approval, to choose which classes of property to tax for local purposes, provided the tax is applied uniformly | | 15,986 (32%) | 33,850 (68%) | |
| Women's Suffrage Amendment | Sex and gender issues; Women's suffrage | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | | 20,658 (40%) | 30,540 (60%) |
Wisconsin
See also: Wisconsin 1898 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Banking policy | Approve revised banking laws passed by the legislature | | 86,872 (48%) | 92,607 (52%) |
Other years
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also
Footnotes
