1903 ballot measures
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1903.
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
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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
Michigan
See also: Michigan 1903 ballot measures
April 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boards of County Auditors Amendment | Local government organization; Administrative organization | Establish Boards of County Auditors in Saginaw, Jack, Washtenaw, and Kent counties |
| 108,889 (56%) | 84,636 (44%) | |
| Payment of Circuit Court Judges Amendment | Salaries of government officials | Amend the constitution relative to the payment of circuit court judges in certain counties |
| 105,618 (56%) | 83,048 (44%) |
New Hampshire
See also: New Hampshire 1903 ballot measures
March 10
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Elections and campaigns; English language policy | It proposed that voters and candidates for office must be able to read and write in English. |
| 28,601 (78%) | 8,205 (22%) | |
| Question 10 | State legislatures measures; Redistricting policy | It proposed that the legislature be able to establish voting precincts.Note: Although this measure gathered more "yes" votes, it did not pass because New Hampshire requires that an amendment receive greater than two-thirds of the vote to be approved. |  | 16,747 (56%) | 13,391 (44%) | |
| Question 2 | Military service policy | It proposed that captains of the state militia be examined and found qualified before their appointment. |
| 23,228 (76%) | 7,377 (24%) | |
| Question 3 | State legislatures measures | It proposed that the legislature not be required to choose the commissary-general.Note: Although this measure gathered more "yes" votes, it did not pass because New Hampshire requires that an amendment receive greater than two-thirds of the vote to be approved. | | 17,951 (64%) | 10,082 (36%) | |
| Question 4 | Taxes | It proposed to empower the legislature to impose an inheritance tax. |
| 20,917 (67%) | 10,306 (33%) | |
| Question 5 | Criminal trials | It proposed that police be given the power to try criminal cases that could not result in imprisonment in the state prison.Note: Although this measure gathered more "yes" votes, it did not pass because New Hampshire requires that an amendment receive greater than two-thirds of the vote to be approved. | | 19,736 (64%) | 11,289 (36%) | |
| Question 6 | Constitutional wording changes | It proposed to amend the Bill of Rights by changing the word "evangelical" to "Christian," removing the word "Protestant" and amending the phrase "and every denomination of Christian" to "all religious sects and denominations".Note: Although this measure gathered more "yes" votes, it did not pass because New Hampshire requires that an amendment receive greater than two-thirds of the vote to be approved. | | 16,611 (51%) | 15,727 (49%) | |
| Question 7 | Sex and gender issues; Women's suffrage | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | | 13,089 (38%) | 21,788 (62%) | |
| Question 8 | Business regulations | It proposed that the legislature be given power to regulate monopolies. |
| 23,732 (73%) | 8,659 (27%) | |
| Question 9 | Redistricting policy; State legislatures measures | It proposed a method to provide proportional representation in the legislature based upon population.Note: Although this measure gathered more "yes" votes, it did not pass because New Hampshire requires that an amendment receive greater than two-thirds of the vote to be approved. | | 20,295 (61%) | 13,069 (39%) |
Ohio
See also: Ohio 1903 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State executive official measures |
| 458,681 (58%) | 338,317 (42%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Redistricting policy |
| 757,505 (97%) | 26,497 (3%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Business regulations |
| 751,783 (96%) | 29,383 (4%) | |
| Amendment 4 | Taxes | | 326,622 (88%) | 43,563 (12%) | |
| Amendment 5 | County and municipal governance | | 21,664 (40%) | 32,110 (60%) |
Vermont
See also: Vermont 1903 ballot measures
February 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Option Alcohol Sales Act | Alcohol laws |
|
Wisconsin
See also: Wisconsin 1903 ballot measures
April 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State judiciary | Create a supreme court with seven justices and 10-year terms |
| 51,377 (56%) | 39,857 (44%) |
Other years
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also
- • Campaign finance
- • Endorsements
- • Polls
Footnotes
