1916 ballot measures

1916 State Ballot Measures
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By state

Arizona

See also: Arizona 1916 ballot measures

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Measure Nos. 100-101	Supermajority; Initiative process	Require that a citizen-initiated ballot measure receive a majority of all votes cast in an election		18,356 (49%)	18,961 (51%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 102-103	Taxes	Provide for the exemption of taxes on property of educational, charitable, religious associations and institutions, and widows		14,296 (46%)	16,882 (54%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 104-105	Alcohol	Prohibit the possession and transportation of alcohol within the State of Arizona and provide for the destruction of liquors in violation	a	28,473 (62%)	17,379 (38%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 106-107	Legislature; Redistricting	Provide for the election of state representatives by legislative districts and allow for an increase in representatives according to population		15,731 (47%)	17,921 (53%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 108-109	Alcohol; Local government	Allow a minimum of fifteen percent of qualified voters to propose and hold an election on a county exemption to the prohibition of alcohol		13,377 (31%)	29,934 (69%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 110-111	Business; Labor	Provide for the regulation of hazardous workplace environments and establish schedule of compensation		18,061 (46%)	21,255 (54%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 112-113	Legislative structure	Provide for the abolishment of the Arizona State Senate		11,631 (34%)	22,286 (66%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 300-301	Death penalty	Provide for the abolishment of the death penalty	a	18,936 (50%)	18,784 (50%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 302-303	Administrative organization	Provide for the establishment of a Department of Labor		13,798 (39%)	21,492 (61%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 304-305	Administration	Provide for the establishment of an Office of State Architect and Building		10,010 (28%)	25,960 (72%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 306-307	Fishing; Hunting	Require a valid license or permit for the possession of game or fish	a	17,518 (51%)	16,849 (49%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 308-309	Family	Provide for the legalization and establishment of the requirements for divorce		13,564 (43%)	18,097 (57%)

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas 1916 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Amendment 1	Direct democracy	Defines initiatives and referendums more clearly	d
CICA	Amendment 2	Taxes	Creates a twelve-mill district school tax	a
CISS	Act 1	Elections	Created new primary laws	a

California

See also: California 1916 ballot propositions

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Proposition 1	Prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of alcoholic liquor.		436,639 (45%)	538,200 (55%)
CICA	Proposition 2	Prohibit the possession, sale, or gift of alcoholic liquor in public places, define "alcoholic liquor", and establish penalties for violations of these laws.		461,039 (48%)	505,783 (52%)
BI	Proposition 3	Allow for the issuance of bonds up to $15 million to complete unfinished parts of the state highway system and establish the terms of such bonds.	a	542,239 (80%)	137,107 (20%)
VR	Proposition 4	Amend the Direct Primary Act of 1913 to allow electors to declare partisanship at the polls and establish procedures for those who declare their partisanship.		319,559 (48%)	349,723 (52%)
CICA	Proposition 5	Establish that all public revenues be raised by taxation on land values only, and exclude the value of improvements.		260,332 (31%)	576,533 (69%)
CICA	Proposition 6	Make senators and members of the assembly ineligible for any other office or state employment during their term of office.	a	414,208 (64%)	230,360 (36%)
LRSS	Proposition 7	Allow the state engineering department to determine if bond costs for state highway construction in a county create an unjust burden to said county.	a	483,151 (76%)	152,910 (24%)

Colorado

See also: Colorado 1916 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Measure 1	Regulation	Regulates the practice of medicine	a
CICA	Measure 2	Civil Service	Places the state civil service in the state constitution	d
CICA	Measure 3	Alcohol	Exempts beer from constitutional limitations on alcohol, thus allowing for the production and consumption of beer	d
CISS	Measure 4	Health Care	Provides for the care and treatment of "insane persons"	a
CISS	Measure 5	Admin of Gov't	Abolishes the State Tax Commission and transfers the commission's duties to the State Board of Equalization	d
CISS	Measure 6	Food & Agri	Regulates the running of livestock at large	d
CISS	Measure 7	Education	Permits the investment of public school funds in certain securities	a
ABR	Measure 8	Con Con	Calls for a state constitutional convention	d

Florida

See also: Florida 1916 ballot measures

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Reapportionment of the Legislature Amendment	Provide for a Senator from each county and a system for the number of representatives for each county based on county population		10,258 (37%)	17,774 (63%)
LRCA	Voter Eligibility Amendment	Amend the eligibility rules for the right to vote		10,518 (35%)	19,688 (65%)
LRCA	Widows' Tax Exemption Amendment	Create a tax exemption for widows and those disabled by war or misfortune	a	20,859 (62%)	12,641 (38%)

Idaho

See also: Idaho 1916 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	HJR 3	Property	Permits the sale of one hundred sections of school land	a
LRCA	SJR 1	Alcohol	Prohibits the manufacture and sale of liquor as a beverage	a

Illinois

See also: Illinois 1916 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Illinois Revenue Amendment	Taxes	Shall the legislature have additional leeway in levying taxes on personal property?	d
LRSS	General Banking Amendment	Banking	Shall the general banking law be amended?	a

Iowa

See also: Iowa 1916 ballot measures

June 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Suffrage	Gives women the right to vote	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Elections	Provides that the 1916 general elections for state and local officers be held on the same day as the presidential election	a

Maine

See also: Maine 1916 ballot measures

September 11

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Question One	Labor	Limits women and children hours of employment 54 hours per week	a
LRSS	Question Two	Transportation	Provides state and county aid to towns for highway bridges construction	a

Maryland

See also: Maryland 1916 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Alcohol	Raises the question of Prohibition	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Gov't Finances	Proposes a budget system for appropriations	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Law enforcement	Sets guidelines for sheriff elections and term limits	a

Massachusetts

See also: Massachusetts 1916 ballot measures

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCCQ	Constitutional Convention Question	Constitutional conventions	Calls for a state constitutional convention to revise the constitution	a	217,293 (64%)	120,979 (36%)
LRSS	Establish Closed Primary System Measure	Primary elections; Primary elections	Establish a closed primary system	a	209,624 (58%)	150,050 (42%)
LRSS	Establish New Year's Day as a Legal Holiday Measure	Flags and symbols	Establish New Year's Day as a legal holiday	a	312,678 (73%)	113,142 (27%)

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1916 ballot measures

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Allow Legislative Repeal of Local or Special Acts Without Local Approval	Amend the right to repeal acts of local and special laws of the legislature	a	283,823 (51%)	275,701 (49%)
LRCA	Municipalities' Decisions on the Prohibition of Alcohol Amendment	Allow individual municipalities to decide on the prohibition of alcohol in the municipality		256,272 (40%)	378,871 (60%)
LRCA	Prohibition of Alcohol Amendment	Prohibit alcohol, with certain exceptions	a	353,378 (55%)	284,754 (45%)
CICA	Regulations on Fraternal Benefit Societies Initiative	Establish regulations on fraternal benefit societies		225,220 (39%)	349,810 (61%)

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota 1916 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Gov't Finances	Authorizes a fund to improve state school lands	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Education	Authorizes investment of school funds in first mortgages	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Resources	Authorizes the state to mine ore under public waters	d
LRCA	Amendment 4	Judiciary	Increases the number of justices of the Supreme Court	d
LRCA	Amendment 5	State exec	Authorizes the governor to cut down items in appropriation bills	d
LRCA	Amendment 6	Property	Authorizes condemnation of private lands	d
LRCA	Amendment 7	Direct democracy	Establishes initiative and referendum	d
LRCA	Amendment 8	Judiciary	Extends terms of probate judges	d

Missouri

See also: Missouri 1916 ballot measures

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Public assistance	Authorize the General Assembly to create a pension for the blind	a	385,627 (59%)	272,908 (41%)
CICA	Amendment 2	Agriculture; Administrative organization; Public land; Banking	Authorize the General Assembly to create a Missouri State Land Bank		296,964 (46%)	346,443 (54%)
CICA	Amendment 3	Alcohol	Abolish all production, sale, and consumption of alcohol		294,288 (41%)	416,826 (59%)

Montana

See also: Montana 1916 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Creates Boards of Equalization for the state and counties	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Taxes	Exempts nonprofit organizations from taxation	d
LRSS	Referendum 1	Bonds	Issues a bond for a twine factory at the state prison	d
LRSS	R-10	Alcohol	Prohibits the sale and manufacture of alcohol	a
CISS	I-11	Athletics	Establishes an Athletic Commission	d

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska 1916 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Amendment 1	Alcohol	Prohibits trafficking of liquor	a
CICA	Amendment 2	Food	Creates the Pure Food Department	d

New Hampshire

See also: New Hampshire 1916 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
ABR	Constitutional Convention	Con Convention	Shall a constitutional convention be held?	a

New York

See also: New York 1916 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Proposition 1	Bonds	Issues a $10 million bond for the acquisition of land for state park purposes	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 1	Con Convention	Shall the state call a constitutional convention to amend the constitution	d

North Carolina

See also: North Carolina 1916 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Admin of gov't	Restricts local, private and special legislation	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Trials	Provides emergency judges to prevent trial delays	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Legislature	Prevents special charters to corporations by the general assembly	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Local gov't	Prevents special charters to towns, cities and incorporated villages	a

North Dakota

See also: North Dakota 1916 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Referendum	Alcohol	Defines bootlegging as a crime and its penalties	a
LRCA	Referendum	Education	Creates the Dickinson Normal School	a
LRCA	Referendum	Healthcare	Creates new "hospital for the insane"	a
VR	Referendum	Food & Agri	Creates tax to fund state run terminal elevators	a

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1916 ballot measures

August 1, 1916

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	State Question 81	Administration; Taxes	Create a State Tax Commission and abolish the State Board of Equalization.		50,656 (26%)	146,130 (74%)
LRCA	State Question 82	Voting requirements	Establish a literacy test for electors, exempting those who served in the U.S. Army or Navy during the Mexican War or in wars with certain Native American tribes.		90,605 (40%)	133,140 (60%)
LRCA	State Question 83	Education; Taxes	Repeal Section 12-a of Article 10, which required taxes from public service corporations in multiple counties to be paid into the common school fund.		76,093 (37%)	127,525 (63%)
LRCA	State Question 84	Judiciary; Salaries	Reduce the salary of the Clerk of the Supreme Court from $3,000 to $2,500 and require the Clerk to be appointed by the Supreme Court.		58,933 (30%)	134,963 (70%)
LRCA	State Question 85	Budgets; Local government	Limit the indebtedness of incorporated cities and towns to 5% of the assessed property valuation, plus the amount allowed under Section 26, Article 10.		44,687 (23%)	147,933 (77%)
LRCA	State Question 86	Administration; Labor	Authorize the legislature to establish compulsory or elective employer compensation for employees in cases of death or disability.		50,998 (27%)	139,132 (73%)
LRCA	State Question 87	Judiciary	Consolidate the Supreme Court and the Criminal Court of Appeals into a single court known as the "Supreme Court of Oklahoma."		42,896 (22%)	149,272 (78%)
LRCA	State Question 88	Jury rules	Establish jury sizes at eight members in courts of record and six members in county courts and courts not of record.		49,954 (26%)	142,333 (74%)
LRCA	State Question 89	Judiciary	Abolish County Courts and transfer their jurisdiction, including probate matters, to District Courts.		47,194 (23%)	157,284 (77%)

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	State Question 78	Elections	Abolish all existing election boards and establish a State Election Board of three members.		147,067 (55%)	119,602 (45%)
CISS	State Question 80	Elections	Prohibit the legislature from passing laws on voter registration, requiring such laws to be enacted only through the initiative process.		140,366 (55%)	114,824 (45%)

Oregon

See also: Oregon 1916 ballot measures

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Measure Nos. 300-301	Executive officials	Authorize the Governor to veto single items in appropriation bills.	a	141,773 (73%)	53,207 (27%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 302-303	Taxes	Exempt all ships and vessels of fifty tons or more capacity from taxation until January 1, 1935.	a	119,652 (65%)	65,410 (35%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 304-305	Race and ethnicity; Suffrage	Repeal language from the Oregon Constitution that said, "No negro, Chinaman or mulatto shall have the right of suffrage"		100,027 (50%)	100,701 (50%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 306-307	Taxes; Property	Levy taxes on land rent, provide a system of credits for home builders, and ensure exclusive possession of land for every person.		43,390 (22%)	154,980 (78%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 308-309	Education; Taxes	Levy a one twenty-fifth of a mill property tax to support and maintain a State Normal School at Pendleton, Umatilla County.		96,829 (47%)	109,523 (53%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 310-311	Vaccinations and disease	Prohibit compulsory vaccination, inoculation, and other similar treatments for the prevention or cure of diseases.		99,745 (50%)	100,119 (50%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 312-313	Sunday	Repeal the law prohibiting most types of stores from opening on Sundays.	a	125,836 (57%)	93,076 (43%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 314-315	Alcohol; Business	Legalize the manufacturing and sale of fermented malt liquors containing four percent or less alcohol.		85,973 (38%)	140,599 (62%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 316-317	Alcohol; Business	Ban the importation of intoxicating liquors from outside of Oregon.	a	114,932 (51%)	109,671 (49%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 318-319	Agriculture; Bonds	Create a Rural Credits Fund to offer five percent interest loans to purchase land, livestock, and equipment and improve farming infrastructure.	a	107,488 (56%)	83,887 (44%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 320-321	Taxes	Provide limitations for state and county tax levies and county indebtedness.	a	99,536 (54%)	84,031 (46%)

South Dakota

See also: South Dakota 1916 ballot measures

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Fossil fuels; Transportation	Allow the state to construct and maintain roads and supply coal from state lands	a	75,922 (69%)	33,521 (31%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Irrigation	Allow the legislature to establish irrigation districts and fund irrigation of agricultural land through special assessments on the benefitted land	a	58,775 (57%)	44,238 (43%)
LRCA	Amendent 3	Business taxes; Income taxes; Property taxes	Revise Article XI on revenue and finance		43,793 (44%)	55,568 (56%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Property taxes	Allow the state or counties to establish a rural credit system allowing loans and credit to residents based on real estate security	a	57,569 (58%)	41,957 (42%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Constitutional conventions	Call a constitutional convention to revise the state constitution and reduce the number of convention members to match the number of state senators		35,377 (39%)	56,432 (61%)
LRCA	Amendment 7	Alcohol	Prohibit the production and sale of alcohol	a	65,334 (55%)	53,380 (45%)
LRCA	Amendment 8	Public education funding; Public land	Remove five-year lease limits on school lands		41,379 (40%)	61,798 (60%)
LRCA	Amendment 9	Salaries	Allow the legislature to determine the salaries of state officials by a two-thirds vote		39,169 (39%)	61,223 (61%)
IndISS	Referred Law 1	Primary elections	Regulate political party transactions to simplify primary elections, ensure party accountability to the people, and reduce election costs		52,410 (50%)	52,733 (50%)
VR	Referred Law 2	Alcohol; Business	Regulate the issuance of permits for the sale of intoxicating liquors by calling an election on the matter through a petition process		49,174 (47%)	54,422 (53%)
IndISS	Amendment 4	Banking	Establish a Department of Banking and Finance		47,715 (48%)	52,205 (52%)
VR	Referred Law 5	Jury rules	Require a five-sixths jury verdict in civil trials		49,601 (49%)	51,529 (51%)
IndISS	State Banking Board Initiative	Administrative organization; Banking	Create a state banking board		47,925 (49%)	50,226 (51%)
LRCA	Women's Suffrage Amendment	Sex and gender; Suffrage	Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution		53,432 (48%)	58,350 (52%)

Texas

See also: Texas 1916 ballot measures

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 1	Taxes	Authorize a county school tax of up to $0.50 per $100 valuation and increased the maximum school district tax rate to $1 per $100 valuation		122,040 (49%)	129,139 (51%)

Utah

See also: Utah 1916 ballot measures

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State executive	Permit the Board of Examiners to supervise the treasurer		18,103 (30%)	42,416 (70%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Mineral resources; Property taxes	Change the rate of taxation on mines		14,957 (21%)	55,133 (79%)

Vermont

See also: Vermont 1916 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Prohibition on the Sale of Intoxicating Liquor Act	Alcohol	Decides when the Prohibition on the Sale of Intoxicating Liquor Act should take effect	d May 1, 1927
LRSS	Direct Primary Act	Elections and campaigns	Decides when the Direct Primary Act should take effect	a March 20, 1916

Washington

See also: Washington 1916 ballot measures

November 7, 1916

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
IndISS	Initiative 18	Alcohol; Business	Remove alcohol purchases restrictions at home and authorize malt liquor production and sale, alcohol sales at hotels, and brewery licenses.		48,354 (16%)	263,390 (84%)
CISS	Initative 24	Alcohol; Business	Authorize the sale of beer between one and four percent alcohol and provide a system of licensing for breweries.		105,803 (30%)	245,399 (70%)
LRCA	Property Ownership Requirement for Voting on Indebtedness Amendment	Voting requirements	Require voters to own property with tax obligations to vote on propositions regarding financial matters.		88,963 (33%)	180,179 (67%)
VR	Referendum 3	Initiative process	Modify the laws governing the initiative and referendum process.		62,117 (24%)	196,363 (76%)
VR	Referendum 4	Recall	Alter the provisions regarding the recall of elected officials.		63,546 (25%)	193,686 (75%)
VR	Referendum 5	Elections	Provide the formation of state and county party conventions and the election of delegates to such conventions.		49,370 (20%)	200,499 (80%)
VR	Referendum 6	Labor	Define picketing, prohibit it, and provide penalities for violation.		85,672 (32%)	183,042 (68%)
VR	Referendum 7	Utilities	Require utility services to obtain public service commission certification based on public necessity and convenience.		46,921 (19%)	201,742 (81%)
VR	Referendum 8	Transportation; Local government	Create port districts, rank them into classes, and provide for harbor development.		45,264 (19%)	195,253 (81%)
VR	Referendum 9	Budgets	Require state and local governments, port, school, and park districts to establish a budget and limit expenditures.		87,205 (32%)	181,933 (68%)

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