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1979 ballot measures

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1979 State
Ballot Measures
1980 »
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Part 1: Overview
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    By state

    California

    See also: California 1979 ballot propositions


    November 6, 1979

    Type Title Description Result Yes Votes No Votes

    LRCA

    Proposition 1 Amend the state constitution to provide that desegregation through busing are only required in cases where the federal constitution requires it

    Approveda

    2,433,312 (69%)

    1,112,923 (31%)

    LRCA

    Proposition 2 Establish provisions related to interest rates on loans.

    Approveda

    2,256,767 (65%)

    1,238,633 (35%)

    LRCA

    Proposition 3 Change the property value assessment ratio from 25% to 100% and requires the veterans' exemption to be adjusted to reflect any changes to the assessment ratio made by the state legislature

    Approveda

    2,523,766 (76%)

    799,948 (24%)

    LRCA

    Proposition 4 Limit growth in annual government spending financed from tax revenue and certain fee revenue

    Approveda

    2,580,720 (74%)

    891,157 (26%)

    Kentucky

    See also: Kentucky 1979 ballot measures


    November 6

    Type Title Subject Description Result
    LRCA Amendment 1 Legislatures Allows four constitutional amendments to be voted upon at one time
    Approveda
    LRCA Amendment 2 Elections Changes election of Kentucky General Assembly members from odd to even years
    Approveda

    Louisiana

    See also: Louisiana 1979 ballot measures


    Type Title Subject Description Result
    LRCA Amendment 1 Taxes Concerning ad valorem taxes
    Approveda
    LRCA Amendment 2 Trials Concerning trying juveniles as adults
    Approveda
    LRCA Amendment 3 Admin of Gov't Concerning the term for members of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
    Approveda

    Maine

    See also: Maine 1979 ballot measures


    November 6

    Type Title Subject Description Result
    IndISS Returnable Container Question Environment Repeals a law that placed a mandatory deposit on bottles
    Defeatedd
    BI Referendum Question No. 1 Transportation Issues $16.5 million in bonds for highway and bridge improvements
    Approveda
    BI Referendum Question No. 2 Transportation Issues $11.81 million in bonds for public fish piers, airports and other transportation improvements
    Approveda
    BI Referendum Question No. 3 Energy Issues $2.5 million in bonds for energy conservation improvements for local government buildings
    Approveda
    LRCA Proposed Constitutional Amendment Suffrage Repeals literacy test requirement for voting rights
    Defeatedd

    Mississippi

    See also: Mississippi 1979 ballot measures


    November 6

    Type Title Subject Description Result
    LRCA Amendment 1 Redistricting Proposes to repportion the legislature based on the U.S. census
    Approveda
    LRCA Amendment 2 Judiciary Proposes that the legislature establish a commission on judicial performance
    Approveda


    Missouri

    See also: Missouri 1979 ballot measures


    November 6, 1979

    Type Title Subject Description Result Yes Votes No Votes

    LRCA

    Amendment 1 Sewage and stormwater; Bonds Authorize an issuance of a maximum of $200,000,000 in bonds to fund sewage treatment facilities

    Approveda

    437,345 (70%)

    187,463 (30%)

    LRCA

    Amendment 2 Restricted-use funds; Transportation; Administrative organization; Transportation Authorize a consolidation of the highway and transportation departments, change distribution of road funds, and require that one-half of existing sales tax on motor vehicles and any future increase in vehicle license fees be used to fund road and transportation purposes

    Approveda

    455,943 (74%)

    163,937 (26%)

    Nevada

    See also: Nevada 1979 ballot measures


    June 5, 1979

    Type Title Subject Description Result Yes Votes No Votes

    LRSS

    Question 1 Taxes Exempt certain foods from the sales tax and restore legislative control over tax administration.

    Approveda

    62,618 (78%)

    17,470 (22%)

    New York

    See also: New York 1979 ballot measures


    Type Title Subject Description Result
    LRCA Amendment 1 Bond issues Permits the legislature to increase the amount the state may guarantee for bonds issued by a public corporation
    Defeatedd
    LRCA Amendment 2 Forests and parks Exchanges' state forest preserve land in Hamilton county with the International Paper Company
    Approveda
    LRCA Amendment 3 Taxes Incorporates any federal tax law into the state tax law
    Defeatedd
    BI Proposal 1 Bond issues Creates a state debt for energy conservation
    Approveda

    Ohio

    See also: Ohio 1979 ballot measures


    November 6, 1979

    Type Title Description Result Yes Votes No Votes

    IndISS

    Beverage Container Deposit and Pull-Tab Ban Initiative Require a $0.10 refundable deposit on beverage containers

    Defeated

    768,898 (28%)

    2,019,834 (72%)

    Oklahoma

    See also: Oklahoma 1979 ballot measures


    November 6, 1979

    Type Title Subject Description Result Yes Votes No Votes

    CISS

    State Question 539 Taxes Allow individual taxpayers to deduct federal income tax paid from their state gross income over three years.

    Defeated

    202,380 (49%)

    211,768 (51%)

    Pennsylvania

    See also: Pennsylvania 1979 ballot measures


    Type Name Subject Description Result
    LRCA Question 1 Judiciary Increases the number of judges of the state Superior Court Approveda
    LRCA Question 2 Judiciary Provides retention election procedures for justices of the peace Defeatedd

    Rhode Island

    See also: Rhode Island 1979 ballot measures


    November 6:

    Type Title Subject Description Result
    LBM Proposal 1 Bond issues Authorizes $25 million in bonds for site purchases.
    Approveda
    LBM Proposal 2 Bond issues Authorizes $15 million in bonds for the construction of sewage treatment facilities.
    Approveda
    LRSS Proposal 3 Bond issues Authorizes the Rhode Island Industrial Building Authority to insure loans when industrial buildings are renovated.
    Approveda

    Texas

    See also: Texas 1979 ballot measures


    November 6, 1979

    Type Title Subject Description Result Yes Votes No Votes

    LRCA

    Proposition 1 Administration Provide for the appointment of notaries public for terms between two and four years

    Approveda

    291,006 (65%)

    153,371 (35%)

    LRCA

    Proposition 2 Administration introduce legislative review of rules made by executive agencies

    Defeated

    208,169 (48%)

    227,290 (52%)

    LRCA

    Proposition 3 Property; Bonds Guarantee loans to purchase farm and ranch real estate and authorize a sale of $10 million in bonds to finance loan guarantees

    Approveda

    240,605 (54%)

    201,212 (46%)

    Washington

    See also: Washington 1979 ballot measures


    November 6, 1979

    Type Title Subject Description Result Yes Votes No Votes

    IndISS

    Initiative 61 Pollution Provide a requirement of a minimum five cent recycling deposit on soft drinks and alcohol containers.

    Defeated

    380,247 (42%)

    517,177 (58%)

    IndISS

    Initiative 62 Taxes Provide limitations on the growth of general state tax revenues to the growth rate of state personal income.

    Approveda

    588,724 (68%)

    272,761 (32%)

    BI

    Referendum 37 Healthcare facility; Bonds Provide $25 million in state general obligation bonds to fund facilities aiding mentally and physically disabled people.

    Approveda

    576,882 (67%)

    286,365 (33%)

    LRCA

    SJR 110 Legislature Require a regular legislative session every year and provide for special sessions to be called upon by the governor or the legislature.

    Approveda

    508,063 (61%)

    331,391 (39%)

    LRCA

    SJR 112 Legislature; Civil service Permit legislators to assume civil offices without receiving increases in compensation for that office passed during their legislative term.

    Approveda

    469,049 (57%)

    355,088 (43%)

    LRCA

    SJR 120 Energy Permit municipal utilities to assist resident owners in financing energy conservation measures.

    Approveda

    526,349 (63%)

    311,768 (37%)

    Wisconsin

    See also: Wisconsin 1979 ballot measures


    April 3, 1979

    Type Title Subject Description Result Yes Votes No Votes

    LRCA

    Question 1 Executive officials Define that a vacancy in the office of Governor should be filled by the Lieutenant Governor, followed by the Secretary of State

    Approveda

    538,959 (74%)

    187,440 (26%)

    LRCA

    Question 2 Legislature; Executive officials Provide that the state legislature must approve governor-appointed successors to vacancies in the Lieutenant Governor

    Approveda

    540,186 (75%)

    181,497 (25%)

    LRCA

    Question 3 Legislature Eliminate the Lieutenant Governor's role as presiding officer of the Wisconsin State Senate

    Approveda

    372,734 (53%)

    327,008 (47%)

    LRCA

    Question 4 State executive; Legislature; Constitutional wording Clarify wording about constitutional officers' four-year terms

    Approveda

    533,620 (76%)

    164,768 (24%)


    If you know of a statewide measure that is not listed here or if you notice an error, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.