1985 ballot measures
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1985.
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
Alabama
See also: Alabama 1985 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 2 | Bond issues | It proposed to authorize bonds for a number of purposes including acquiring land in Mobile County to be used by the Department of the Navy. |
| 349,552 (71%) | 140,475 (29%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Local government organization | This measure proposed that the Alabama State Docks Department could transfer its property in Lauderdale County to the Florence-Lauderdale City Port Authority, its property in Morgan County to the Decatur-Morgan County Port Authority and its property in Walker County to the Walker County Commission. |
| 250,815 (56%) | 198,574 (44%) |
May 14
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | It proposed to create a trust fund that would be named "The Alabama Trust Fund." It would be funded with revenue received from offshore oil and gas rights. It also proposed to create a board to oversee the trust fund and its investments. In addition, it called for the termination of the Alabama Heritage Trust Fund and the transfer of its assets to the new trust fund. |
| 157,034 (66%) | 79,844 (34%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Forestry and timber; Parks, land, and natural area conservation | It proposed that the state legislature fund a commission to award grants for soil conservation, water quality improvement, reforestation and other projects to benefit agricultural or timber lands in Alabama. |
| 149,213 (69%) | 68,140 (31%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Agriculture policy | This measure proposed a voluntary assessment upon cattle producers to fund programs related to the state's cattle industry. |
| 156,376 (73%) | 56,841 (27%) |
Maine
See also: Maine 1985 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Ballot measure process; Environment; Nuclear energy |
| 86,678 (68%) | 39,893 (32%) | ||
| Question 2 | Pollution, waste, and recycling policy; Sewage and stormwater; Bond issues | Issue $15 million in bonds to fund sewage treatment and water improvement facilities and the restoration and clean up of Maine's ground water |
| 130,714 (69%) | 58,077 (31%) | |
| Question 3 | Bond issues; Agriculture policy; Fisheries and fishing regulations; Energy; Public economic investment policy | Issue $4.3 million in bonds to fund the Department of Finance and Administration in constructing, improving, and renovating centers for advanced technology |  | 88,111 (47%) | 99,393 (53%) | |
| Question 4 | Airport infrastructure; Bond issues; Highways and bridges | Issue $20 million in bonds to fund transportation infrastructure improvements |
| 137,560 (72%) | 52,919 (28%) | |
| Question 5 | Railways; Bond issues | Issue $850,000 in bonds to acquire rail lines |
| 97,022 (51%) | 92,025 (49%) | |
| Question 6 | Bond issues; Parks, land, and natural area conservation | Issue $2 million in bonds to fund the restoration and preservation of historic properties |
| 98,863 (52%) | 90,540 (48%) | |
| Question 7 | Bond issues; Higher education funding | Issue $2.2 million in bonds to fund the purchase of technical equipment for the state vocational-technical institutes |
| 124,029 (65%) | 65,469 (35%) | |
| Question 8 | State legislative elections; State executive elections | Allow state legislators to be appointed to other government offices that require legislative approval if they resign from the legislature | | 92,262 (50%) | 92,824 (50%) | |
| Question 9 | Local government officials and elections | Increase the terms of county sheriffs from two years to four |
| 110,080 (58%) | 80,141 (42%) |
New Jersey
See also: New Jersey 1985 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Question No. 1 | Bond issues | The Wastewater Treatment Bond Act of 1985 authorized $190 million in bonds for municipal water treatment projects. |
| 1,045,725 (71%) | 429,575 (29%) | |
| Public Question No. 2 | Bond issues | The Resource Recovery and Solid Waste Disposal Facility Bond Act of 1985 authorized $85 million in bonds for a revolving fund to make loans to municipalities for solid waste disposal facilities. |
| 1,066,305 (72%) | 410,877 (28%) | |
| Public Question No. 3 | Bond issues | The Pinelands Infrastructure Trust Bond Act of 1985 authorized $30 million in bonds for grants and loans for infrastructure systems in the pinelands area of the state. |
| 930,250 (64%) | 532,114 (36%) | |
| Public Question No. 4 | Bond issues | The Natural Resources Bond Act of 1980 was amended to allow repayments of money from the fund it created to the fund created in the Resource Recovery and Solid Waste Disposal Facility Bond Act of 1985. Interest derived from investment in resource recovery was also redirected to the new fund. |
| 939,266 (66%) | 480,199 (34%) | |
| Public Question No. 5 | Gambling policy | The Simulcast Racing Act allowed racetracks to transmit and receive video of horse races, particularly out-of-state races, for betting purposes. |
| 1,040,117 (66%) | 533,926 (34%) | |
| Public Question No. 6 | Taxes | The amendment would have ended the use of money from the casino revenue fund to finance senior and disabled homestead rebates after June 30, 1985. | | 573,555 (38%) | 943,740 (62%) | |
| Public Question No. 7 | Administration of government | Following a ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court that the state legislature could not invalidate rules and regulations by executive agencies except through the bill process, ultimately requiring the Governor's approval, the amendment would have allowed the legislature to void administrative rules and regulations through resolutions. | | 511,115 (37%) | 851,883 (63%) |
New York
See also: New York 1985 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Public economic investment policy; Bond issues | Increase the state's guaranty cap for Job Development Authority bonds to $600 million and authorize it to make loans up to 60 percent of project cost for business facility improvements. |
| 1,426,326 (68%) | 663,891 (32%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Tax and revenue administration | Incorporate federal law by reference into state and local tax statutes. | | 946,764 (49%) | 999,056 (51%) | |
| Amendment 3 | State judicial authority | Provide the Court of Appeals the power to answer certified questions of law from federal or other state courts. |
| 1,249,238 (66%) | 654,198 (34%) | |
| Amendment 4 | Bond issue requirements | Authorize municipalities and school districts to issue sinking fund bonds to finance their debt. |
| 1,049,473 (54%) | 885,424 (46%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Public education funding; Property taxes | Repeal the special real-estate tax limit on smaller school districts. |
| 994,490 (50%) | 982,430 (50%) |
Ohio
See also: Ohio 1985 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonds Issue for Coal Research and Development Amendment | Bond issues; Fossil fuel energy | Issue bonds for coal research and development |
| 1,439,344 (64%) | 807,647 (36%) |
Oklahoma
See also: Oklahoma 1985 ballot measures
April 30
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Question 586 | Workers' compensation laws | Allow the legislature to set limits on damages for personal injury claims against the state or its subdivisions resulting in death. |
| 343,925 (56%) | 266,466 (44%) | |
| State Question 587 | Balanced budget requirements | Require a balanced budget, limit spending to 95% of income, cap growth at 12%, and create a restricted reserve fund. |
| 405,775 (67%) | 203,369 (33%) | |
| State Question 588 | Taxes | Exempt new or expanding manufacturing plants from ad valorem taxes for five years, with reimbursement laws for local governments and schools. |
| 424,281 (70%) | 184,115 (30%) |
Oregon
See also: Oregon 1985 ballot measures
September 17
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 1 | Taxes; Education | Implement sales tax up to five percent to fund educational institutions and reduce income, property and timber taxes. | | 189,733 (22%) | 664,365 (78%) |
Pennsylvania
See also: Pennsylvania 1985 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Absentee and mail voting | Make changes related to absentee voting |
| 912,845 (68%) | 434,516 (32%) | |
| Question 2 | Veterans policy | create a property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a veteran who was disabled while serving in the military |
| 1,075,121 (79%) | 290,795 (21%) |
Rhode Island
See also: Rhode Island 1985 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal 1 | Bond issues | The measure authorized $5.5 million in bonds for restoration of the statehouse. |
| 67,239 (59%) | 46,997 (41%) | |
| Proposal 2 | Bond issues | The measure authorized $5 million in bonds to continue accessibility of state facilities for the handicapped. |
| 70,871 (61%) | 44,697 (39%) | |
| Proposal 3 | Bond issues | The measure authorized $16 million in bonds for capital development related to mass transit, highways, highway safety and bridge replacement. |
| 73,569 (64%) | 40,842 (36%) | |
| Proposal 4 | Bond issues | The measure authorized $9 million in bonds for capital development relating to heritage properties and natural and recreational areas. |
| 60,236 (54%) | 51,763 (46%) | |
| Proposal 5 | Bond issues | The measure authorized the refinancing of up to $40.7 million in bonds first issued in 1981. |
| 73,619 (65%) | 39,113 (35%) | |
| Proposal 6 | Bond issues | The measure authorized $1.5 million in bonds for loans and grants to replace underground storage tanks for petroleum products and hazardous waste. |
| 59,772 (55%) | 49,079 (45%) | |
| Proposal 7 | Bond issues | The measure authorized $2 million in bonds for the acquisition of development rights to farmlands. |
| 72,003 (65%) | 39,028 (35%) | |
| Proposal 8 | Bond issues | The measure authorized up to $12.68 million for group facilities for the mentally disabled and chronically alcoholic. |
| 80,818 (69%) | 35,988 (31%) | |
| Proposal 9 | Bond issues | The measure authorized up to $20 million in bonds to fund grants and loans for asbestos removal. |
| 69,950 (62%) | 43,679 (38%) |
South Dakota
See also: South Dakota 1985 ballot measures
November 12
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Pollution, waste, and recycling policy; Nuclear energy | Establish Dakota Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management | | 15,463 (17%) | 76,295 (83%) |
Texas
See also: Texas 1985 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Water; Bond issues | Authorize $980 million in additional water development bonds, create special funds for various water policies, authorize a bond insurance program, and clarify the purposes for issuing water development bonds |
| 705,878 (74%) | 251,031 (26%) | |
| Proposition 10 | Property; Bond issues | Authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance state assistance of farm and ranch land purchases |
| 461,483 (51%) | 442,407 (49%) | |
| Proposition 11 | Civil and criminal trials | Change the method in which a person is charged with a crime and alter requirements relating to state writs and processes |
| 606,333 (69%) | 278,595 (31%) | |
| Proposition 12 | State judiciary | Allow the Supreme Court of Texas and Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas to address state law questions upon request from federal courts |
| 647,276 (73%) | 238,802 (27%) | |
| Proposition 13 | State judiciary; Redistricting policy | Allow either the judicial districts or legislative redistricting board to reapportion judicial districts and establish constitutional courts' administration and jurisdiction |
| 496,189 (58%) | 360,555 (42%) | |
| Proposition 14 | Local government officials and elections | Abolish county treasurer positions in Andrews and El Paso Counties, and county surveyor positions in Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Henderson, and Randall Counties |
| 584,641 (70%) | 251,483 (30%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Water; Bond issues | Authorize $200 million in agricultural water conservation bonds and clarify their purposes, creating special funds for water policy and authorizing a bond insurance program |
| 651,699 (70%) | 284,552 (30%) | |
| Proposition 3 | Revenue allocation | Authorize localities to use public funds for the replacement or relocation of water laterals on private property |
| 498,902 (54%) | 425,698 (46%) | |
| Proposition 4 | Education | Authorize the use of proceeds from the sale of land by the permanent school fund for the acquisition of other land |
| 628,246 (68%) | 299,020 (32%) | |
| Proposition 5 | Healthcare | Authorize the legislature to regulate the provision of health care services within hospital districts |
| 524,151 (57%) | 396,943 (43%) | |
| Proposition 6 | Corrections governance | Allow for the placement of prisoners in other states penal facilities pursuant to interstate agreement |
| 663,478 (71%) | 274,527 (29%) | |
| Proposition 7 | State judiciary structure | Increase the maximum allowable number of justice of the peace precincts in Chambers County from five to six |
| 544,991 (64%) | 302,288 (36%) | |
| Proposition 8 | Veterans policy | Provide $500 million in extra bonds for veterans' housing assistance, allowing the legislature to define eligible veterans for land and housing programs through legislation |
| 600,117 (65%) | 328,834 (35%) | |
| Proposition 9 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Permit the legislature to require state agencies to seek approval prior to making an emergency transfer of funds |
| 518,021 (57%) | 384,987 (43%) |
Washington
See also: Washington 1985 ballot measures
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HJR 12 | Workers' compensation laws | Permit investment in State industrial insurance (Worker's Compensation) funds |
| 582,471 (71%) | 233,628 (29%) | |
| HJR 22 | Property taxes; Public education funding; Ballot measure supermajority requirements | Remove voter turnout requirements for voter approval of excess property tax levies for schools, except the 60% yes vote requirement. | | 369,852 (44%) | 463,391 (56%) | |
| HJR 22 | Agriculture policy | Permit agricultural commodity commissions to engage in promotional hosting to develop agricultural trade |
| 536,528 (68%) | 250,936 (32%) | |
| HJR 23 | Public economic investment policy | Permit local governments to finance development projects through creating districts and tax revenues from increased property values | | 337,015 (41%) | 476,600 (59%) |
Other years
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also
Footnotes
