2009 ballot measures

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• Results
• On the May ballot
• On the November ballot
• Local measures

2009 U.S. State Ballot Measures
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32 statewide ballot measures were on 2009 ballot in 7 states.

Three states -- Maine, Ohio and Washington -- of the several dozen states with initiative or referendum offer this option in odd-numbered years. In each of the three states, the petition process was used to qualify measures for the ballot that are traditional hot-button issues, including marriage, taxes, casinos, school consolidation, and marijuana.

In 2009, there were two veto referendums — Referendum 71 in Washington and Question 1 and Question 3 in Maine.

Number of measures

2009 was a year with a somewhat lower-than-average number of measures on the ballot. Going back to 1989, the average number of measures on the ballot in an odd-numbered year is 45.

Year	States	Measures
2021	9	39
2019	8	36
2017	9	27
2015	9	28
2013	6	31
2011	9	34
2009	7	32
2007	10	45
2005	13	47
2003	15	68
2001	9	39
1999	16	72
1997	8	44
1995	11	61
1993	15	62
1991	9	48
1989	13	77
1987	13	78
Averages:	11	48

Summary of results

The charts below includes election results of all statewide ballot measures in 2009.

2009 BALLOT MEASURE STATS
Approved	Defeated	Total
22 (69%)	10 (31%)	32

Ballot measures initiated by the voters
Type of ballot measure	Approved	Defeated	Total
Citizen-initiated constitutional amendment	1	0	1
Citizen-initiated statute	1	4	5
Veto referendum	2	0	2
Total	4 (50%)	4 (50%)	8

Legislative and other referrals
Type of ballot measure	Approved	Defeated	Total
Legislatively-referred constitutional amend	16	4	20
Legislatively-referred statute	1	2	3
Bond issues	1	0	1
Total	18 (75%)	6 (25%)	24

May statewide

California

See also: May 19, 2009 ballot measures in California

In order to free up $5.8 billion to help close the state's $42 billion budget gap, a special election took place on May 19 where voters statewide voted on a package of constitutional amendments.

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposition 1A	Taxes	Extends tax increases passed under the February 2009 budget bill for one to two years resulting in an expected increase to state tax revenue by $16 billion	d
LRCA	Proposition 1B	Budget	Makes supplemental appropriations for K-12 schools and community colleges annually beginning in 2011-12 until reaching a total of $9.3 billion; dependent on approval of Proposition 1A	d
LRCA	Proposition 1C	Budget	Authorizes borrowing against future lottery proceeds; repeals the requirement that lottery revenue be used only for education; revises lottery management details	d
LRSS	Proposition 1D	Budget	Redirects $268 million in annual tobacco tax revenue currently earmarked for First Five early childhood development programs under the terms of Proposition 10 (1998) to other health programs for children aged five and under	d
LRSS	Proposition 1E	Budget	Redirects funds from Proposition 63 of 2004 for a two-year period ($226.7 million in 2009-10 and between $226.7 million and $234 million in 2010-11) to support mental health programs through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program	d
LRCA	Proposition 1F	Budget	Prohibits pay increases for state legislators and certain state executive officials in years that the state is experiencing a budget deficit	a

November statewide

Maine

See also: Maine 2009 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Question 1	Marriage & Family	Repeals an act allowing same-sex marriages	a
IndISS	Question 2	Taxes	Reduces excise taxes on vehicles that meet certain energy efficiency requirements	d
IndISS	Question 3	Education	Repeals the law mandating school district restructuring	d
IndISS	Question 4	Taxes	Limits increases in government spending to inflation and population increases	d
IndISS	Question 5	Marijuana	Creates nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries and identification cards	a
BI	Question 6	Bonds	Issues $71.25 million in bonds for transportation programs and improvements	a
LRCA	Question 7	Direct Democracy	Increases the amount of time for municipalities to certify initiative petition signatures	d

New Jersey

See also: New Jersey 2009 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Status
LRSS	Open Space Bonds	Bond issues	$400 million for open space, farmland, historic areas	a

New York

See also: New York 2009 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Status
LRCA	Proposal 1	Environment	Retroactively approve power line along State Route 56 on six acres of forest preserve lands	a
LRCA	Proposal 2	Admin of gov't	Allow prisoners to perform volunteer work for nonprofit organizations	a

Ohio

See also: Ohio 2009 ballot measures

November 3, 2009

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Issue 1	Authorize the issuance of bonds to provide compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts	a	2,277,521 (72%)	876,520 (28%)
LRCA	Issue 2	Establish the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to establish and implement standards of care for livestock and poultry	a	2,020,851 (64%)	1,148,538 (36%)
CICA	Issue 3	Authorize one casino facility within certain cities, levy a fixed tax of 33% of gross casino revenue, and establish the distribution of tax revenue	a	1,713,288 (53%)	1,519,636 (47%)

Texas

See also: Texas 2009 ballot measures

November 3, 2009

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 10	Term limits	Set term limits up to four years for elected members of emergency services district boards.	a	759,059 (73%)	279,566 (27%)
LRCA	Proposition 11	Eminent domain	Prohibit government land acquisition for non-public use and require individual property assessments for blight before labelled as blighted.	a	848,651 (81%)	198,822 (19%)
LRCA	Proposition 1	Budgets	Authorize financing for buffer zone purchases near military installations to prevent encroachment and for infrastructure projects supporting the installation.	a	580,030 (55%)	470,746 (45%)
LRCA	Proposition 2	Taxes; Property	Allow the legislature to tax a residence homestead based on the value of that property	a	722,427 (68%)	336,559 (32%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Taxes; Property	Provide uniform standards and procedures for property appraisal for tax purposes.	a	691,294 (66%)	363,703 (34%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	Education; Budgets	Create the national research university fund to support state universities' national prominence, utilizing resources from the higher education fund.	a	593,773 (57%)	453,319 (43%)
LRCA	Proposition 5	Taxes	Allow homestead taxation based on residential value, a board of equalizations by adjoining appraisal entities, and uniform appraisal standards.	a	631,365 (62%)	390,080 (38%)
LRCA	Proposition 6	Veterans; Bonds	Authorize the sale of state bonds to finance land and home loans for Texas veterans, ensuring outstanding bonds do not exceed limits.	a	672,285 (66%)	351,036 (34%)
LRCA	Proposition 7	Military service	Allow members of the Texas State Guard and other state military forces to hold civil offices.	a	764,994 (73%)	281,855 (27%)
LRCA	Proposition 8	Healthcare facility; Veterans	Authorize the state to allocate funds, property, and resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans hospitals.	a	789,703 (75%)	265,627 (25%)
LRCA	Proposition 9	Property	Provide protections for public beach access and use.	a	805,362 (77%)	241,522 (23%)

Washington

See also: Washington 2009 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
ITP	Initiative 1033	Taxes	Limits growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth	d
VR	Referendum 71	Marriage	Expands the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded to state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses	a

Hundreds of local measures

See also: Local ballot measure elections in 2009

Local ballot measures were on the November 3, 2009 ballot in at least 29 states.

In Alabama In Arizona In California In Colorado In Florida

In Georgia In Idaho In Indiana In Iowa In Kansas

In Maine In Maryland In Massachusetts In Michigan In Minnesota

In Missouri In New Hampshire In New Jersey In New York In North Carolina

In Ohio In Oregon In Pennsylvania In Tennessee In Texas

In Utah In Virginia In Washington In Wisconsin

See also

• 2009 ballot measure calendar
• Ballot measure petition deadlines and requirements, 2009
• Polls, 2009 ballot measures
• How to find campaign finance information about ballot measure campaigns
• Six states prepare to face off in November 3rd elections

External links

• State Net's list of the 2009 ballot measures
• USA Today, "State ballots tackle controversial issues Tuesday," November 1, 2009
• Daily Kos, "Election Night 2009: A Viewer's Guide," November 1, 2009
• Initiative & Referendum Institute, "Ballotwatch 2009," October 17, 2009