Ballot measure campaign finance, 2013
In 2013, nine measures raised a total of $49.4 million in contributions. The year saw fewer ballot measures than previous odd-numbered years, but the fund totals remained about average. The state of Washington saw the majority of campaign contribution activity.
Overview
- Main article: 2013 ballot measures
Thirty-one ballot questions were certified for a spot on six statewide ballots in 2013. Historically, elections on odd-numbered years see approximately 45 measures on average; there were 34 in 2011. Only nine measures had campaign finance activity, bringing the total for ballot measure contributions to $49.4 million, which was on par with the average for odd-numbered years.
The state of Washington, alone, garnered 65 percent of the 2013 total contributions. Primarily in funds for the opposition, Washington's I-522 raised $31.37 million, while I-517 added an additional $928,382 to the state campaign total. I-522, alone, set a state record for the most funds contributed to a ballot measure campaign.
Contributions
- Main article: 2013 post-election ballot measure campaign contributions
A total of about $49.4 million was raised from support and opposition campaigns in 2013.
| Total contributions to ballot measures by state | |
Top 5
Top 5 states
- $31 million - Washington
- $10.5 million - Colorado
- $3.2 million - New York
- $2.3 million - New Jersey
- $1.15 million - Texas
Top 5 measures
- $31 million - Washington I-522
- $10.5 million - Colorado Amendment 66
- $2.3 million - New Jersey Public Question 2
- $2.2 million - New York Proposition 1
- $1.15 million - Texas Proposition 6
Contributions by topic of measure
The top five topics, which accounted for $47.5 million or about 96 percent, of contributions, were business regulation, taxes, minimum wage and gambling.
Although they are typically low-impact topics when it comes to campaign contributions, business regulation and taxes accounted for 75 percent of the 2012 contributions. The two topics dramatically drew funds away from historically controversial ones like minimum wage or gambling. Washington's Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Engineered Food Measure, Initiative 522, and Colorado's Tax Increase for Education, Amendment 66, drew most of the funds.
Contributions by type of measure
Only nine measures featured contributions. Of those nine, three were citizen initiatives. They accounted for 87 percent of total ballot measure contributions for the year.
Initiatives, in total, received about $43 million, or 87 percent, of all 2013 contributions.
Top donors and contributors
- Main article: 2013's top contributors
Only two states had contributors who gave more than $1 million: Washington and Colorado. The top single contribution—$5.37 million—to a 2013 ballot measure came from Monsanto for Washington Initiative 522.
In total, seven individuals and organizations gave contributions of over $1 million. The state of Washington encompassed six of those seven contributions; all for Initiative 522.
| Top 3 contributors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Contributor | Measure | Amount contributed | Contribution % of measure total |
| Monsanto | Washington I-522 | $5,374,411 | 11.0% |
| DuPont Pioneer | Washington I-522 | $3,880,159 | 8.0% |
| Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps | Washington I-522 | $1,750,000 | 3.6% |
Costs
- Main article: 2013 ballot measure petition signature costs
Ballotpedia's cost-per-required-signature (CPRS) analysis compares the amount spent on the petition drive (for those initiatives that pay circulators) to the number of signatures the state requires to qualify an initiative for the ballot.
The CPRS for 2013's certified initiatives and referendums averaged $1.45 per measure. Of the three initiatives, Colorado's Amendment 66 boasted a CPRS higher than any that Ballotpedia identified in 2010, 2012, or 2014 at $11.05 per required signature. It is exceptional that a ballot measure featured on an odd-numbered year would achieve such a high CPRS, as especially prominent ballot measures are usually reserved for even-numbered years, when voter turnout is traditionally higher.
In total, about $1.49 million was spent on petition signature gathering.
See also
- Campaign finance disclosure rules for ballot measure campaigns
- 2013 ballot measure petition signature costs
- 2013 ballot measure campaign contributions
Footnotes
