Chart of 2014 ballot measure issues
NOTE: All measures, including legislative referrals and citizen initiatives, are listed below. However, some measures may be listed more than once because they fell into more than one category. For a detailed number of measures and more information regarding the 2014 ballot, please visit the official 2014 ballot measure article.
Following previous years' trends, taxes was the most prevalent issue on 2014 statewide ballots, with 23 of the 158 measures addressing the topic. Of the 42 states that had measures on 2014 ballots, 14 featured tax-related measures. Three of the 23 total tax measures were advisory questions, meaning that, regardless of whether the measures were approved or defeated, they were purely symbolic and did not change any state laws.
In 2012, 33 measures addressed taxes in some form; meanwhile, in 2010, a whopping 40 measures dealing with taxes were placed on the ballot, again leading the tally. Although taxes was the most prominent issue featured on the past three even-year election cycle ballots, fewer tax measures were on the ballot this year when compared to years past. In 2010, 21.7 percent of the measures were tax-related; In 2012, tax-related measures made up 17.5 percent of measures. In 2014, however, only 14.5 percent of the measures addressed taxes. Time will tell if this decreasing trend will continue going forward.
Hot-button issues such as GMOs, marijuana and healthcare tend to steal the media spotlight; however, in 2014, Nevada's Question 3 and Alaska's Ballot Measure 1 received significant coverage in state-wide publications. The Alaska measure, which was narrowly defeated at the polls, sought to repeal Senate Bill 21, also known as the Oil and Gas Production Tax and the More Alaska Production Act (MAPA), which was passed by the Alaska State Legislature and granted tax breaks to oil companies. The Nevada measure, which was also defeated by voters, sought to institute a two percent margin tax on businesses operating in Nevada that make more than $1 million. Revenue from the tax would have been allocated to public schools.
Bond issues were the second-most prevalent topic on 2014 ballots, with a total of 19 measures addressing bond money. Education-related measures followed closely, with 18 total measures.
2014 ballot issues
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Legend Highest total measures |
See also
- 2014 ballot measures
- List of ballot measures by topic
- List of ballot measures by year (2010 and 2012)
Footnotes
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