Connecticut Amendment 1, Transportation Revenue Lockbox Amendment (2018)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 30 (by mail), or Nov. 6 (in-person)
- Early voting: N/A
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 5
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: Non-photo ID required
- Poll times: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
| Connecticut Amendment 1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 6, 2018 | |
| Topic State and local government budgets, spending and finance and Transportation | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Connecticut Amendment 1, the Transportation Revenue Lockbox Amendment, was on the ballot in Connecticut as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 6, 2018.[1] The measure was approved.
| A "yes" vote supported this amendment to prohibit lawmakers from using the state transportation fund for anything other than transportation purposes. |
| A "no" vote opposed this amendment to prohibit lawmakers from using the state transportation fund for anything other than transportation purposes. |
Election results
|
Connecticut Amendment 1 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
1,030,888 | 88.63% | ||
| No | 132,279 | 11.37% | ||
Overview
Amendment design
Amendment 1 required that all revenue placed in the state's Special Transportation Fund (STF) be used for transportation purposes, including the payment of transportation-related debts. The state legislature was prohibited from spending the fund on non-transportation purposes.[1] As of 2018, the STF was funded by the motor fuels tax, motor carrier road tax, petroleum products gross earnings tax, certain motor vehicle receipts and fees, motor vehicle-related fines, and a portion of state sales tax.[2]
Measures in other states
In 2014, voters in Maryland and Wisconsin approved transportation lockbox measures. In 2016, voters in Illinois and New Jersey also approved transportation lockbox measures. Voters in Louisiana approved a transportation lockbox for new fuel tax revenue on October 14, 2017. Californians voted on a transportation taxes and fees lockbox on June 5, 2018.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[1]
| “ | Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to ensure (1) that all moneys contained in the Special Transportation Fund be used solely for transportation purposes, including the payment of debts of the state incurred for transportation purposes, and (2) that sources of funds deposited in the Special Transportation Fund be deposited in said fund so long as such sources are authorized by statute to be collected or received by the state?[3] | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article III, Connecticut Constitution
The measure added a Section 19 to Article III of the Connecticut Constitution. The following text was added:[1]
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2018
| Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.
In 2018, for the 167 statewide measures on the ballot, the average ballot title or question was written at a level appropriate for those with between 19 and 20 years of U.S. formal education (graduate school-level of education), according to the FKGL formula. Read Ballotpedia's entire 2018 ballot language readability report here. |
Campaign finance
| Total campaign contributions: | |
| Support: | $0.00 |
| Opposition: | $0.00 |
There were no ballot measure committees registered in support of the measure or in opposition to the measure.[4]
Reporting dates
In Connecticut, ballot measure committees filed a total of five campaign finance reports in 2018. The filing dates for reports were as follows:[5]
| Campaign finance reporting dates for 2018 ballot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Report | Period |
| 1/10/2018 | Report #1 | 10/01/2017 - 12/31/2017 |
| 4/10/2018 | Report #2 | 1/01/2018 - 3/31/2018 |
| 7/10/2018 | Report #3 | 4/01/2018 - 6/30/2018 |
| 10/10/2018 | Report #4 | 7/01/2018 - 9/30/2018 |
| 10/30/2018 | Report #5 | 10/01/2018 - 10/28/2018 |
| 1/10/2019 | Report #6 | 10/29/2018 - 12/31/2018 |
Background
Special Transportation Fund
The Connecticut Special Transportation Fund (STF) was established on July 1, 1984, to provide a dedicated fund to invest in the state's transportation system and operate the Department of Transportation.[6]
Other transportation lockbox measures
- See also: State and local government budgets, spending and finance on the ballot and Transportation on the ballot
Voters in California approved a ballot initiative, Proposition 22, in 2010 that prohibited the California State Legislature from allocating revenue from fuel taxes in specific funds to the state's general fund.[7]
In 2014, voters in Maryland and Wisconsin decided on transportation fund lockbox measures. Maryland's Question 1 established a transportation fund defined by the state constitution, required that the fund's revenue only be used for transportation-related projects, and required that the revenue not be transferred (with certain exceptions). Wisconsin's Question 1 required that transportation-related revenue could only be used for projects under the purview of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Both measures were approved.
Illinois and New Jersey voted on transportation lockbox measures in 2016. The amendment to the Illinois Constitution was designed to prohibit the state legislature from using transportation funds for non-transportation related projects. Citizens to Protect Transportation Funding, the support campaign, spent $3.8 million to help the amendment pass. New Jersey Question 2 pitted Gov. Chris Christie, an amendment supporter, against his lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, who opposed the amendment. Voters approved the measure 54.5 to 45.5 percent. Question 2 required that all revenue derived from taxes on motor fuels be deposited into the Transportation Trust Fund. Louisiana voters approved Amendment 3, a transportation lockbox measure, in October 2017.
The following table illustrates the outcome of each transportation lockbox amendment:
| State | Initiative | Year | Percent “Yes” | Percent “No” |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Proposition 22 | 2010 | 60.62% | 39.38% |
| Maryland | Question 1 | 2014 | 81.65% | 18.35% |
| Wisconsin | Question 1 | 2014 | 79.94% | 20.06% |
| New Jersey | Question 2 | 2014 | 54.51% | 45.49% |
| Illinois | Amendment | 2016 | 78.91% | 21.09% |
| Louisiana | Amendment 3 | 2017 | 53.13% | 46.87% |
| Average | 68.13% | 31.87% |
Referred amendments on the ballot
From 1996 through 2016, the state legislature referred four constitutional amendments to the ballot. Voters approved three and rejected one of the referred amendments. All of the amendments were referred to the ballot for elections during even-numbered election years. The average number of amendments appearing on even-year ballots was zero. The last amendment to appear on the ballot was in 2014. The approval rate of referred amendments at the ballot box was 75 percent during the 20-year period from 1996 through 2016. The rejection rate was 25 percent.
| Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments, 1996-2016 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Approved | Percent approved | Defeated | Percent defeated | Annual average | Annual median | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | |
| 4 | 3 | 75.00% | 1 | 25.00% | 0.36 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Connecticut Constitution
In Connecticut, the state legislature must approve a proposed amendment by a supermajority vote of 75 percent during one legislative session or by a simple majority vote in two successive sessions to refer the amendment to the ballot. This amendment was approved by a simple majority vote in two successive sessions.
Governor
In 2015, Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) said that he wanted to increase revenue for transportation funding, but that he would not support legislation for new revenue until voters addressed a transportation lockbox amendment.[8][9]
On December 4, 2015, Gov. Malloy called a one-day special session of the Connecticut General Assembly for December 8, 2015.[10] He asked the legislature to address taxes and a transportation lockbox amendment.[11]
2015 legislative session
The constitutional amendment was introduced into the state legislature as House Joint Resolution 304 (HJR 304) in 2015. The bill was taken up during a one-day special session on December 8, 2015.[12] The Connecticut Senate approved the measure 35 to 0 with one senator absent. The Connecticut House of Representatives approved the measure 100 to 40 with 11 members not voting. While the amendment passed the Senate with more than 75 percent of senators voting yes, not enough representatives voted to pass the measure to refer the amendment to the ballot for the election on November 8, 2016. The amendment was forwarded to the 2017 legislative session.[13]
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Vote in the Senate on December 8, 2015
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Vote in the House on December 8, 2015
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2017 legislative session
The constitutional amendment was introduced into the state legislature as House Joint Resolution 100 (HJR 100) in 2017. On June 6, 2017, the Connecticut House of Representatives approved the measure 101 to 50. On June 7, 2017, the Connecticut Senate approved the measure 29 to 7. As the measure was approved in both chambers, the amendment qualified to appear on the ballot in 2018.[14][15]
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Vote in the House on June 6, 2017
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Vote in the Senate on June 7, 2017
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How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Connecticut
Poll times
In Connecticut, all polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Election Day. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[16]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Connecticut, one must be a U.S. citizen and Connecticut resident who is at least 17 years-old and will be 18 on or before Election Day.[17]
Registration applications can be submitted online or completed via paper forms. The deadline for mail-in applications is 18 days before an election or primary, while same-day registration is available but must be completed at designated election-day registration locations in each town.[18]
Automatic registration
Connecticut automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Connecticut has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Connecticut allows same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Connecticut, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.
Verification of citizenship
Connecticut does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, if you knowingly providing false information, "you can be convicted and imprisoned for up to five years and fined up to $5,000."[19]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[20] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The site Voter Registration Lookup, run by the Connecticut Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Connecticut requires voters to present non-photo identification while voting.[21] A voter who does not present a required ID may sign an affidavit with their name, address, and date of birth, and then election officials may determine that the voter is eligible to vote.[22]
The following list of accepted ID was current as of July 2024. Click here for the Connecticut Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
First-time voters who registered by mail must present one of the following forms of identification to vote in an election with federal candidates on the ballot:
- Copy of a current and valid photo identification with the voter’s name and address, or
- Copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows the voter’s name and address.
Other voters must present one of the following forms of identification:
- Any re-printed form of identification that shows the voter's name and address, name and signature, or name and photograph.
- Social security card.
State profile
| Demographic data for Connecticut | ||
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 3,584,730 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 4,842 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 77.3% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 10.3% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.8% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 14.7% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 89.9% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 37.6% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $70,331 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 12.2% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Connecticut. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
Connecticut voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Connecticut, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[23]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Connecticut had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Connecticut coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Connecticut
- United States congressional delegations from Connecticut
- Public policy in Connecticut
- Endorsers in Connecticut
- Connecticut fact checks
- More...
Related measures
| Transportation measures on the ballot in 2018 | |
|---|---|
| State | Measures |
| Colorado | Colorado Proposition 109: "Fix Our Damn Roads" Transportation Bond Initiative 
|
| Maine | Maine Question 3: Transportation Bond Issue
|
| Missouri | Missouri Proposition D: Gas Tax Increase, Olympic Prize Tax Exemption, and Traffic Reduction Fund Measure
|
| Louisiana | Louisiana Amendment 4: No Dedication of Transportation Trust Fund Revenue to State Police Amendment
|
| Colorado | Colorado Proposition 110, "Let's Go Colorado" Transportation Bond and Sales Tax Increase Initiative
|
| California | California Proposition 69: Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox and Appropriations Limit Exemption Amendment
|
| California | California Proposition 6: Vote on Future Gas and Vehicle Taxes and 2017 Tax Repeal Initiative |
See also
External links
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Connecticut 2018 Transportation Lockbox Amendment. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Connecticut General Assembly, "House Joint Resolution 100," accessed June 7, 2017
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "HJR 100 Analysis," accessed June 7, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission, "Campaign Finance Database," accessed February 23, 2018
- ↑ Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission, "2018 Filing Calendar," accessed February 23, 2018
- ↑ Connecticut State Website, "Special Transportation Fund," accessed February 26, 2018
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "California General Election Official Voter Guide, November 2010," accessed January 9, 2018
- ↑ The Connecticut Mirror, "Transportation funding debate still centered on ‘lockbox’," February 6, 2017
- ↑ New Haven Register, "Connecticut House supports transportation lockbox," June 6, 2017
- ↑ Reuters, "Connecticut governor calls lawmakers to special session on budget hole," December 4, 2015
- ↑ Connecticut's Official State Website, "Gov. Malloy Calls Legislature Into Special Session Tuesday to Tackle Budgetary, Transportation Matters, Long-Term Structural Changes," December 4, 2015
- ↑ WTHN, "Connecticut lawmakers pass plan to close budget deficit," December 8, 2015
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "H.J. No. 304 Overview," accessed June 7, 2017
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "H.J. No. 100 Overview," accessed June 7, 2017
- ↑ U.S. News, "Lawmakers Vote for Transportation Funding Lockbox," June 7, 2017
- ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-174," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of the State, "Voting Eligibility," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "Election Day Registration," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ Office of the Secretary of the State, "State of Connecticut Mail-in Voter Registration," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Connecticut Secretary of State, "FAQ Voter ID," accessed July 23, 2024
- ↑ General Statutes of Connecticut, "Sections 9-261," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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