In 2009, 32 statewide ballot measures were on the ballot in 7 states. 14 (or 43.75%) of these ballot measures, from 4 states, had no campaign finance activity associated with them, while 18 (or 56.25%) of these ballot measures did have campaign finance activity associated with them.
A total of $131,845,508 was contributed to the 18 ballot measures with campaign finance activity on one or both sides of the issue.
Simple statistics
- In 3 states, over $10 million was donated to measure campaigns. In 2 states, over $20 million was donated.
- 22 of 32 measures were approved.
- 13 of 14 measures with no campaign finance were approved.
- 7 measures only had formal campaign financing on one side of the issue. Of those, 5 resulted in favor of the side with money.
- 12 of the 18 measures were campaign finance was used resulted in favor of the side that spent more money.
Note: The above results are based on reported campaign finance only. In some cases, campaigns financed support/opposition to multiple measures.
Chart of all states
| State
|
| # of ballot measures
|
Donations
|
| Without donations
|
With donations
|
Total
|
In favor
|
Against
|
Total
|
| California
|
0
|
6
|
6
|
*
|
*
|
$43,277,716
|
| Maine
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
*
|
*
|
$14,332,401
|
| New Jersey
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
$748,799
|
$204,177
|
$952,915
|
| New York
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
| Ohio
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
$54,099,370
|
$12,195,196
|
$66,294,566
|
| Texas
|
9
|
2
|
11
|
$352,452
|
$0
|
$352,452
|
| Washington
|
0
|
2
|
2
|
$2,824,044
|
$3,810,414
|
$6,634,458
|
| Totals: |
14 |
18 |
32 |
-- |
-- |
$131,845,508
|
Note: The results are based on reported campaign finance only. In some cases, campaigns financed support/opposition to multiple measures, and therefore true individual amounts could not be determined. The amounts also do not reflect money used by groups not officially registered as a support/opposition committee.
Charts by state
- The following charts list the monetary amounts reported by campaign committees for each ballot measure--these are listed under the "Pro committee/Con committee" columns.
- In some states individuals not associated with a particular committee reported monetary activity--these listed under the "non-committee" columns.
- Some committees reported funding campaigns for multiple ballot measures--these cases are listed with a "yes" under the "Multiple measure campaigns" column.
- Total spent only reflects amounts reported by committees.
| State
|
Ballot measures
|
Pro committee
|
Con committee
|
Pro non-committee
|
Con non-committee
|
Multiple measure campaigns
|
Election Result
|
| California
|
| Proposition 1A
|
$32,822,826
|
$5,749,186
|
$798
|
$165
|
Yes
|
 d
|
| Proposition 1B
|
$32,822,826
|
$0
|
$38,291
|
$901
|
Yes
|
d
|
| Proposition 1C
|
$25,809,869
|
$0
|
$34,485
|
$1,197
|
Yes
|
d
|
| Proposition 1D
|
$22,503,109
|
$1,344,336
|
$1,730
|
$1,197
|
Yes
|
d
|
| Proposition 1E
|
$22,503,109
|
$1,054,291
|
$1,730
|
$1,197
|
Yes
|
d
|
| Proposition 1F
|
$22,558,742
|
$0
|
$2,102
|
$1,197
|
Yes
|
 a
|
| Total spent:
|
$43,27716
|
| State
|
Ballot measures
|
Pro committee
|
Con committee
|
Pro non-committee
|
Con non-committee
|
Multiple measure campaigns
|
Election Result
|
| Maine
|
| Question 1
|
$3,434,064
|
$6,562,237
|
--
|
--
|
Yes
|
a
|
| Question 2
|
$87,171
|
$3,250,259
|
--
|
--
|
Yes
|
d
|
| Question 3
|
$66,697
|
$506,500
|
--
|
--
|
No
|
d
|
| Question 4
|
$360,518
|
$3,368,126
|
--
|
--
|
Yes
|
d
|
| Question 5
|
$163,845
|
$0
|
--
|
--
|
No
|
a
|
| Question 6
|
$0
|
$0
|
--
|
--
|
No
|
a
|
| Question 7
|
$0
|
$0
|
--
|
--
|
No
|
d
|
| Total spent:
|
$14,332,401
|
| State
|
Ballot measures
|
Pro committee
|
Con committee
|
Pro non-committee
|
Con non-committee
|
Multiple measure campaigns
|
Election Result
|
| New Jersey
|
| Question 1
|
$748,799
|
$204,117
|
--
|
--
|
No
|
a
|
| Total spent:
|
$952,915
|
| State
|
Ballot measures
|
Pro committee
|
Con committee
|
Pro non-committee
|
Con non-committee
|
Multiple measure campaigns
|
Election Result
|
| New York
|
| Proposal 1
|
$0
|
$0
|
--
|
--
|
No
|
a
|
| Proposal 2
|
$0
|
$0
|
--
|
--
|
No
|
a
|
| 'Total spent:
|
$0
|
| State
|
Ballot measures
|
Pro committee
|
Con committee
|
Pro non-committee
|
Con non-committee
|
Multiple measure campaigns
|
Election Result
|
| Ohio
|
| Issue 1
|
$0
|
$0
|
--
|
--
|
No
|
a
|
| Issue 2
|
$5,440,895
|
$0
|
--
|
--
|
No
|
a
|
| Issue 3
|
$48,658,475
|
$12,195,196
|
--
|
--
|
No
|
a
|
| Total spent:
|
$66,294,566
|
| State
|
Ballot measures
|
Pro committee
|
Con committee
|
Pro non-committee
|
Con non-committee
|
Multiple measure campaigns
|
Election Result
|
| Washington
|
| Initiative 1033
|
$727,049
|
$3,527,362
|
$476
|
$3,610
|
No
|
d
|
| Referendum 71
|
$2,096,995
|
$283,052
|
$3,523
|
$187,272
|
No
|
a
|
| Total spent:
|
$6,634,458
|
All donation amounts on this page was gathered through http://www.followthemoney.org on October 22, 2011, and statistics compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
