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Local ballot measure elections in 2017
| 2017 U.S. Local Ballot Measures | |
|---|---|
2018 »
« 2016
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| Overview | |
| California | |
| Election dates | |
| Lawsuits | |
| The Big Picture | |
| Local vs. State | |
| National agendas | |
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What we cover
In 2017, Ballotpedia covered all local measures in California and local measures in other states based on the population of the areas affected and the topic of the measure. Preference was given to measures that are part of a national agenda, concern a topic of heightened general interest, or that highlight the issue of preemption by state law. Ballotpedia also covers all statewide ballot measures.
Local measures in California
Every year, voters in California decide local ballot measures concerning a large range of issues, including taxes, bonded indebtedness, zoning and development, marijuana, and others. Even-numbered years feature far more ballot measures than odd-numbered years. Ballotpedia tracked 115 local ballot measures in 2015 and 117 in 2013; California voters decided over 800 measures in 2016 and over 550 in 2014.
| HIGHLIGHTS | |
Notable measures include Los Angeles Measure S, which would have changed the laws governing changes to the general plan and development projects in Los Angeles had it been passed; Los Angeles Measure C which authorized an ordinance to allow police officers accused of misconduct in Los Angeles to choose a board of composed of all civilians for disciplinary hearings; and Santa Rosa Measure C which would have established a three percent cap on annual rent increases and prevented landlords from evicting tenants without just cause.
The big picture
Ballotpedia’s research and past coverage indicated that the following would be the primary storylines for local ballot measure elections in 2017.
Statewide and national agendas
Local politics has always been affected by larger agendas and issues, as well as outside interests and funding. In local ballot measure races, the influence of state or national interests on local issues has been brought into sharp relief when advocates for certain statewide and national agendas or outside corporations back local measures. Below are some instances that highlight this aspect of local ballot measures. Read more about this storyline here.
State vs. Local
As activists have turned to local ballot measures to push agendas such as bans on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), higher minimum wages, LGBT anti-discrimination ordinances, marijuana legalization, and anti-fracking restrictions, advocates of opposing agendas have teamed up with some who think that power over certain issues should belong exclusively to state governments to diminish the authority of local government entities. In some states, opposition to local ballot measures concerning contentious issues has been shown by officials at the state level, and conflict between the authority of local government entities and state governments has become an important narrative in U.S. politics. This power struggle is intensified by the shift toward Republican control in statewide governments and the success of left-leaning candidates in local elections. Read more about this storyline here.
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