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Louisiana 2017 ballot measures
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In 2017, three statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in Louisiana on October 14, 2017. Voters approved all three amendments.
On the ballot
October 14:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Amendment 1 | Taxes | Exempts properties under construction from property taxes until completion |  |
| LRCA | Amendment 2 | Taxes | Creates property tax exemption for surviving spouses of emergency responders killed performing duties | |
| LRCA | Amendment 3 | Budget | Dedicates revenue from new taxes to transportation projects | |
Getting measures on the ballot
All statewide Louisiana ballot measures are legislatively referred constitutional amendments. State law does not allow for initiatives or referendums. Amendments are referred to the ballot by the Louisiana State Legislature and, if approved by voters, become a part of the Louisiana State Constitution. Louisiana is one of 16 states that requires a two-thirds supermajority vote in one session to place a proposed amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 70 votes in the Louisiana House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Louisiana Senate.
In 2017, the regular legislative session ran from April 10, 2017, to June 8, 2017. A special session also ran from June 8, 2017, through June 16, 2017.[1] All three of the ballot measures were referred during the regular session.
House Bill 142
House Bill 142 (HB 142) was designed to call for a special election on October 14, 2017, for voters to address proposed constitutional amendments. Rep. Stephen Pugh (R-73) introduced HB 142. The Louisiana House of Representatives approved the bill, 102 to 0 with two members absent and one seat vacant, on April 26, 2017. The Louisiana Senate passed the bill 38 to 0 on May 31, 2017. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed the bill on June 12, 2017.[2]
According to the Legislative Fiscal Office, HB 142 did not create additional government costs because a special election to elect the state treasurer was already scheduled for October 14, 2017.[3]
Historical facts
- See also: List of Louisiana ballot measures
- A total of 176 measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1995 and 2016. All of the measures were legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
- From 1995 through 2016, an average of between five and six measures appeared on the ballot during odd-numbered years in Louisiana.
- The number of measures appearing on odd-year statewide ballots between 1995 and 2016 ranged from zero to 16.
- Between 1995 and 2016, 73.9 percent (130 of 176) of statewide ballots were approved by voters, and 26.1 percent (46 of 176) were defeated.
| Louisiana statewide constitutional amendments, 1995-2016 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Total number | Approved | Percent approved | Defeated | Percent defeated | Annual average | Annual median | Annual minimum | Annual maximum |
| Even years | 115 | 85 | 73.91% | 30 | 26.09% | 10.45 | 9.00 | 4 | 21 |
| Odd years | 61 | 45 | 73.77% | 16 | 26.23% | 5.55 | 4.00 | 0 | 16 |
| All years |
176 | 130 | 73.86% | 46 | 26.14% | 5.55 | 4.00 | 0 | 16 |
Not on the ballot
The list below contains measures that were proposed and reached a certain stage in the initiative or referral process, but did not make the ballot.
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | No Dedication of Transportation Trust Fund Revenue to State Police Amendment | Budget | Removes dedication of Transportation Trust Fund revenue to state police | 
|
| LRCA | Levee Districts Taxing Powers Amendment | Taxes | Allows specific levee districts to levy a tax |
|
| LRCA | Flat Income Tax and Eliminate Federal Income Tax Deduction for Individual Liability Amendment | Taxes | Requires a flat rate income tax and eliminates the federal income tax deduction for individuals |
|
| LRCA | Flat Income Tax and Eliminate Federal Income Tax Deduction for Corporate Liability Amendment | Taxes | Requires a flat rate income tax and eliminates the federal income tax deduction for corporations |
|
| LRCA | Use Budget Stabilization Fund for Costs of Disasters Amendment | Budget | Allows state to use Budget Stabilization Fund for some costs of declared disasters |
|
| LRCA | Cooperative Endeavor Agreement Fee Payments Amendment | Taxes | Allows local governments to require fees, rather than property taxes, for properties with cooperative endeavor agreements |
|
State profile
| Demographic data for Louisiana | ||
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 4,668,960 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 43,204 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 62.8% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 32.1% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.7% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 1.8% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 4.7% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 83.4% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 22.5% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $45,047 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 23.3% | 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 Louisiana. **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
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Louisiana
Louisiana voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More Louisiana coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Louisiana
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- More...
See also
Footnotes
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