Michigan Ballot Measures (1964-2005)

In the table below of ballot measures, "CI" stands for a Citizen initiative, "CR" for a Citizen referendum, "BI" for a Bond issue and "LR" for a Legislative referral.

Constitutional Amendments

2000-2004

Year	Type	Proposition	Subject Matter	Description	Pass or Fail	Yes	No
2004	CI	Proposal 1	Gambling	Requires voter approval of any form of gambling authorized by law	Passed	2,689,448	1,926,721
2004	CI	Proposal 2	Marriage Amendment	Specify what can be recognized as a "marriage or similar union" for any purpose	Passed	2,698,077	1,904,319
2002	CI	Proposal 2	Taxes	Reallocate the tobacco settlement revenue received by the state from cigarette manufacturers	Failed	1,018,644	2,011,105
2002	CI	02-3	Business Regulations	To grant state classified employees the constitutional right to collective bargaining with binding arbitration	Failed	1,336,249	1,591,756
2002	LR	02-2	Administration of Government	Allow certain permanent and endowment funds to be invested as provided by law and increase allowed spending for state parks, local parks and outdoor recreation	Passed	925,475	565,971
2002	LR	02-1	Administration of Government	Amend the provision of the state constitution governing the operation of the state officers compensation commission (SOCC)	Passed	1,057,503	404,682
2000	CI	00-2	Administration of Government	Require 2/3 legislative vote to enact laws affecting local governments	Failed	1,242,516	2,548,995

1990-1998

Year	Type	Proposition Number	Subject Matter	Description	Pass or Fail	Yes	No
2000	CI	00-1	Education	To permit the state to indirectly support nonpublic school students	Failed	1,235,533	2,767,320
1998	LR	A	Administration of Government	To change the word "handicapped" to "disabled" in the constitution	Passed	1,708,873	1,181,138
1996	LR	C	Bonds	To establish the current Michigan Veteran's Trust Fund in the state constitution and require that expenditures from the fun be made solely for purposes authorized by the trust fund's board of trustees	Passed	2,447,905	849,525
1996	LR	B	Judicial Reform	To establish qualification for judicial offices	Passed	2,806,833	629,402
1994	LR	P	Environment	Establish a Michigan state parks endowment fund, increase the maximum allowable funds in Michigan natural resources trust fund, and eliminate diversion of dedicated revenue from Michigan natural resources trust fund	Passed	2,007,097	806,888
1994	LR	B	Judicial Reform	Limit criminal appeals	Passed	2,118,734	761,784
1994		A	Constitutional requirement	Call for constitutional convention	Failed	777,779	2,008,070
1994	LR	A	Taxes	Increase sales tax from 4% to 6%; limit annual increases to property tax assessments, exempt school operating millages from uniform taxation requirement and require 3/4 vote of legislature to exceed statutorily established school operating millage rates	Passed	1,684,541	750,952
1993	LR	A	Taxes	Limit property tax assessments and increase sales tax	Failed	1,008,425	1,164,468
1992	CI	C	Taxes	Exempt property from a portion of school operating porperty taxes and limit annual increase in all property tax assessments	Failed	1,552,119	2,276,360
1992	CI	B	Administration of Government	Restrict/limit the number of times a person can be elected to congressional, state executive and state legislative offices	Passed	2,295,904	1,613,404
1992	LR	A	Taxes	Limit annual increased in homestead property tax assessments and provide separate tax limitations for different property classifications	Failed	1,433,354	2,384,777

1980-1989

Year	Type	Proposition Number	Subject Matter	Description	Pass or Fail	Yes	No
1989	LR	B	Taxes	Tax increase from 4 cents to 6 cents, reduce school property taxes, set permanent school operating millages subject to voter renewal, and dedicate funds for local schools	Failed	436,958	1,392,053
1989	LR	A	Taxes	Increase sales tax from 4 cents to 6 cents and dedicate funds to local schools	Failed	514,407	1,341,292
1988	LR	B	Judicial Reform	Provide for rights of crime victims	Passed	2,662,796	650,515
1986	LR	C	Administration of Government	Expand authority of state officers compensation commission to include the Attorney General & Secretary of State	Failed	905,767	910,297
1986	LR	B	Administration of Government	Allow for approval or rejection of administrative rules by the legislature	Failed	648,116	1,136,721
1986	LR	A	Administration of Government	Allow establishment of the library of Michigan within the legislative branch	Failed	908,627	936,643
1984	CI	C	Administration of Government	Amend constitution relating to taxes, other revenues and voter or legislative approval for same	Failed	1,376,141	2,035,867
1984	LR	B	Administration of Government	Establish a natural resources trust fund and a board to administer it	Passed	2,066,554	1,120,794
1984	LR	A	Administration of Government	Allow legislature to approve or disapprove administrative rules proposed by state agencies	Failed	1,280,948	1,827,677
1982	CI	G	Administration of Government	Provide for an elected public service commission	Failed	1,026,160	1,771,098
1982	CI	B	Administration of Government	Create a Michigan department of state police	Failed	720,915	2,111,802
1982	LR	A	Judicial Reform	Allow the legislature to pass laws to reform members immunity from civil arrest and process during legislative sessions	Passed	1,804,728	1,029,743
1982	LR	A	Taxes	Reduce property taxes and city income taxes; limit growth of property tax revenues; return additional sales tax to local governments and schools; and require net lottery revenues be deposited in school aid fund	Failed	560,924	1,451,305
1980	LR	H	Administration of Government	Restrict authority of lieutenant governor and establish a procedure to fill a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor	Failed	1,410,912	1,927,001
1980	LR	G	Judicial Reform	Allow the legislature to pass laws to reform members immunity from civil arrest and process during legislative sessions	Failed	1,287,172	2,134,546
1980	CI	D	Taxes	Decrease property taxes and prohibit new types of homestead taxes	Failed	1,622,301	2,051,008
1980	LR	C	Taxes	Provide property tax relief; reimburse local and state governments with additional sales tax; require net state lottery revenues be deposited in school aid fund; and mandate creation of state "rainy day" fund	Failed	894,441	2,583,253
1980	LR	B	Alcohol Regulation	Lower minimal legal age for possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages from 21 years to 19 years	Failed	894,441	2,583,253
1980	CI	A	Education	Make school boards responsible for school personnel and programs, reduce local property tax maximums for operation purposes, provide additional property tax relief for senior retirees and require the state to raise revenues necessary for equal per pupil funding of public schools	Failed	746,027	2,769,497

1970-1978

Year	Type	Proposition Number	Subject Matter	Description	Pass or Fail	Yes	No
1978	LR	R	Transportation	Require the legislature to create a railroad redevelopment authority to make loans to railroads with trackage in Michigan and to authorize authority to issue general obligation bonds in amount not to exceed 175 million dollars.	Failed	1,257,606	1,415,441
1978	LR	M	Transportation	Allocate 90 percent of gas tax revenues for general road purposes; replace state highway commission with transportation commission.	Passed	1,478,316	1,233,196
1978	LR	K	Judicial Reform	Allow courts to deny bail under certain circumstances involving violent crimes	Passed	2,307,038	458,357
1978	CI	J	Taxes	Reduce property tax assessments to establish a maximum 5.6% on the rate of the state income tax; prohibit state legislature from requiring new or expanded local programs without funding; allow school income tax with voter approval	Failed	1,032,343	1,737,133
1978	CI	H	Education	Prohibit use of property taxes for school operating expenses and establish a voucher system for financing education of students at public and nonpublic schools	Failed	718,440	2,075,583
1978	CI	G	Judicial Reform	Grant Michigan troopers the right to collect bargaining and binding arbitration	Passed	1,535,023	1,203,930
1978	CI	E	Taxes	Establishes limits on taxes imposed by legislature and units of local government	Passed	1,450,150	1,313,984
1978	CI	D	Alcohol Regulation	Prohibit alcoholic beverages from being sold to, or possessed by a person under the age of 21.	Passed	1,609,589	1,208,497
1978	LR	C	Bonds	Authorize deposit of state funds in savings and load associations and credit unions as well as banks.	Passed	1,819,847	933,101
1978		A	Constitutional Requirement	Call for a constitutional convention	Failed	640,286	2,112,549
1976	CI	D	Taxes	Would allow a graduated income tax	Failed	897,780	2,332,513
1976	CI	C	Taxes	Limits taxation imposed by state personal income to 8.3%	Failed	1,407,438	1,866,620
1976	LR	B	Administration of Government	Lower age of eligibility for office to 18	Failed	698,993	2,580,945
1974	CI	C	Taxes	Eliminate sales tax on food and prescription drugs	Passed	1,337,609	1,071,253
1974	LR	A	Taxes	Limit use of motor fuel tax fund	Failed	1,091,938	1,146,109
1972	CI	D	Taxes	Permit state to impose graduated income tax and allow legislature to authorize political subdivisions to levy graduated income tax	Failed	959,286	2,102,744
1972	CI	C	Taxes	Limit property tax for school, county and township purposes and require the legislature to establish a state tax program for support of schools	Failed	1,324,702	1,815,126
1972	LR	A	Judicial Reform	Allow trial by jury of less than 12 in all prosecutions for misdemeanors punishable by imprisonment for not less than 1 year	Passed	696,570	357,186
1972	LR	B	Administration of Government	Permit members of legislature to resign and accept another office to which they have been elected or appointed	Failed	866,593	915,312
1972	LR	A	Gaming	Allow legislature to authorize lotteries and the sale of lottery tickets	Passed	1,352,768	506,778
1970	LR	B	Administration of Government	Lower voting age to 18	Failed	924,981	1,446,884
1970	CI	C	Education	Prohibit public aid to nonpublic schools and students	Passed	1,416,838	1,078,740

1966-1968

Year	Type	Proposition	Subject Matter	Description	Pass or Fail	Yes	No
1968	LR	Proposal 1	Taxes	Permit state to impose graduate income tax	Failed	614,826	2,025,052
1968	LR	Proposal 5	Administration of Government	Permit election members of legislature to another state office during their term in office	Failed	778,388	1,783,186
1968	LR	Proposal 3	Judicial Reform	Define manner of filling judicial vacancies	Passed	494,512	266,561
1968	LR	Proposal 2	Administration of Government	Require legislature to create state officers compensation commission	Passed	417,393	346,839
1968	LR	Proposal 1	Judicial Reform	Establish judicial tenure commission	Passed	553,182	228,738
1966	LR	Proposal 1	Administration of Government	Lower voting age to 18	Failed	703,076	1,267,872

See also

1. List of Michigan ballot measures
2. Michigan ballot initiative news
3. Michigan Initiative and Referendum Law
4. Michigan Ballot Measures (1914-1962)

External links

• Michigan Secretary of State's Historical Listing of Initiatives