Mississippi 2018 ballot measures
No statewide ballot measures were certified to appear on the ballot in Mississippi on November 6, 2018.
Mississippi allows citizen initiatives in the form of indirectly initiated constitutional amendments. Signature requirements for initiated petitions are determined by calculating 12 percent of the votes cast for governor in the most recent election. At least 86,185 valid signatures were required to put indirect initiated constitutional amendments before voters in 2018. Signatures were due October 4, 2017.
The 2017 state legislative session was projected to run from January 3, 2017, to April 2, 2017. The 2018 legislative session was projected to run from January 2, 2018, through April 1, 2018. During these two sessions the Mississippi Legislature could place legislatively referred constitutional amendments on the ballot. The legislature can put a proposed amendment on the ballot upon a two-thirds majority vote in both the legislative chambers. The number of those voting in favor must also be equal to at least a majority of the members elected to each house. The amendment must then be approved by a majority of voters.
Historical facts
- A total of 14 measures appeared on statewide ballots in Mississippi from 1995 to 2016.
- From 1995 to 2016, the number of measures on even-year statewide ballots ranged from zero to two.
- Between 1995 and 2016, an average of zero measures appeared on the ballot in Mississippi during even-numbered election years.
- Between 1995 and 2016, about 50 percent (7 of 14) of the total number of measures that appeared on statewide ballots were approved, and about 43 percent (6 of 14) were defeated. One measure was not formatted as a yes or no question; rather, the measure asked voters to select a preferred flag for the state of Mississippi.
Potential
All of the potential 2018 measures in Mississippi either failed to make the ballot or were certified.
Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndICA | Initiative 51 | Term Limits | Limit elected officials to two successive terms in an office | 
|
| IndICA | Initiative 52 | Marijuana | Legalize marijuana for those at least 18 years old |
|
| IndICA | Initiative 53 | Education | Non-public school sports teams to only compete within state Association of Independent Schools |
|
| IndICA | Initiative 54 | Motto and Symbols | 1894 flag as the official state flag |
|
| IndICA | Initiative 55 | Motto and Symbols | No reference to Confederacy in state flag |
|
| IndICA | Initiative 56 | Motto and Symbols | 1894 flag as the official state flag |
|
| IndICA | Initiative 57 | Elections and campaigns | Open primary elections |
|
| IndICA | Initiative 58 | Motto and Symbols | 1894 flag as the official state flag |
|
| IndICA | Initiative 59 | Government accountability | Repeals Article 4, Section 48 of the Mississippi Constitution |
|
| IndICA | Marijuana Legalization Amendment, Initiative 60 | Marijuana | Legalizes the use, sale, and cultivation of cannabis and industrial hemp for people 21 years of age or older |
|
State profile
| Demographic data for Mississippi | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 2,989,390 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 46,923 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 59.2% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 37.4% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 1.2% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 2.9% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 82.3% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 20.7% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $39,665 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 27% | 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 Mississippi. **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
Mississippi voted Republican 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, two are located in Mississippi, accounting for 0.97 percent of the total pivot counties.[1]
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. Mississippi had two Retained Pivot Counties, 1.10 of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Mississippi coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Mississippi
- United States congressional delegations from Mississippi
- Public policy in Mississippi
- Endorsers in Mississippi
- Mississippi fact checks
- More...
See also
- 2018 ballot measures
- List of Mississippi ballot measures
- Laws governing the initiative process in Mississippi
- History of Initiative & Referendum in Mississippi
- Mississippi signature requirements
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
