New Jersey 2017 ballot measures

2017 New Jersey Ballot Measures
2018 » « 2016

2017 U.S. State Ballot Measures
2018 » « 2016
Overview
Election results
Scorecard
Tuesday Count
Deadlines
Lawsuits
Readability
Initiatives filed
Voter guides
Year-end analysis
Campaigns
Polls
Media editorials
Finances
Contributions
Signature costs
Ballot Measure Monthly
Signature requirements
Have you subscribed yet? Join the hundreds of thousands of readers trusting Ballotpedia to keep them up to date with the latest political news. Sign up for the Daily Brew. Click here to learn more.

In 2017, two statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in New Jersey on November 7, 2017. Both measures were approved.

HIGHLIGHTS

Public Question 2, the Revenue from Environmental Damage Lawsuits Dedicated to Environmental Projects Amendment, was designed to dedicate state revenue from settlements in environmental contamination lawsuits toward environmental projects. It was approved.

Public Question 1, the Bonds for Public Libraries Measure, was designed to issue $125 million in bonds to provide grants to public libraries. It was also approved.

On the ballot

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
BI	Question 1	Bonds	$125 million in bonds for library grants	a
LRCA	Question 2	Environment	Revenue from environmental lawsuits to environmental projects	a

Getting measures on the ballot

State law does not allow for initiatives or referendums; therefore, all measures are referred to the ballot by the New Jersey Legislature. The state's 2017 legislative session lasted from January 10, 2017, through January 9, 2018. The deadline for submitting proposed amendments to the secretary of state's office was August 7, 2017.

New Jersey has several unusual requirements for proposed amendments:

• It has an either/or system for qualifying a proposed amendment for the ballot. A proposed amendment can be passed by simple majority in two separate legislative sessions, or by a 60 percent supermajority vote in one session. Connecticut and Hawaii have a similar "either/or" requirement, except that Connecticut requires a 75 percent supermajority, and Hawaii requires a two-thirds supermajority.
• If state voters reject a proposed amendment, the same or a similar proposed amendment cannot go back on the ballot "before the third general election thereafter."

New Jersey has several common requirements as well:

• Proposed amendments must adhere to the single-subject rule.
• Once on the ballot, a simple majority of voters must approve a measure for it to go in the New Jersey Constitution.

Not on the ballot

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	$15 Minimum Wage Amendment	Min Wage	Increase minimum wage to $15 by 2024

Historical facts

See also: List of New Jersey ballot measures

• A total of 42 measures appeared on statewide ballots in New Jersey from 1995 to 2016.
• Between 1995 and 2016, an average of two measures appeared annually on the ballot in New Jersey during both even- and odd-numbered election years.
• From 1995 to 2016, the number of measures on statewide ballots ranged from zero to four.
• Between 1995 and 2016, about 90 percent (38 of 42) of the total number of measures that appeared on statewide ballots were approved, and about 10 percent (4 of 42) were defeated.

New Jersey statewide ballot measures, 1995-2016
Years	Total number	Approved	Percent approved	Defeated	Percent defeated	Annual average	Annual median	Annual minimum	Annual maximum
Even years	19	17	89.47%	2	10.53%	1.7	2.0	0	3
Odd years	23	21	91.30%	2	8.70%	2.1	2.0	0	4
All years	42	38	90.48%	4	9.52%	1.9	2.0	0	4

State profile

Demographic data for New Jersey
	New Jersey	U.S.
Total population:	8,935,421	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	7,354	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	68.3%	73.6%
Black/African American:	13.5%	12.6%
Asian:	9%	5.1%
Native American:	0.2%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.5%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	19%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	88.6%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	36.8%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$72,093	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	12.7%	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 New Jersey. **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 New Jersey

New Jersey voted for the Democratic candidate 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 New Jersey, accounting for 0.97 percent of the total pivot counties.

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. New Jersey had one Retained Pivot County and one Boomerang Pivot County, accounting for 0.55 and 4.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.

More New Jersey coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in New Jersey
• United States congressional delegations from New Jersey
• Public policy in New Jersey
• Endorsers in New Jersey
• New Jersey fact checks
• More...

See also

• 2017 ballot measures
• New Jersey History of I & R
• Amending the New Jersey Constitution
• List of New Jersey ballot measures

External links

• New Jersey Proposed Constitutional Amendments
• New Jersey Secretary of State