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State Ballot Measure Monthly: August 2021
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By Ballot Measures Project staff
This edition of the State Ballot Measure Monthly covers certifications and a selection of notable ballot measure news from July 16 through Aug. 18.
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Number of certifications in past years
Odd-numbered years:
- An average of 22 measures were certified for odd-year ballots by this point from 2011 through 2019.
- An average of 31 statewide measures were eventually certified for odd-year ballots from 2011 to 2019.
Even-numbered years:
- An average of 44 measures were certified for the following even-year ballots by this point from 2011 through 2019.
- An average of 172 statewide measures were eventually certified for even-year ballots from 2012 to 2020.
2021 certifications
From July 16 through Aug. 18, three statewide measures were certified for the Nov. 2 ballot in Washington.
July 28:
- The Washington Attorney General certified three advisory questions on tax increases for the Nov. 2 ballot:
- Washington Advisory Vote 36, Nonbinding Question on Telephone Tax to Fund Behavioral Health Crisis Response and Suicide Prevention (2021)
- Washington Advisory Vote 37, Nonbinding Question on Capital Gains Tax to Fund Education and Child Care (2021)
- Washington Advisory Vote 38, Nonbinding Question on Captive Insurers Tax (2021)
- Initiative 960 requires statewide advisory questions whenever the legislature passes a bill that increases tax revenue. Tim Eyman, an initiative activist in Washington, sponsored the measure. Voters approved the initiative in 2007. Thirty-five (35) advisory votes required by Initiative 960 have been on the statewide ballot in Washington from 2012 through 2020. A majority of voters were in favor of maintaining 10 of the tax increases. In the other 25 cases, a majority of voters were in favor of repealing the tax increases in question.
2022 certifications
From July 16 through Aug. 18, one statewide measure was certified for the Nov. 8 ballot in California.
July 19:
- California Plastic Waste Reduction Regulations Initiative (2022) - This initiative would require CalRecycle to adopt regulations that reduce the use of single-use plastic packaging. It would also enact a maximum one-cent per item fee on single-use plastic packaging and foodware, with revenue from the fee distributed to CalRecycle, the California Natural Resources Agency, and local governments. On Aug. 11, 2020, the campaign backing the initiative, Plastics Free California filed 871,940 signatures. At least 623,212 signatures (around 71.64%) needed to be valid. The counties' signature verification deadlines were extended due to COVID-19. On July 19, the office of Secretary of State Shirley Weber announced that 666,664 signatures were valid.
Campaigns for three 2021 Colorado initiatives submitted signatures by Aug. 2 deadline
- See also: Colorado 2021 ballot measures
Campaigns for three initiatives in Colorado targeting the Nov. 2 election submitted signatures by the Aug. 2 deadline. To qualify for the ballot, 124,632 valid signatures are required for each measure
Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress Program and Marijuana Sales Tax Increase Initiative (#25):
This initiative would amend state law to create a program—called Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress (LEAP)— to provide out-of-school learning opportunities for children aged 5 to 17. The measure would increase the marijuana retail sales tax by an initial 5 percentage points to partially fund the program. The tax increase would raise an estimated $137,600,000 annually.
Custodial Fund Appropriations Initiative (#19):
This initiative would amend both the state constitution and state law transferring the power to appropriate custodial funds from the state treasurer to the state legislature. The measure defines custodial money as money the state receives that (a) originated from a source other than the State of Colorado, (b) was awarded or provided to the state for a particular purpose, and (c) that the state is acting as a custodian or trustee to carry out the purpose for which the funds were provided. Proponents reported submitting over 190,000 signatures.
Constitutional amendments in Colorado require a 55% supermajority vote to be ratified and added to the state constitution.
Reduce Property Tax Rates and Retain $25 Million in TABOR Surplus Revenue Initiative (#27):
This initiative would reduce the residential and non-residential property tax rates and authorize the state to retain and spend $25 million in revenue above the state’s TABOR spending cap, which it would otherwise be required to refund to taxpayers. Proponents reported submitting over 190,000 signatures on Aug. 2.
Measures that can go on the statewide ballot in Colorado during odd years are limited to topics that concern taxes or state fiscal matters arising under TABOR, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (Section 20 of Article X of the Colorado Constitution). This requirement was added to state law in 1994.
Measures that can go on odd-year election ballots include
- measures proposing new taxes,
- tax increases,
- an extension of taxes,
- tax policy changes resulting in a net tax revenue gain,
- changes to revenue or fiscal obligations,
- delays in voting on ballot issues, and
- approval for the state to retain and spend state revenues that otherwise would be refunded for exceeding an estimate included in the ballot information booklet.
The last time an initiative appeared on an odd-year ballot in Colorado was 2013. The measure, which was defeated 64.5% to 35.5%, would have changed Colorado’s flat personal income tax rate to a graduated income rate with increased rates. At least $10.4 million was raised in support of the initiative.
See also
- 2021 ballot measures
- 2022 ballot measures
- List of ballot measures by state
- List of ballot measures by year
- Ballot initiatives filed for the 2021 ballot
- Ballot Measure Scorecard, 2021
- Ballot Measure Scorecard, 2022
- Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2021
- Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2022
Related articles
Footnotes
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