State Ballot Measure Monthly: May 2017
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By Ballot Measures Project staff
Seven ballot measures have been certified for 2017 statewide ballots in six states so far. Twenty-three measures have been certified for 2018 ballots. In the last month, one statewide measure was certified for 2017 ballots, while six were certified to go before voters in 2018.
There will likely be between 30 and 50 statewide ballot measures in 2017, based on previous odd-numbered year elections. From 1989 through 2015, the average number of certified measures was 45, but, in the last decade, the average decreased to 35. In 1999, the number of measures certified for statewide ballots in odd-numbered years peaked at 72.
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Ballot measure certifications April 10 through May 10
2017 measures
- See also: 2017 ballot measures
Seven statewide ballot measures have been certified for the 2017 ballot in six states as of May 10, 2017. So far, 127 proposed initiatives have been filed with state officials targeting 2017 ballots. Of that total, 100 were filed in Washington. Between April 10 and May 10, the following measure was certified for 2017 ballots:
- This proposed legislatively referred constitutional amendment would make changes to the home equity borrowing system in Texas. The changes would lower the cap on home equity loan-related fees, allow home equity loans against agricultural property, allow home equity loans to be refinanced with a purchase money loan, and increase the principal amount allowed for a home equity line of credit from 50 to 80 percent of the fair market value of the borrower's house.
2015 comparison
- See also: 2015 ballot measures and Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2015
By early May of 2015, six measures had been certified for statewide ballots. Ultimately, 28 measures—including five citizen initiatives—were certified for the ballot in 2015. By that same time, a total of 109 proposed citizen initiatives had been filed with state officials, 73 of those having been filed in Washington.
| Type of ballot measure | 2015 | 2013 | 2011 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislatively referred constitutional amendments | 16 | 17 | 21 | 20 |
| Initiatives | 5 | 3 | 10 | 6 |
| Veto referendums | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Legislatively referred state statutes | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Legislatively referred bond questions | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Automatic ballot referrals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Commission-referred ballot measures | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Advisory questions | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 28 | 31 | 34 | 32 |
2018 measures
- See also: 2018 ballot measures
Twenty-three statewide ballot measures have been certified for the 2018 ballot in 16 states as of May 10, 2017. Over the last four even-numbered years, the average number of statewide measures on the ballot was 173. There will likely be between 155 and 190 ballot measures in 2018. Between April 10 and May 10, the following six measures were certified for 2018 ballots:
- This proposed statute was put on the ballot by the Montana Legislature to ban persons from collecting election ballots of other people, with exceptions for election officials, postal service workers, caregivers, family members, household members, and individuals known by the voter. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Montana, is scheduled to hear a case regarding the constitutionality of banning ballot collection in June 2017.
- This proposed legislatively referred constitutional amendment would declare that the state's policy is to recognize and support "the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life," ensure the "protection of the rights of the unborn child in all manners and measures lawful and appropriate," and state that "nothing in this constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion."
- This amendment was put on the ballot by the Arizona Legislature to make adjustments to the retirement plans for correctional officers, probation officers, and surveillance officers. Voters will decide whether or not to approve a recent piece of legislation, SB 1442, which would require correctional officers to enroll in a defined-contribution retirement plan and allow probation and surveillance officers to choose between the defined-contribution plan and another defined-benefit plan.
- This proposed amendment was put on the ballot by the Florida Legislature to place a permanent cap of 10 percent on annual nonhomestead parcel assessment increases set to expire on January 1, 2019. The original cap was approved by voters in 2008 when 64 percent voted in favor of Amendment 1.
- This legislatively referred constitutional amendment would exempt the portion of home values between $100,000 and $125,000 from property taxes aside from school taxes. As of 2017, home values between $0 and $25,000, as well as those between $50,000 and $75,000, were also exempted from property taxes.
- This proposed amendment was put on the ballot by the Colorado Legislature to reduce the age qualification for members of the Colorado House of Representatives and the Colorado Senate from 25 to 21 years. Voters rejected a similar amendment in 2008, and will need to approve this measure by 55 percent.
2016 comparison
- See also: 2016 ballot measures and Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2016
By this time in May of 2015, 22 measures had been certified for 2016 ballots. In 2016, there was a total of 162 statewide measures on the ballot. By October of 2016, 165 measures were slated to appear on the ballot, but three of them were removed by court decisions between October and the November election.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Initiatives have been filed for 2018 ballots. Ballotpedia will report this number starting in August of 2017.
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