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State Ballot Measure Monthly: November 2021

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November 20, 2021

By Ballot Measures Project staff

This edition of the State Ballot Measure Monthly covers 2021 election results, certifications, and a selection of notable ballot measure news from Oct. 22 through Nov. 19.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Colorado voters will decide an initiative in 2022 to reduce the state income tax rates.
  • Arizona voters will decide a veto referendum targeting the repeal of a bill to reduce the state's income tax rates and the number of income tax brackets.
  • On Nov. 2, voters in six states approved 14 statewide ballot measures and defeated 10. Throughout 2021, voters in nine states approved 26 measures and defeated 13.

    • States with 2021 measures
    State Number Approved Defeated
    Colorado 3 0 3
    Louisiana 4 1 3
    Maine 3 3 0
    New Jersey 2 1 1
    New York 5 2 3
    Pennsylvania 4 4 0
    Rhode Island 7 7 0
    Texas 8 8 0
    Washington 3 0 3
    Total 39 26 13

    States with 2022 measures (States in bold had new certifications)
    State Number
    Alabama 5
    Alaska 1
    Arizona 4
    Arkansas 3
    California 4
    Colorado 1
    Connecticut 1
    Florida 2
    Georgia 2
    Idaho 1
    Iowa 1
    Illinois 1
    Kansas 1
    Kentucky 2
    Louisiana 5
    Maryland 3
    Massachusetts 1
    Missouri 2
    Montana 3
    Nevada 4
    New Hampshire 1
    New Mexico 1
    New York 1
    Oregon 2
    South Dakota 1
    Tennessee 3
    Texas 2
    Utah 1
    West Virginia 3
    Wyoming 1
    Total 63

    Number of certifications in past years

    Odd-numbered years:

    • An average of 31 statewide measures were eventually certified for odd-year ballots from 2011 to 2019.

    Even-numbered years:

    • An average of 46 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.

    2022 certifications

    See also: Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2022

    From Oct. 22 through Nov. 19, two statewide measures were certified for the 2022 ballot in Arizona and Colorado.

    Nov. 18:

    • Colorado Proposition 121, State Income Tax Rate Reduction Initiative (2022) - This initiative would decrease the state income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.40% (including for domestic and foreign C corporations) for tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2022. Proponents submitted 215,365 signatures on Oct. 29. On Nov. 18, the Colorado Secretary of State found through a random-sample method that 148,189 signatures were projected to be valid. To qualify for the 2022 ballot, 124,632 needed to be valid.
    Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute and Republican State Senator Jerry Sonnenberg filed the initiative. In 2020, Colorado voters approved Proposition 116, also filed by Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute and State Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg (R). The initiative decreased the state income tax rate for individuals, estates, and trusts from 4.63% of federal taxable income to 4.55% for tax years commencing on and after Jan. 1, 2020. The measure also reduced the tax rate for domestic and foreign C corporations operating in Colorado from 4.63% of Colorado net income to 4.55%. It was approved by a vote of 57.86% to 42.14%. Two committees led the campaign in support of Proposition 116 in 2020: Energize our Economy (306 Real Fair Tax) and Americans for Prosperity Colorado Issue Committee. Protect Colorado's Recovery and Fair Tax Colorado registered to oppose the measure.
    Prior to 1987, the individual income tax rates in Colorado were graduated, meaning those with higher incomes paid higher tax rates and those with lower incomes paid lower rates. The Colorado individual income tax rate has been a flat tax rate since 1987. The flat tax was 5% from 1987 to 1998. It was lowered to 4.75% in 1999. The rate has been 4.63% since 2000. According to the Colorado Legislative Council Staff, the rates were lowered to "reduce the TABOR surplus."

    Nov. 19:

    • Arizona Reduce Income Tax Brackets to Flat Rate Referendum (2022) - The veto referendum was designed to repeal Sections 13 and 15 of Senate Bill 1828 (SB 1828). Together, Sections 13 and 15 would reduce the state's income tax brackets from four to two and further reduce the tax brackets to a flat rate when state revenue exceeds $12.976 billion ($12,976,300,000). As of 2021, the lowest income tax rate in Arizona was 2.59% on income below $26,501 (single filing) or $53,001 (joint filing) and the highest income tax rate was 4.50% on income above $159,000 (single filing) or $318,000 (joint filing). Under SB 1828, the state's four tax brackets would be reduced to two. The tax rates would be, for a single filer, 2.55% on income of $27,272 or less and 2.98% on income above $27,272. The two tax brackets would be reduced to a flat rate of 2.5% when state revenue exceeds $12.976 billion.
    Since the veto referendum was certified, the targeted legislation was suspended until voters decide the bill in 2022. At least 118,823 signatures of the more than 215,000 signatures submitted needed to be valid to qualify the veto referendum for the ballot. SB 1828 was passed along party lines in the legislature with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed. Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed SB 1828 on June 30, 2021.

    Results for Ballotpedia’s top 15 ballot measures to watch on Nov. 2, 2021

    See also: Ballotpedia’s top 15 ballot measures to watch on Nov. 2, 2021

    Voters in nine states decided 39 statewide measures in 2019 on four different election dates. Twenty-six measures were approved, and 13 were defeated.

    • 4 measures were on the Nov. 13 ballot in Louisiana. One was approved and three were defeated.
    • 24 measures were on the Nov. 2 ballot. 14 were approved, and 10 were defeated.
    • 4 measures were on the ballot on May 18 in Pennsylvania and were approved.
    • 7 bond measures were on the ballot on March 2 in Rhode Island and were approved.

    Below are the 15 ballot measures we were watching closely on Nov. 2, including nine statewide measures and six local ballot measures. For the full report including results updated on Nov. 6 including details about each measure and context, click here.

    Statewide measures:

    Local measures:

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    See also

    Related articles

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