West Virginia 2014 ballot measures

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One ballot measure was certified for the November 4, 2014 ballot in the state of West Virginia, where it was approved. The legislatively referred constitutional amendment addressed taxes and property.

The 2014 legislative session lasted from January 8 to March 14, 2014. According to the West Virginia Constitution, a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature was required to refer the amendments to the ballot. Thirteen other proposed legislatively referred constitutional amendments did not qualify for the ballot.

As of 2014, West Virginia did not have an initiative and referendum process. However, a referred measure was proposed to establish the process during the legislative session. The proposed referral did not reach a vote.

Historical facts

• Between 1996 and 2013, an average of one measure has appeared annually on the ballot in West Virginia. Therefore, 2014 was an average year, based on the number of certified measures.
• From 1996 to 2014, the number of measures on statewide ballots has ranged from one to three.
• Between 1996 and 2014, nine of 13, or 69 percent, of West Virginia ballot measures have been approved by voters.
• Conversely, four of 13, or 31 percent, of measures have been defeated.

On the ballot

See also: 2014 ballot measures

November 4:

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Exempts nonprofit youth organization properties from ad valorem property taxation	a

Not on the ballot

See also: Proposed ballot measures that were not on a ballot

Twelve legislatively referred constitutional amendments did not qualify for the ballot in West Virginia. According to the West Virginia Constitution, a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature was required to refer an amendment to the ballot. The following either passed in only one chamber or did not come up for a vote before the regular legislative session ended on March 14, 2014.

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Water Resources Protection Amendment	Water	Defines state waters as valuable public natural resources for citizen's benefit
LRCA	Future Fund Amendment	Gov't Finances	Establishes a “West Virginia Future Fund” for the state to accumulate interest revenues to be spent on education, workforce and economic development, infrastructure and tax relief
LRCA	Bonds for Road Repairs Amendment	Bonds	Authorizes $2.1 billion in state bonds for road repairs and construction
LRCA	Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment	Hunt & Fish	Provides for a constitutional right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife
LRCA	Board of Education Elections Amendment	Elections	Provides for nonpartisan elections for approximately six to eight members of the West Virginia Board of Education
LRCA	"More Accessible Legislature" Amendment	Legislature	Creates a Citizens Legislative Compensation Committee, enables the legislature to meet and adjourn for not more than ninety days per year and prohibits interim committee meetings
LRCA	Legislative Veto Sessions Amendment	Legislature	Provides for legislative sessions in which the legislature can reconsider bills vetoed by the governor
LRCA	Initiative, Referendum and Recall Amendment	Direct Democracy	Grants the people the right to initiative, referendum and recall
LRCA	Homestead Exemption Increase Amendment	Taxes	Increases the homestead tax exemption from $20,000 to $30,000
LRCA	Marriage Amendment	Marriage	Defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman
LRCA	"Religious Freedom" Amendment	Religion	Clarifies constitutionally provided religious freedoms
LRCA	Organization Date of State Legislature Amendment	Legislature	Permits the legislature to organize officers on every December 1 following a general election

See also

• 2014 ballot measures
• List of West Virginia ballot measures
• History of direct democracy in West Virginia
• Campaign finance requirements for West Virginia ballot measures
• Laws governing ballot measures in West Virginia

External links

• West Virginia Elections Division