1950 ballot measures
From Ballotpedia
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1950.
In the United States, a ballot measure is a law, issue, or question that appears on a statewide or local ballot for voters of that jurisdiction to decide.
- HBM Factbook
- List of ballot measures by state
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Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks
The inventory of statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks, which document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and voters on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life. Click here to access the state historical ballot measure factbooks.
List of ballot measures by state
Alabama
See also: Alabama 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State judiciary | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution. The amendment proposed that the legislature would not establish any branch courthouse or any division or branch of any court of record to be held at any place other than the county seat, nor shall the legislature abolish any branch courthouse now existing or abolish any division or branch of any court of record now existing, unless such proposal be first submitted to a vote of the qualified electors and is approved by a majority. |
| 55,420 (65%) | 30,420 (35%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Taxes | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution. The amendment proposed that Jefferson County would be authorized to levy and collect an additional tax of 50 cents on each $100 of taxable property for public school purposes; provided such tax shall not be levied until the question of the levy has been submitted to, and authorized by, a majority of the qualified electors of the area affected by the tax. |
| 57,715 (65%) | 30,481 (35%) | |
| Amendment 3 | State judiciary | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution. The amendment proposed that the method of filling vacancies in the office of judges of the Circuit Court holding in Birmingham be filled as provided by Act No, 562, Regular Session of the Legislature 1949; provided this amendment shall only apply to vacancies which occur subsequent to January 15, 1951. |
| 43,827 (54%) | 37,747 (46%) | |
| Amendment 4 | Public economic investment policy | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution. The amendment proposed that each municipality in Marion County be authorized to acquire and dispose of all kinds of property, to promote the development of the municipalities in Marion County and the location of new industries or businesses, to become a stockholder in any corporation, association or company, to lend its credit or grant public money in aid of individuals, firms, associations and corporations, to become indebted and issue and sell securities, to levy and collect a special ad valorem tax and to pledge to the payment of its securities the proceeds of such special tax and other incomes, to create a public corporation or authority and delegate to such public corporation or authority all powers or authorities granted by this amendment to such municipalities. |
| 39,830 (53%) | 35,668 (47%) | |
| Amendment 5 | State judiciary; County and municipal governance | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution. The amendment proposed that Talladega County be authorized to regulate the costs and charges of the courts and to fix and regulate the fees, commissions, percentages, allowances, or salary of, and the method of compensating the public officials of said County. |
| 49,365 (65%) | 26,598 (35%) | |
| Amendment 6 | Taxes | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution. The amendment proposed that several school districts in Monroe County be authorized to levy an additional special tax of 30 cents on each $100 worth of taxable property for public school purposes; provided such tax and the time it is to continue shall have been first submitted to the vote of the qualified electors of the said school tax district in which tax is to be collected and voted for by a majority of those voting at such election. |
| 51,741 (68%) | 24,876 (32%) |
Arizona
See also: Arizona 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure Nos. 100-101 | Banking policy | Provide for the extension of liability of banking corporations or associations to individual shareholders or stockholders |  | 61,196 (40%) | 91,067 (60%) | |
| Measure Nos. 102-103 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Education | Provide the legislature with the ability to appropriate state funds for public schools as a supplement to local taxes | | 65,263 (50%) | 66,286 (50%) | |
| Measure Nos. 104-105 | Education; State executive official measures | Provide the governor with the power to appoint the members of the State Board of Education | | 38,239 (25%) | 112,109 (75%) | |
| Measure Nos. 106-107 | Administration of government | Provide for a merit-based system of personnel administration and the establishment of state and county personnel departments | | 58,192 (37%) | 98,253 (63%) | |
| Measure Nos. 300-301 | Law enforcement officers and departments; Civil service | Provide for the establishment of a personnel merit-based system pertaining to peace officers | | 63,152 (40%) | 96,592 (60%) | |
| Measure Nos. 302-303 | Gambling policy; Business regulations | Provide for the creation of a Department of State Control of Gambling to regulate, license, and authorize gambling operations | | 27,683 (17%) | 132,839 (83%) | |
| Measure Nos. 304-305 | Education; Taxes | Provide an excise tax for the maintenance of public schools | | 32,218 (21%) | 119,179 (79%) | |
| Measure Nos. 306-307 | County and municipal governance; Alcohol laws; Elections and campaigns | Provide for allowing county or municipal elections to determine the legality of alcoholic beverages within respective jurisdictions | | 38,819 (23%) | 131,288 (77%) | |
| Measure Nos. 308-309 | Workers' compensation laws | Provide for the exclusion of earnings above $300 per month for Workmen's Compensation | | 67,024 (43%) | 87,822 (57%) | |
| Measure Nos. 312-313 | Public assistance programs | Provide for the expansion of old-age assistance through the abolishment of certain requirements regarding family income and employment | | 65,091 (41%) | 94,516 (59%) | |
| Measure Nos. 314-315 | Public assistance programs | Provide for the increase of weekly unemployment benefits to $25 and the extension of the number of benefit-receiving weeks to 26 | | 57,288 (37%) | 99,584 (63%) | |
| Measure Nos. 316-317 | Agriculture policy; Public assistance programs | Provide unemployed agricultural laborers with eligibility for unemployment benefits | | 52,812 (35%) | 99,522 (65%) | |
| Measure Nos. 318-319 | Public education governance; Race and ethnicity issues | Provide that "There shall be no segregation of pupils in the public schools of Arizona for reasons of race, creed, color or national origin, nor shall any distinction or classification of pupils be made on account of race, creed, color, or national origin" | | 57,978 (36%) | 104,226 (64%) |
September 12
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure Nos. 100-101 | State legislatures measures | Provide for the establishment of four-year terms for state legislators | | 57,201 (50%) | 58,001 (50%) | |
| Measure Nos. 103-103 | State legislatures measures; State executive official measures | Provide for the establishment of a mechanism for the governor to call for special sessions of the legislature |
| 63,514 (56%) | 50,918 (44%) | |
| Measure Nos. 104-105 | State executive official measures | Provide for the establishment of four-year terms for the governor and the legislature | | 54,032 (46%) | 64,064 (54%) | |
| Measure Nos. 106-107 | County and municipal governance | Provide for the establishment of four-year terms for county officers | | 53,863 (46%) | 62,366 (54%) | |
| Measure Nos. 108-109 | Fossil fuel energy; Property | Permit the leasing of public lands for oil and gas exploration and exploitation |
| 80,732 (69%) | 35,553 (31%) | |
| Measure Nos. 110-111 | Taxes | Prohibit a taxation on unfinished items as commodities in inventory or in the manufacturing process |
| 70,090 (62%) | 43,650 (38%) |
California
See also: California 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Property; Taxes | Prohibit taxation on personal property by the state or other political subdivisions. | | 645,865 (19%) | 2,701,574 (81%) | |
| Proposition 10 | Ballot measure process; Housing | Require a ballot measure to authorize publicly funded low-rent housing projects. |
| 1,591,076 (51%) | 1,542,161 (49%) | |
| Proposition 11 | Property | Create a method to withdraw land placed into a registry created by the Torrens Act. |
| 1,961,676 (73%) | 727,737 (27%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Initiative and referendum process; Ballot measure process | Prohibit any constitutional amendment or law that names a specific individual to hold public office from being submitted to voters or taking effect |
| 1,985,133 (69%) | 910,201 (31%) | |
| Proposition 3 | State judiciary | Establish a uniform system of municipal and justice courts throughout the state and establish courts in cities and judicial districts. |
| 2,307,328 (81%) | 552,997 (19%) | |
| Proposition 4 | Voter registration | Allow voters who move from one county to another within 90 days of an election to retain their right to vote by voting in their former county. |
| 2,576,072 (85%) | 446,257 (15%) | |
| Proposition 5 | State legislatures measures; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Allow legislators to hold office and be members of boards or commissions who apportion funds to other agencies. | | 714,833 (26%) | 2,038,225 (74%) | |
| Proposition 6 | Gambling policy; Administration of government | Allow gambling in licensed establishments and create a five-man state commission to regulate, tax,, and license such gambling. | | 789,297 (23%) | 2,675,641 (77%) | |
| Proposition 7 | Complementary and alternative healthcare; Business regulations | Determine no one who is blind should be denied admission to chiropractic school or the taking of licensure tests because they are blind. |
| 1,673,958 (57%) | 1,260,262 (43%) | |
| Proposition 8 | County and municipal governance; Salaries of government officials | Repeal the prohibition of increasing the salaries of any county, township, or municipal officer after they are elected or take office. | | 968,398 (34%) | 1,851,211 (66%) | |
| Proposition 9 | Administration of government; Civil service | Create certain employees from state civil service. |
| 1,764,086 (63%) | 1,021,422 (37%) |
June 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Veterans policy; Bond issues | Allow for the issuance of bonds up to $100,000,000 for helping veterans purchase homes and farms and establish the terms of such bonds. |
| 1,664,445 (72%) | 646,952 (28%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Veterans policy; Taxes | Allow the legislature to create tax exemptions on the farms and homes purchased from the Veterans Welfare Board. | | 945,494 (43%) | 1,253,914 (57%) | |
| Proposition 3 | Transportation; Bond issues | Allow public bodies to use parking meter income for security for the payment of revenue bonds used to finance off-street parking. |
| 1,515,124 (68%) | 723,882 (32%) |
Colorado
See also: Colorado 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | County and municipal governance | Allow the city councils of home rule cities to refer proposed charter amendments to voters |
| 145,780 (61%) | 91,700 (39%) | |
| Amendment 2 | State legislatures measures | Make changes to constitutional provisions concerning the general assembly |
| 134,048 (58%) | 96,709 (42%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Civil service | Exempt the Governor’s staff, one secretary to elected officials and heads of departments from civil service | | 103,848 (33%) | 208,408 (67%) |
Florida
See also: Florida 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Juvenile criminal justice | Establish a juvenile court system |
| 116,313 (79%) | 30,540 (21%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Redistricting policy; Census policy | Use the federal census as the state census |
| 96,145 (66%) | 49,848 (34%) | |
| Amendment 3 | State legislative processes and sessions; Administrative powers and rulemaking | Require laws to be single subject, require that laws have a title, and require law revisions to be published at length |
| 105,053 (78%) | 28,793 (22%) | |
| Amendment 4 | State judiciary structure; State judicial authority | Create the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in Monroe County |
| 65,531 (53%) | 58,216 (47%) | |
| Amendment 5 | State judicial authority; State judiciary structure | Allow for an additional county judge in counties with a population greater than 250,000 |
| 91,029 (68%) | 43,081 (32%) |
Georgia
See also: Georgia 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Salaries of government officials | Allow the increase of the salaries of Supreme Court Justices and Judges of the Court of Appeals and Superior Courts | | 95,138 (44%) | 121,064 (56%) | |
| Amendment 10 | Local government organization | Authorize the creation of industrial areas in Chatham County adjacent to the City of Savannah |
| 55,283 (68%) | 25,430 (32%) | |
| Amendment 11 | Property taxes; Public education funding | Require the Chatham County Commissioners and Ex-Officio Judges to levy a tax for education on all taxable property in addition to the maximum tax for the support and maintenance of education |
| 52,754 (63%) | 30,572 (37%) | |
| Amendment 12 | Local government organization; Civil service | Authorize the General Assembly to grant governmental authorities of Chatham County to establish Civil Service Boards |
| 54,115 (68%) | 25,207 (32%) | |
| Amendment 13 | Bond issues; Public education funding | Authorize Chatham County to issue bonds for building and equipping schools |
| 58,398 (72%) | 23,023 (28%) | |
| Amendment 14 | Elections and campaigns; Public education governance | Allow for the election of members of the Dawson County Board of Education |
| 50,211 (70%) | 21,540 (30%) | |
| Amendment 15 | Public education governance | Establish an independent school system in the City of Bainbridge |
| 49,785 (65%) | 27,004 (35%) | |
| Amendment 16 | Civil service; Administrative organization | Authorize the General Assembly to provide for a civil service system in DeKalb County |
| 57,918 (71%) | 23,944 (29%) | |
| Amendment 17 | Property tax exemptions; Property taxes | Exclude DeKalb County residents from the homestead tax exemption for school taxes levied by the DeKalb County Board of Education |
| 45,668 (55%) | 37,496 (45%) | |
| Amendment 18 | Local government organization; Highways and bridges | Authorizes the General Assembly to allow DeKalb County to make street improvements in subdivisions and assess costs with approval from owners of 51% of the affected property |
| 50,423 (62%) | 30,609 (38%) | |
| Amendment 19 | Public education governance | Authorize the General Assembly to merge the school system of the City of Albany with the Dougherty County school district |
| 52,194 (68%) | 24,173 (32%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Elections and campaigns | Allow the nomination and election of U.S. Senators, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State School Superintendent, Comptroller General, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, Supreme Court Justices, Appeals Court Judges by political party by the people on a county basis | | 134,290 (45%) | 164,337 (55%) | |
| Amendment 20 | Local government finance and taxes; Bond issues | Authorize Forsyth County to issue refunding bonds |
| 49,908 (67%) | 24,036 (33%) | |
| Amendment 21 | Bond issues; Public education funding | Require the City of Atlanta to assume and pay a portion of Fulton County School District bonds |
| 58,316 (68%) | 27,755 (32%) | |
| Amendment 22 | Tax and revenue administration | Authorize the General Assembly to allow Fulton County tax officials to collect City of Atlanta taxes and retain a percentage as compensation |
| 54,064 (60%) | 35,917 (40%) | |
| Amendment 23 | Public education governance | Establish that when Atlanta’s city limits extend into Fulton County, the annexed area joins Atlanta’s independent school system and its school property transfers to the City of Atlanta |
| 60,963 (67%) | 29,374 (33%) | |
| Amendment 24 | Tax and revenue administration; Property taxes | Authorize the General Assembly to exempt up to $2,000 of a homestead in Atlanta from certain taxes, excluding school and bond obligations, if it simultaneously increases the ad valorem tax rate to offset the exemption |
| 51,423 (62%) | 31,313 (38%) | |
| Amendment 25 | Administrative organization; Local government organization | Authorize the General Assembly to create independent governmental authorities in the unincorporated areas of the City of Atlanta and Fulton County |
| 50,344 (63%) | 30,059 (37%) | |
| Amendment 26 | Public education funding; Property tax exemptions | Require that the homestead tax exemption does not apply to taxes levied for the support and maintenance of education in Fulton County |
| 45,828 (59%) | 31,785 (41%) | |
| Amendment 27 | Salaries of government officials | Require the Fulton County Board of County Commissioners to supplement the salaries of the judges of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit by $4,000 per year |
| 40,974 (54%) | 34,502 (46%) | |
| Amendment 28 | Revenue allocation | Authorize Fulton County to contribute to the support of state-owned institutions within the county |
| 50,635 (67%) | 25,294 (33%) | |
| Amendment 29 | Balanced budget requirements; Property taxes | Increase the debt limit of the Fulton County School District from seven percent to ten percent of the assessed values of taxable property |
| 44,160 (59%) | 30,884 (41%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Revenue allocation; Fossil fuel energy | Authorize the General Assembly to pay $100,000 to bring the first commercial oil well to the state |
| 95,540 (51%) | 90,609 (49%) | |
| Amendment 30 | Healthcare governance | Authorize the City of Gainesville in Hall County to enter contracts and take on obligations for providing hospital care to low-income sick individuals |
| 49,450 (71%) | 20,647 (29%) | |
| Amendment 31 | Elections and campaigns; Public education governance | Allow the election of members of the Hancock County Board of Education |
| 45,826 (70%) | 19,266 (30%) | |
| Amendment 32 | Public education governance; Elections and campaigns | Allow for the election of members of the Meriwether County Board of Education and the appointment of the school superintendent |
| 44,481 (68%) | 21,163 (32%) | |
| Amendment 33 | Property taxes; Highways and bridges | Authorize Muscogee County to levy special assessments against abutting properties for street improvement purposes |
| 42,182 (63%) | 24,684 (37%) | |
| Amendment 34 | Local government organization; Bond issues; Highways and bridges | Allow Muscogee County to issue street improvement bonds without the majority approval of voters |
| 39,481 (58%) | 28,555 (42%) | |
| Amendment 35 | Elections and campaigns; Public education governance | Allow for the election of members of the Rockdale County Board of Education |
| 46,778 (70%) | 20,256 (30%) | |
| Amendment 36 | Elections and campaigns; Public education governance | Allow for the election of members of the Schley County Board of Education |
| 45,333 (70%) | 19,551 (30%) | |
| Amendment 37 | Elections and campaigns; Public education governance | Allow for the election of members of the Taylor County Board of Education by districts |
| 42,899 (69%) | 19,110 (31%) | |
| Amendment 4 | Administrative powers and rulemaking; Public education funding | Authorize county Boards of Education to obtain loans |
| 106,039 (63%) | 62,473 (37%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Public education governance; Elections and campaigns | Allow for the election of members of the Baldwin County Board of Education and for the appointment of the county School Superintendent by the Board |
| 56,974 (63%) | 33,201 (37%) | |
| Amendment 6 | Local government organization | Extend the Bibb County laws based on the 1940 census for its courts, agencies, tribunals and officers for the 1950 census |
| 51,231 (63%) | 30,125 (37%) | |
| Amendment 7 | Public employee retirement funds | Authorize the General Assembly to establish and support pension or retirement plans for Bibb County employees, including disability and death benefits, with retroactive service credit and tax funding |
| 54,259 (64%) | 29,885 (36%) | |
| Amendment 8 | State judicial authority; State judicial selection | Authorize the designation of Pro Hac Vice Judges in the Eastern Judicial Circuit of Georgia, which allowed judges not normally authorized to practice law in that circuit to act as judge for single cases |
| 44,911 (59%) | 30,900 (41%) | |
| Amendment 9 | Airport infrastructure; Administrative organization | Establish the Savannah Airport Commission |
| 54,686 (67%) | 27,004 (33%) |
Hawaii
See also: Hawaii 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constitution Ratification Election | State constitution ratification |
|
Idaho
See also: Idaho 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HJR 2 | American Indian issues; Race and suffrage; Race and ethnicity issues |
| 127,504 (73%) | 46,580 (27%) | |
| HJR 9 | County and municipal governance; Bond issues |
| 117,895 (72%) | 45,285 (28%) |
Illinois
See also: Illinois 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Amendment | State legislatures measures | It proposed that the legislature should be able to propose modifications to up to three articles of the constitution per session. It also proposed that the adoption of an amendment would require a vote of either two-thirds of the voters voting on the question or a majority of voters voting in the election. |
| 2,512,323 (77%) | 735,903 (23%) |
Iowa
See also: Iowa 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State constitutional conventions | The measure would have called for a constitutional convention to amend the constitution. | | 221,189 (41%) | 319,704 (59%) |
Maine
See also: Maine 1950 ballot measures
September 11
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposed Constitutional Amendment 1 | Constitutional wording changes | Allow for the rearranging of the state constitution |
| 106,433 (70%) | 44,688 (30%) | |
| Proposed Constitutional Amendment 2 | Initiative and referendum process | Change the deadline for filing initiated legislation with the secretary of state to 45 days after the beginning of the legislative session |
| 101,116 (69%) | 46,238 (31%) | |
| Proposed Constitutional Amendment 3 | Bond issue requirements | Allow the legislature to issue bonds on behalf of the state by referring bond measures to voters |
| 112,035 (72%) | 44,124 (28%) | |
| Proposed Constitutional Amendment 4 | Bond issues; Highways and bridges | Issue $7 million in bonds to fund the construction of a highway and railroad bridge across Fore River |
| 106,952 (66%) | 55,248 (34%) | |
| Proposed Constitutional Amendment 5 | Redistricting policy | Limit the number of representatives that a municipality may have to seven, with exceptions for merged cities |
| 109,325 (71%) | 43,718 (29%) |
Maryland
See also: Maryland 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; State executive official measures |
| 177,120 (81%) | 42,329 (19%) | |
| Amendment 2 | State legislative processes and sessions |
| 146,394 (64%) | 81,404 (36%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Family-related policy |
| 181,070 (78%) | 52,517 (22%) | |
| Amendment 4 | State legislative structure |
| 183,511 (75%) | 60,458 (25%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Jury rules; Criminal trials |
| 184,871 (77%) | 55,661 (23%) | |
| Amendment 6 | State constitutional conventions |
| 200,439 (75%) | 66,998 (25%) | |
| Amendment 7 | Constitutional wording changes |
| 259,250 (77%) | 79,120 (23%) |
Massachusetts
See also: Massachusetts 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State executive elections; State executive branch structure | Provide the start and end dates of terms for the governor, lieutenant governor, and councillors, and to establish procedures for succession if the governor-elect dies before taking office |
| 1,151,692 (85%) | 208,957 (15%) | |
| Question 2 | Initiative and referendum process | Replace fixed signature requirements for citizen-initiated ballot measures with percentage-based requirements tied to voter turnout in the most recent gubernatorial election |
| 992,643 (74%) | 343,573 (26%) | |
| Question 3 | Public assistance programs | Provide monthly assistance payments to eligible low-income senior residents |
| 918,555 (60%) | 624,362 (40%) | |
| Question 4 | Gambling policy | Conduct a monthly lottery and establish the rates at which met proceeds are to be divided amongst different groups | | 644,707 (42%) | 894,685 (58%) | |
| Question 5 | Vehicle and driver regulations; Insurance policy | Require the Commissioner of Insurance to annually set "fair and reasonable classifications of risks and adequate, just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory premium charges" for motor vehicle liability insurance | | 376,636 (23%) | 1,275,431 (77%) |
Michigan
See also: Michigan 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal 1 | Constitutional wording changes; Residency voting requirements; Voter registration | Increase the voter residency requirement in a city or township from 20 to 30 days before an election, among other changes |
| 907,312 (68%) | 417,652 (32%) | |
| Proposal 3 | Criminal trials; Criminal sentencing | Define subversion as attempts to overthrow the government by unlawful means, make it a crime, and bar free speech or press as a defense in related trials |
| 823,938 (61%) | 520,412 (39%) | |
| Proposal No. 2 | Healthcare facility funding; Bond issues | Allow for the issuance of bonds to fund specialized hospitals and specialized schools |
| 1,224,249 (80%) | 309,657 (20%) | |
| Proposal No. 4 | Business regulations; Food policy | Allow for the sale of yellow oleomargarine with certain conditions |
| 1,090,000 (66%) | 562,034 (34%) |
Minnesota
See also: Minnesota 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Parks, land, and natural area conservation; Revenue allocation | Authorize forestry management funds by diverting 25% of proceeds from the public land trust fund | | 367,013 (44%) | 465,239 (56%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Severance taxes; Veterans policy | Authorize a diversion of 1% of the proceeds of the occupation mining tax to the veterans' compensation fund |
| 594,092 (67%) | 290,870 (33%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Sales taxes; Severance taxes; Transportation taxes and fees; Highways and bridges; Revenue allocation | Authorize a 50-44-6 percent apportionment of the excise tax on petroleum products to the Trunk Highway Fund, Road and Bridge Fund and to cities with populations of 100,000 or more for their road and street needs, respectively | | 420,530 (48%) | 456,346 (52%) |
Missouri
See also: Missouri 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Ballot measure process; Property taxes; Public education funding | Authorize school taxes to be increased up to three times the limit by majority vote for two years in cities over 75,000 and one year in other districts |
| 616,337 (58%) | 451,299 (42%) |
April 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Fuel taxes; Highways and bridges | Refer a law that increases the motor fuel license tax from two to four cents per gallon to fund highway construction and maintenance, allocates part of the revenue to state rural roads based on county population and area, under the supervision of the State Highway Commission with bipartisan advisory input | | 179,094 (25%) | 528,201 (75%) |
Montana
See also: Montana 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Administration of government |
| 77,644 (51%) | 75,641 (49%) | |
| Amendment 2 | County and municipal governance; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | | 71,648 (47%) | 81,135 (53%) | |
| Amendment 3 | County and municipal governance; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance |
| 85,300 (56%) | 67,491 (44%) | |
| I-54 | Veterans policy |
| 108,251 (59%) | 75,411 (41%) | |
| R-53 | Gambling policy | | 55,348 (28%) | 140,309 (72%) |
Nebraska
See also: Nebraska 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State legislative processes and sessions | Allow either annual or biennial legislative sessions, with restrictions on business transacted in even-numbered years and four-year terms for legislators. | | 71,173 (35%) | 129,677 (65%) | |
| Referendum 1 | Fuel taxes | Reject the provisions of Legislative Bill No. 399, which proposed increasing gasoline and excise taxes on motor vehicle fuels and changing their allocation. |
| 207,408 (52%) | 195,130 (48%) | |
| Referendum 2 | Transportation taxes and fees | Reject Legislative Bill No. 401, which proposed increasing registration fees for vehicles burning fuel subject to motor vehicle fuel tax laws and changing their allocation. |
| 202,098 (52%) | 186,854 (48%) |
Nevada
See also: Nevada 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State judicial authority; State judiciary oversight | Prohibit supreme court justices and district judges from holding nonjudicial offices during their elected or appointed terms. |
| 33,500 (82%) | 7,573 (18%) | |
| Question 2 | State legislative authority; Redistricting policy | Require the legislature to apportion assembly members by county population after each census. |
| 32,150 (78%) | 9,331 (22%) | |
| Question 3 | State judicial authority; State legislative authority; Criminal sentencing | Allow the legislature to grant district courts the power to suspend sentences, set probation terms, and fix sentences. |
| 24,846 (61%) | 15,730 (39%) |
New Hampshire
See also: New Hampshire 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Constitutional wording changes | It proposed to eliminate constitutional language stating that shillings and pence are the denominations of money. |
| 62,949 (69%) | 28,038 (31%) | |
| Question 2 | Administration of government | It proposed to eliminate the office of the commissary-general. |
| 56,301 (73%) | 20,520 (27%) | |
| Question 3 | Military service policy | It proposed to remove the constitutional provision that provided for conscientious objection to bearing arms.Note: Although this measure gathered more "yes" votes, it did not pass because New Hampshire requires that an amendment receive greater than two-thirds of the vote to be approved. | | 52,033 (61%) | 32,730 (39%) | |
| Question 4 | State National Guard and militia | It proposed to remove the constitutional provision for a state militia.Note: Although this measure gathered more "yes" votes, it did not pass because New Hampshire requires that an amendment receive greater than two-thirds of the vote to be approved. | | 43,217 (58%) | 31,923 (42%) | |
| Question 5 | State legislatures measures | It proposed to remove from the constitution provisions related to the appointment of staff officers.Note: Although this measure gathered more "yes" votes, it did not pass because New Hampshire requires that an amendment receive greater than two-thirds of the vote to be approved. | | 47,244 (65%) | 25,381 (35%) |
New Mexico
See also: New Mexico 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominating Conventions for Candidates Referendum | Elections and campaigns |
|
North Carolina
See also: North Carolina 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judicial Assignment and Special Court Jurisdiction Amendment | State executive powers and duties; State judicial authority; State legislative authority | Transfer the authority to assign judges and call special court sessions from the Governor to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and grant the Legislature the power to define the jurisdiction of special judges |
| 207,153 (69%) | 91,743 (31%) | |
| Judicial Districts Amendment | State legislative authority; State judiciary structure | Allow the legislature to determine judicial districts and the number of judges |
| 213,922 (71%) | 88,664 (29%) | |
| Legislative Compensation Amendment | Salaries of government officials | Compensate legislators $15 and presiding officers $20 per day for up to 90 days |
| 215,269 (66%) | 108,672 (34%) | |
| Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System Amendment | Public employee retirement funds | Prohibit using retirement system funds for non-retirement purposes. |
| 299,187 (82%) | 65,512 (18%) | |
| Waiver of Indictment Amendment | Criminal trials | Allow individuals, when represented by legal counsel, to choose to waive their right to a formal indictment, except those involving capital offenses |
| 213,156 (70%) | 92,205 (30%) |
North Dakota
See also: North Dakota 1950 ballot measures
June 27
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Public education governance | | 74,927 (49%) | 77,092 (51%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Property; Taxes | | 38,561 (26%) | 110,567 (74%) | |
| Initiative 1 | Taxes | | 74,528 (49%) | 79,013 (51%) | |
| Initiative 2 | County and municipal governance; Alcohol laws | | 48,250 (29%) | 116,235 (71%) | |
| Referendum 1 | Taxes | | 29,045 (17%) | 137,016 (83%) |
Oklahoma
See also: Oklahoma 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Question 325 | Administration of government; Transportation | Create a four-member highway commission with exclusive authority over state highways, funds, and employment decisions. | | 144,267 (29%) | 353,532 (71%) | |
| State Question 326 | Taxes; Transportation | Prohibit diversion of highway user revenues, ensuring exclusive use for construction, maintenance, and the State Highway Patrol. | | 165,776 (32%) | 348,044 (68%) | |
| State Question 344 | Federal government issues; Military-related advisory questions | Inform federal officials that Oklahomans urge U.S. delegates to propose or support amendments to the U.N. Charter to strengthen it and establish a world federal government to prevent war. | | 124,189 (23%) | 421,472 (77%) | |
| State Question 346 | Administration of government; Education | Establish a five-member Board of Regents, appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, to govern the Oklahoma Military Academy. | | 170,258 (34%) | 330,738 (66%) | |
| State Question 347 | State constitutional conventions | Call a Constitutional Convention to alter, revise, or propose a new Constitution for Oklahoma. | | 159,908 (32%) | 347,143 (68%) |
July 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Question 345 | Workers' compensation laws | Authorize the legislature to enact laws for compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Law for deaths from employment-related injuries. |
| 423,518 (83%) | 89,555 (17%) |
Oregon
See also: Oregon 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure Nos. 300-301 | Salaries of government officials | Set state legislators' annual salary at $600 and 10 cents for every mile traveled to and from the capital, with presiding officers receiving additional compensation. |
| 243,518 (54%) | 205,361 (46%) | |
| Measure Nos. 302-303 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Authorize the state to loan credit and incur debt up to 0.75% of the taxable property value to construct and improve education buildings. |
| 256,895 (57%) | 192,573 (43%) | |
| Measure Nos. 304-305 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Authorize the state to loan credit and incur indebtedness up to 4% of taxable property value to support the state war veterans' fund. |
| 268,171 (59%) | 183,724 (41%) | |
| Measure Nos. 306-307 | Taxes; Education | Levy an annual state property tax generating an $30 per child for a total of $80 per child between four and twenty for a school support fund. |
| 234,394 (50%) | 231,856 (50%) | |
| Measure Nos. 308-309 | Healthcare; Public assistance programs | Provide public monetary assistance to people defined as “needy” to be used for medical, nursing, and care expenses. |
| 310,143 (66%) | 158,939 (34%) | |
| Measure Nos. 310-311 | Time standards | Establish a uniform standard time throughout the State of Oregon. |
| 277,633 (59%) | 195,319 (41%) | |
| Measure Nos. 312-313 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Authorized state indebtedness up to 5% of property value to create a fund compensating World War II veterans $10 a month for domestic and $15 a month for foreign service. |
| 239,553 (52%) | 216,958 (48%) | |
| Measure Nos. 314-315 | Redistricting policy; State legislative structure | Require the reapportionment of representation every ten years and increase the number of state senators to 36. | | 190,992 (47%) | 215,302 (53%) | |
| Measure Nos. 316-317 | Alcohol laws; Business regulations | Prohibit alcohol advertisements through posters, circulars, newspapers, periodicals, and radio broadcasts and provide penalties for violations. | | 113,524 (23%) | 378,732 (77%) |
Rhode Island
See also: Rhode Island 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal 1 | Elections and campaigns |
| 64,103 (71%) | 25,642 (29%) | |
| Proposal 2 | Transportation |
| 63,910 (72%) | 25,143 (28%) | |
| Proposal 3 | State legislatures measures | | 39,263 (45%) | 47,278 (55%) | |
| Proposal 4 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance |
| 47,522 (59%) | 33,549 (41%) | |
| Proposal 5 | Elections and campaigns |
| 60,784 (72%) | 23,234 (28%) | |
| Proposal 6 | Bond issues |
| 70,402 (72%) | 27,223 (28%) | |
| Proposal 7 | Bond issues |
| 64,303 (65%) | 34,614 (35%) |
South Dakota
See also: South Dakota 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment A | State legislative structure; Redistricting policy | Limit counties to two Senators during apportionment | | 92,512 (47%) | 106,203 (53%) | |
| Amendment B | Debt limits; Public education funding; Property taxes | Limit the debt of any school district to 10% of the assessed value of property for taxes | | 75,191 (39%) | 120,032 (61%) | |
| Amendment C | Restricted-use funds; Public education funding; Revenue allocation | Transfer investment authority of educational funds from counties to the Commissioner of School and Public Lands | | 84,804 (45%) | 104,960 (55%) | |
| Amendment D | Local official term limits; Local government officials and elections | Allow the clerk of courts and county superintendent to be elected to multiple terms of office | | 83,505 (43%) | 112,851 (57%) | |
| Initiated Measure 1 | Alcohol laws | Prohibit the sale or possession of alcohol in any place that also sells items other than tobacco, tobacco products, and soft drinks | | 108,855 (44%) | 138,959 (56%) |
Utah
See also: Utah 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State executive elections; Public education governance | Require that the Board of Education be elected by the people |
| 99,951 (64%) | 56,045 (36%) | |
| Amendment 2 | State executive branch structure | Remove the Superintendent of Public Instruction from the Executive Cabinet |
| 83,496 (57%) | 64,179 (43%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Salaries of government officials | Change the salary regulations for state legislators |
| 75,324 (52%) | 70,464 (48%) |
Virginia
See also: Virginia 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment of City Courts Amendment | State judiciary structure; State legislative authority | Authorize the General Assembly to establish city courts |
| 107,575 (65%) | 57,797 (35%) | |
| School District Consolidation Amendment | State legislative authority | Authorize the General Assembly to consolidate school districts |
| 90,131 (56%) | 71,447 (44%) |
Washington
See also: Washington 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HJR 10 | Local government organization | Permit school districts to incur debt, with popular vote approval, for up to an additional five percent of assessed valuation of capital outlays | | 286,189 (48%) | 314,014 (52%) | |
| Initiative 176 | Public assistance programs | Increase the minimum monthly grant for Social Security to $65. | | 159,400 (23%) | 534,689 (77%) | |
| Initiative 178 | Public assistance programs; Healthcare governance | Create a Council of Medical Services and transfer the public assistance medical program to the Department of Health. |
| 394,261 (57%) | 296,290 (43%) | |
| Referendum 28 | Public assistance programs | Establish a system of disability compensation for certain employed individuals. | | 163,923 (26%) | 467,574 (74%) | |
| Referendum 7 | Public education funding; Bond issues | Authorize $40 million in state general obligation bonds for constructing public school buildings |
| 395,417 (61%) | 248,200 (39%) | |
| Referendum 8 | Bond issues | Authorize $20 million in state general obligation bonds for constructing charitable, educational, and penal buildings. |
| 377,941 (59%) | 262,615 (41%) | |
| Referendum 9 | Bond issues; Higher education funding | Authorize $20 million in state general obligation bonds for constructing public college and university buildings | | 312,500 (50%) | 314,840 (50%) | |
| SJR 9 | Immigration policy | Allow Canadians to own land in Washington |
| 292,857 (50%) | 290,005 (50%) |
West Virginia
See also: West Virginia 1950 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Salaries of government officials | | 169,647 (42%) | 234,938 (58%) | ||
| Amendment 2 | Bond issues |
| 340,054 (69%) | 150,251 (31%) | ||
| Amendment 3 | Veterans policy | This amendment provided a bonus to veterans that served in either of the World Wars. |
| 431,979 (76%) | 139,445 (24%) |
Other years
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also
State & Local Ballot Measures
Ballotpedia
Campaigns
- • Campaign finance
- • Endorsements
- • Polls
Footnotes
