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2012 post-election ballot measure campaign contributions

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A total of 188 ballot questions were certified for 39 statewide ballots in 2012, however, only 83 ballot measures had any type of campaign finance activity. A total of $491,026,994.64 was contributed to ballot measures in 2012, according to official reports filed as of December 2012.

Statewide

  • Highest statewide contributions: California ($305,170,217.71)
  • Lowest statewide contributions: Montana ($3,672.65)

Measures Top five:


Bottom five:


Measure rankings

The following are the rankings for contributions made, both by supporting and opposing campaigns, toward each ballot measure on special, primary, and general election ballots in 2012. They are ordered from most contributed to least. Ballot measures that did not have any contributions made toward them were not included in the rankings. Totals featured in the chart below are rounded up to the nearest dollar.

# Measure Amount
1 California Proposition 30 $104,324,782
2 Maryland Question 7 $91,493,969
3 California Proposition 37 $48,893,123
4 California Proposition 38 $47,295,437
5 California Proposition 39 $28,248,682
6 Washington Referendum 74 $16,289,575
7 Minnesota Amendment 1 $13,514,638
8 Washington Initiative 1240 $11,508,397
9 Maine Question 1 $9,685,605
10 Oregon Measure 82 and 83 $8,608,010
11 Michigan Proposal 3 $8,509,593
12 California Proposition 33 $8,475,340
13 Michigan Proposal 2 $8,408,020
14 California Proposition 34 $7,365,716
15 Michigan Proposal 6 $6,296,850
16 Massachusetts Question 2 $6,236,591
17 Washington Initiative 502 $6,097,222
18 Idaho Propositions 1,2, and 3 $5,839,688
19 Missouri Proposition B $5,163,619
20 Rhode Island Question 1 $5,079,436
21 Florida Amendment 4 $4,701,075
22 Florida Amendment 6 $4,119,748
23 Michigan Proposal 5 $3,954,998
24 Arizona Proposal 204 $3,726,676
25 North Carolina Amendment 1 $3,533,443
26 Florida Amendment 2, 9, and 11 $3,392,754
# Measure Amount
27 Oregon Measure 79 $3,194,153
28 California Proposition 35 $3,011,609
29 California Proposition 36 $2,560,784
30 Massachusetts Question 1 $2,544,349
31 Oregon Measure 84 $2,538,786
32 Colorado Amendment 64 $2,298,575
33 Michigan Proposal 4 $2,228,353
34 California Proposition 28 $2,195,123
35 Oregon Measure 85 $2,127,013
36 Arizona Proposition 121 $1,805,112
37 Washington Initiative 1185 $1,471,539
38 Maryland Question 6 $10,053,683
39 Minnesota Amendment 2 $1,463,179
40 Massachusetts Question 3 $1,152,962
41 Ohio Issue 2 $1,128,186
42 Florida Amendment 8 $1,020,200
43 North Dakota Measure 5 $972,036
44 Oregon Measure 81 $911,902
45 California Proposition 40 $886,637
46 Alabama Amendment 1 $875,037
47 Alaska Ballot Measure 2 $831,684
48 Rhode Island Question 7 $729,466
49 North Dakota Measure 2 $600,900
50 Illinois HJRCA 49 $565,000
51 Colorado Amendment S $546,605
52 Colorado Amendment 65 $480,000
53 North Dakota Measure 3 (Primary) $442,913
54 Maryland Question 4 $420,285
# Measure Amount
55 Rhode Island Question 2 $419,415
56 Missouri Amendment 3 $322,539
57 Maine Question 3 $284,131
58 Michigan Proposal 1 $208,861
59 Georgia Referendum 1 $199,919
60 Arizona Proposition 117 $167,900
61 Rhode Island Question 3 $160,015
62 Arizona Proposition 115 $145,633
63 Georgia Amendment 1 $132,475
64 Washington 8223 $111,100
65 Florida Amendment 10 $99,900
66 North Dakota Measure 3 $87,226
67 Maine Question 2 $84,950
68 Oregon Measure 80 $67,246
69 California Proposition 29 $66,038,082
70 Arizona Proposition 116 $57,473
71 Arizona Proposition 119 $47,087
72 Nebraska Amendment 3 $41,722
73 Idaho HJR 2 $35,993
74 Nebraska Amendment 4 $24,492
75 Maryland Question 5 $18,925
76 Arizona Proposition 118 $17,674
77 North Dakota Measure 4 (Primary) $7,564
78 Arizona Proposition 120 $6,127
79 Alabama Amendment 3 $5,853
80 Missouri Proposition A $3,956
81 Montana IR 124 $3,673
82 Maine Question 4 $1,500
83 Maine Question 5 $1,500

By state

NOTE: The table below highlights the monetary contributions made in 2012 to both supporting and opposing political action committees before elections took place. Totals featured in the chart below are rounded up to the nearest dollar.




Legend


     State with most contributions      States with no reported contributions

State # of measures per state Support Opposition Total
Alabama 12 $877,173 $3,717 $880,890
Arizona 9 $3,783,918 $2,189,765 $5,973,683
Alaska 4 $63,689 $767,995 $831,684
Arkansas 5 $0 $0 $0
California 13 $166,415,417 $138,754,801 $305,170,218
Colorado 3 $2,660,346 $664,834 $3,325,180
Florida 11 $8,699,404 $4,634,273 $13,333,677
Georgia 3 $199,869 $137,662 $337,531
Hawaii 2 $0 $0 $0
Idaho 5 $2,282,657 $3,593,023 $5,875,681
Illinois 1 $565,000 $0 $565,000
Kansas 1 $0 $0 $0
Kentucky 1 $0 $0 $0
Louisiana 9 $0 $0 $0
Maine 5 $7,555,508 $2,499,178 $10,054,686
Maryland 7 $3,555,675 $15,952,991 $94,002,635
Massachusetts 3 $4,507,896 $5,426,007 $9,933,903
Michigan 6 $18,771,851 $10,834,824 $29,606,675
Minnesota 2 $5,203,160 $9,774,657 $14,977,816
Missouri 5 $5,243,719 $246,395 $5,490,114
Montana 5 $3,673 $0 $3,673
Nebraska 4 $41,722 $24,492 $66,214
Nevada 1 $0 $0 $0
New Hampshire 3 $0 $0 $0
New Jersey 2 $0 $0 $0
New Mexico 8 $0 $0 $0
North Carolina 1 $1,192,279 $2,341,165 $3,533,443
North Dakota 9 $963,697 $1,146,942 $2,110,639
Ohio 2 $1,128,186 $0 $1,128,186
Oklahoma 6 $0 $0 $0
Oregon 9 $9,480,157 $7,966,953 $17,447,110
Rhode Island 8 $6,359,057 $29,274 $6,388,331
South Carolina 1 $0 $0 $0
South Dakota 7 $0 $0 $0
Virginia 1 $0 $0 $0
Washington 8 $32,102,454 $3,375,379 $35,477,833
West Virginia 1 $0 $0 $0
Wyoming 3 $0 $0 $0
Total 188 $281,656,505 $210,364,328 $491,026,995

By topic

The table below displays the topics that appeared on the ballot in 2012. Each ballot measure is assigned a primary and, depending on the issue, various subtopics. The primary topics listed below are organized by the number of measures that featured that particular topic, the states where those measures appeared, and the amount raised. The topic that garnered the most contributions—taxes—is listed first, the one with the least contributions—motto and symbols—is last.

# Topic # of measures States Amount
1 Taxes 10 CA, FL, MI, AZ, OR, WA, ND, GA, AZ $272,140,068.23
2 Business regulations 2 CA, MA $51,437,472.08
3 Marriage 5 WA, MN, ME, NC, MD $44,491,832.55
4 Gambling 3 MD, RI $97,099,734.83
5 Marijuana 6 OR, WA, CO, MA, MT $18,227,687.85
6 Education 5 WA, ID, MD, WA, GA $18,011,944.96
7 Law enforcement 4 MO, CA $10,739,968.21
8 Labor 2 MI $10,636,372.99
9 Energy 1 MI $8,509,592.80
10 Insurance 1 CA $8,475,339.56
11 Death penalty 1 CA $7,365,716.18
12 Transportation 1 MI 6,296,850.00
13 Assisted death 1 MA $6,236,591.00
14 Abortion 1 FL $4,119,747.77
15 Admin of gov't 4 AZ, CO, MI, AL $2,566,430.82
16 Term limits 2 CA, NE $2,236,845.30
17 Redistricting 3 OH, CA, MD $2,033,748.25
18 Elections 2 MN, CO $1,943,178.97
19 Environment 3 AL, AK, AZ $1,712,848.32
20 Religion 3 FL, ND $1,550,339.40
21 Bond issues 6 RI, ME $1,261,561.60
22 Treatment of animals 1 ND $972,035.52
23 Animal rights 1 OR $911,902.25
24 Pensions 1 IL $565,000.00
25 State judiciary 2 MO, AZ $468,172.10
26 Property 1 AZ $47,087.35
27 Hunting 1 ID $35,992.63
28 Legislative salaries 1 NE $24,492.26
29 Budgets 1 AZ $17,673.75
30 Motto and symbols 1 ND $7,563.73


By type

There are several avenues by which a measure may qualify for the ballot: citizen initiative, legislative referral, automatic ballot measure, or commission-referral. The chart below organizes 2012's ballot measures by type or process by which each measure qualified for the ballot. Each avenue or type of measure includes varying requirements, which additionally vary by state. (See also: Forms of direct democracy.) The measures are listed in order of most campaign finance contributions to least.

By type summary
Initiatives[1] $421,011,149
Veto referendums (VR) $25,343,698
Legislative referrals[2] $133,308,943
Commission-referrals $0
Automatic ballot referrals (ABR) $0
Advisory questions (AQ) $480,000
# Type Measure Amount
1 CICA California Proposition 30 $104,324,782.03
2 LRSS Maryland Question 7 $91,493,969
3 CISS California Proposition 37 $48,893,123
4 CISS California Proposition 38 $47,295,437
5 CISS California Proposition 39 $28,248,681
6 VR Washington Referendum 74 $16,289,575
7 LRCA Minnesota Amendment 1 $13,514,637
8 ITP Washington Initiative 1240 $11,508,397
9 IndISS Maine Question 1 $9,685,604
10 CICA/CISS Oregon Measure 82 and 83 $8,608,010
11 CICA Michigan Proposal 3 $8,509,593
12 CISS California Proposition 33 $8,475,340
13 CICA Michigan Proposal 2 $8,408,020
14 CISS California Proposition 34 $7,365,716
15 CICA Michigan Proposal 6 $6,296,850
16 IndISS Massachusetts Question 2 $6,236,591
17 ITL Washington Initiative 502 $6,097,222
18 VR Idaho Propositions 1,2, and 3 $5,839,688
19 CISS Missouri Proposition B $5,163,619
20 LRCA Rhode Island Question 1 $5,079,436
21 LRCA Florida Amendment 4 $4,701,075
22 LRCA Florida Amendment 6 $4,119,748
23 CICA Michigan Proposal 5 $3,954,998
24 CISS Arizona Proposal 204 $3,726,676
25 LRCA North Carolina Amendment 1 $3,533,443
26 LRCA Florida Amendment 2, 9, and 11 $3,392,754
27 CICA Oregon Measure 79 $3,194,153
28 CISS California Proposition 35 $3,011,609
29 CISS California Proposition 36 $2,560,784
30 IndISS Massachusetts Question 1 $2,544,349
31 CISS Oregon Measure 84 $2,538,786
32 CICA Colorado Amendment 64 $2,298,575
33 CICA Michigan Proposal 4 $2,228,353
34 CICA California Proposition 28 $2,195,123
35 CICA Oregon Measure 85 $2,127,013
36 CICA Arizona Proposition 121 $1,805,112
37 ITP Washington Initiative 1185 $1,471,539
38 VR Maryland Question 6 $1,468,572
39 LRCA Minnesota Amendment 2 $1,463,179
40 IndISS Massachusetts Question 3 $1,152,962
41 CICA Ohio Issue 2 $1,128,186
42 LRCA Florida Amendment 8 $1,020,200
43 CISS North Dakota Measure 5 $972,035.52
44 CISS Oregon Measure 81 $911,902.25
45 VR California Proposition 40 $886,637.25
46 LRCA Alabama Amendment 1 $875,037
47 IndISS Alaska Ballot Measure 2 $831,684.17
48 BI Rhode Island Question 7 $729,465.65
49 CICA North Dakota Measure 2 (Primary) $600,900.41
50 LRCA Illinois HJRCA 49 $565,000
51 LRCA Colorado Amendment S $546,605
52 AQ Colorado Amendment 65 $480,000
53 CICA North Dakota Measure 3 (Primary) $442,913.40
54 VR Maryland Question 4 $420,285
55 LRCA Rhode Island Question 2 $419,415
56 LRCA Missouri Amendment 3 $322,539
57 LRSS Maine Question 3 $284,131.35
58 VR Michigan Proposal 1 $208,860.92
59 VR Georgia Referendum 1 $199,918.67
60 LRCA Arizona Proposition 117 $167,900
61 BI Rhode Island Question 3 $160,014.60
62 LRCA Arizona Proposition 115 $145,633.10
63 LRCA Georgia Amendment 1 $132,474.97
64 LRCA Washington 8223 $111,100
65 LRCA Florida Amendment 10 $99,900
66 CICA North Dakota Measure 3 $87,226
67 LRSS Maine Question 2 $84,950
68 CISS Oregon Measure 80 $67,246.35
69 CISS California Proposition 29 $66,038,082
70 LRCA Arizona Proposition 116 $57,472.89
71 LRCA Arizona Proposition 119 $47,087.35
72 LRCA Nebraska Amendment 3 $41,721.99
73 LRCA Idaho HJR 2 $35,992.63
74 LRCA Nebraska Amendment 4 $24,492.26
75 VR Maryland Question 5 $18,925
76 LRCA Arizona Proposition 118 $17,673.75
77 VR North Dakota Measure 4 (Primary) $7,563.73
78 LRCA Arizona Proposition 120 $6,127.15
79 LRCA Alabama Amendment 3 $5,853
80 CICA Missouri Proposition A $3,955.80
81 VR Montana IR 124 $3,672.65
82 LRSS Maine Question 4 $1,500
83 LRSS Maine Question 5 $1,50

Footnotes

  1. Included under "Initiatives" are indirect initiated state statutes (IndISS), initiated constitutional amendments (ICA), initiated state statutes (ISS), initiatives to the legislature (ITL), and initiatives to the people (ITP).
  2. Included in the "Legislative-referred measures" category are legislative bond measures (LBM), bonds (BI), legislative-referred state statutes (LRSS), and legislatively referred constitutional amendments (LRCA).

Raw data

The chart below includes all of the information available on the "by state," "by topic," and "by type" tabs. It is automatically sorted to show the measure that gained the most contributions to the measure that gained the least. However, you can sort the data by clicking on the arrows directly above the column you would like re-ordered.

# Measure State Type Topic Amount
1 California Proposition 30 California CICA Taxes $104,324,782.03
2 Maryland Question 7 Maryland LRSS Gambling $91,493,969
3 California Proposition 37 California CISS Business regulation $48,893,123
4 California Proposition 38 California CISS Taxes $47,295,437
5 California Proposition 39 California CISS Taxes $28,248,681
6 Washington Referendum 74 Washington VR Marriage $16,289,575
7 Minnesota Amendment 1 Minnesota LRCA Marriage $13,514,637
8 Washington Initiative 1240 Washington ITP Education $11,508,397
9 Maine Question 1 Maine IndISS Marriage $9,685,604
10 Oregon Measure 82 and 83 Oregon CICACISS Marijuana $8,608,010
11 Michigan Proposal 3 Michigan CICA Energy $8,509,593
12 California Proposition 33 California CISS Insurance $8,475,340
13 Michigan Proposal 2 Michigan CICA Labor $8,408,020
14 California Proposition 34 California CISS Death penalty $7,365,716
15 Michigan Proposal 6 Michigan CICA Transportation $6,296,850
16 Massachusetts Question 2 Massachusetts IndISS Assisted death $6,236,591
17 Washington Initiative 502 Washington ITL Marijuana $6,097,222
18 Idaho Propositions 1,2, and 3 Idaho VR Education $5,839,688
19 Missouri Proposition B Missouri CISS Law enforcement $5,163,619
20 Rhode Island Question 1 Rhode Island LRCA Gambling $5,079,436
21 Florida Amendment 4 Florida LRCA Taxes $4,701,075
22 Florida Amendment 6 Florida LRCA Abortion $4,119,748
23 Michigan Proposal 5 Michigan CICA Taxes $3,954,998
24 Arizona Proposal 204 Arizona CISS Taxes $3,726,676
25 North Carolina Amendment 1 North Carolina LRCA Marriage $3,533,443
26 Florida Amendment 2, 9, and 11 Florida LRCA Taxes $3,392,754
27 Oregon Measure 79 Oregon CICA Taxes $3,194,153
28 California Proposition 35 California CISS Law enforcement $3,011,609
29 California Proposition 36 California CISS Law enforcement $2,560,784
30 Massachusetts Question 1 Massachusetts IndISS Business regulation $2,544,349
31 Oregon Measure 84 Oregon CISS Taxes $2,538,786
32 Colorado Amendment 64 Colorado CICA Marijuana $2,298,575
33 Michigan Proposal 4 Michigan CICA Labor $2,228,353
34 California Proposition 28 California CICA Term limits $2,195,123
35 Oregon Measure 85 Oregon CICA Taxes $2,127,013
36 Arizona Proposition 121 Arizona CICA Admin of gov't $1,805,112
37 Washington Initiative 1185 Washington ITP Taxes $1,471,539
38 Maryland Question 6 Maryland VR Marriage $10,053,683
39 Minnesota Amendment 2 Minnesota LRCA Elections $1,463,179
40 Massachusetts Question 3 Massachusetts IndISS Marijuana $1,152,962
41 Ohio Issue 2 Ohio CICA Redistricting $1,128,186
42 Florida Amendment 8 Florida LRCA Religion $1,020,200
43 North Dakota Measure 5 North Dakota CISS Treatment of animals $972,035.52
44 Oregon Measure 81 Oregon CISS Animal rights $911,902.25
45 California Proposition 40 California VR Redistricting $886,637.25
46 Alabama Amendment 1 Alabama LRCA Environment $875,037
47 Alaska Ballot Measure 2 Alaska IndISS Environment $831,684.17
48 Rhode Island Question 7 Rhode Island BI Bond issues $729,465.65
49 North Dakota Measure 2 (Primary) North Dakota CICA Taxes $600,900.41
50 Illinois HJRCA 49 Illinois LRCA Pensions $565,000
51 Colorado Amendment S Colorado LRCA Admin of gov't $546,605
52 Colorado Amendment 65 Colorado AQ Elections $480,000
53 North Dakota Measure 3 (Primary) North Dakota CICA Religion $442,913.40
54 Maryland Question 4 Maryland VR Education $420,285
55 Rhode Island Question 2 Rhode Island LRCA Gambling $419,415
56 Missouri Amendment 3 Missouri LRCA State judiciary $322,539
57 Maine Question 3 Maine LRSS Bond issues $284,131.35
58 Michigan Proposal 1 Michigan VR Admin of gov't $208,860.92
59 Georgia Referendum 1 Georgia VR Taxes $199,918.67
60 Arizona Proposition 117 Arizona LRCA Taxes $167,900
61 Rhode Island Question 3 Rhode Island BI Bond issues $160,014.60
62 Arizona Proposition 115 Arizona LRCA State judiciary $145,633.10
63 Georgia Amendment 1 Georgia LRCA Education $132,474.97
64 Washington 8223 Washington LRCA Education $111,100
65 Florida Amendment 10 Florida LRCA Taxes $99,900
66 North Dakota Measure 3 North Dakota CICA Religion $87,226
67 Maine Question 2 Maine LRSS Bond issues $84,950
68 Oregon Measure 80 Oregon CISS Marijuana $67,246.35
69 California Proposition 29 California CISS Taxes $66,038,082
70 Arizona Proposition 116 Arizona LRCA Taxes $57,472.89
71 Arizona Proposition 119 Arizona LRCA Property $47,087.35
72 Nebraska Amendment 3 Nebraska LRCA Term limits $41,721.99
73 Idaho HJR 2 Idaho LRCA Hunting $35,992.63
74 Nebraska Amendment 4 Nebraska LRCA Legislative salaries $24,492.26
75 Maryland Question 5 Maryland VR Redistricting $18,925
76 Arizona Proposition 118 Arizona LRCA Budgets $17,673.75
77 North Dakota Measure 4 (Primary) North Dakota VR Motto and symbols $7,563.73
78 Arizona Proposition 120 Arizona LRCA Environment $6,127.15
79 Alabama Amendment 3 Alabama LRCA Admin of gov't $5,853
80 Missouri Proposition A Missouri CICA Law enforcement $3,955.80
81 Montana IR 124 Montana VR Marijuana $3,672.65
82 Maine Question 4 Maine LRSS Bond issues $1,500
83 Maine Question 5 Maine LRSS Bond issues $1,500