1954 ballot measures
From Ballotpedia
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1954.
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.
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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 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Public economic investment policy | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution. The amendment proposed that the municipalities of Haleyville and Double Springs in Winston County would be authorized to acquire and dispose of all kinds of property, to promote the development of these municipalities and the location of any industries or businesses within, to become a stockholder in any corporation, association or company, to lend their credit or grant public money and things of value 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 public corporations or authorities and to delegate to such public corporations or authorities all powers or authorities granted by such proposed amendment to such municipalities. Neither municipality shall make any engagement or commitment, or undertake any project unless and until the provision has been approved by a majority of the electors of the respective municipalities. |
| 46,580 (58%) | 33,911 (42%) | |
| Amendment 2 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution. The amendment proposed that the legislature may alter and regulate the costs and charges of the Courts in Madison County, and the method of disbursement. |
| 46,223 (59%) | 32,080 (41%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Taxes | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution. The amendment proposed that the County of Morgan would be authorized to levy and collect a school tax of 55 cents per $100, provided that the tax does not exceed a rate of $1.25 per $100. The said tax must be approved by a majority of electors. |
| 48,119 (61%) | 31,237 (39%) |
Arizona
See also: Arizona 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 100 | Alcohol laws; American Indian issues | Prohibit the resale of alcohol on Indian Reservations |
| 64,493 (59%) | 44,965 (41%) |
Arkansas
See also: Arkansas 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 43 | Property | The measure would have changed laws related to property assessment. |  | 56,633 (20%) | 226,549 (80%) | |
| Amendment 44 | State executive official measures | The measure would have provided four-year terms for the Arkansas Governor. | | 121,662 (42%) | 168,107 (58%) | |
| Amendment 45 | County and municipal governance; Salaries of government officials | The measure would have established fixed salaries for state, district and county officers. | | 67,500 (25%) | 204,495 (75%) | |
| Referred Act 285 | Taxes; Alcohol laws | The measure would have increased taxes on alcohol. | | 114,859 (42%) | 161,798 (58%) |
California
See also: California 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Veterans policy; Bond issues | Allow for bonds up to $175,000,00 to help the Department of Veterans Affairs help veterans and establish the terms of such bonds. |
| 2,560,629 (79%) | 664,000 (21%) | |
| Proposition 10 | State legislatures measures; State executive official measures | Establish the term of Assembly members as four years, establish the term of Senators as six years, and limit the governor to two successive terms. | | 962,245 (31%) | 2,122,878 (69%) | |
| Proposition 11 | Veterans policy; Taxes | Allow for a tax exemption of up to $5,000 on homes acquired with federal assistance for veterans |
| 2,967,383 (90%) | 339,938 (10%) | |
| Proposition 12 | Voting rights for persons with criminal convictions | Allow those who have completed their penalties for committing an infamous crime to vote. | | 1,479,805 (48%) | 1,626,061 (52%) | |
| Proposition 13 | County and municipal governance | Allow the city of Vernon to frame a charter, allow such charter to define voter eligibility, and limit future annexations to uninhabited territory. | | 1,067,525 (40%) | 1,583,890 (60%) | |
| Proposition 14 | Taxes; Education; Property | Specify that the tax exemption for college buildings under construction includes the land on which the building is located. |
| 2,189,205 (71%) | 875,069 (29%) | |
| Proposition 15 | Property; Taxes | Exempt property under construction owned by non-profit organizations for religious hospitals or charitable purposes from taxation. |
| 2,255,243 (73%) | 820,056 (27%) | |
| Proposition 16 | Water; Property | Require that any acquisition of property by any agency means that such agency agrees to conform with California water law. |
| 2,003,716 (70%) | 862,540 (30%) | |
| Proposition 17 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Transportation; Taxes | Allow money collected from street and highway revenues to be used for financing vehicle parking facilities, | | 968,835 (31%) | 2,144,142 (69%) | |
| Proposition 18 | Immigration policy; Property | Allow all foreigners who live in the United States and are eligible for citizenship the same property ownership rights as native-born citizens. |
| 2,165,064 (72%) | 846,827 (28%) | |
| Proposition 19 | State judiciary | Allow a non-lawyer judge to be a judge of a municipal court if the person served as a judge of a justice court for five years. | | 1,411,456 (50%) | 1,424,507 (50%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Education; Bond issues | Allow for the issuance of bonds up to $100,000,000 for school district buildings and equipment and establish the terms of such bonds. |
| 2,758,076 (80%) | 686,507 (20%) | |
| Proposition 20 | County and municipal governance | Extend the amount of time given to the board of freeholders while drafting a county charter to six months. |
| 1,791,922 (68%) | 835,038 (32%) | |
| Proposition 3 | Alcohol laws; Administrative organization | Establish the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to control alcohol licensing and establish the makeup of such department. |
| 2,265,436 (66%) | 1,152,238 (34%) | |
| Proposition 4 | Public assistance programs | Increase monthly payments to aged people who meet the requirements of the Welfare and Institutions Code. | | 1,688,319 (45%) | 2,030,132 (55%) | |
| Proposition 5 | Transportation; Taxes; Property | Continue the local property tax exemption on California-registered freight and passenger ships with more than a 50 ton burden, |
| 2,306,460 (72%) | 913,796 (28%) | |
| Proposition 6 | State legislatures measures; Salaries of government officials | Establish the salary of state legislators at $500 per month. |
| 1,618,027 (52%) | 1,482,536 (48%) | |
| Proposition 7 | State legislatures measures; Property | Allow the legislature to amend or repeal the Land Title Law (Torrens Act). |
| 1,950,919 (72%) | 744,089 (28%) | |
| Proposition 8 | Ports and harbors; Property tax exemptions; Property taxes | Exempt deep sea fishing, freight, and passenger vessels of with over a 100 ton burden from local property taxation. | | 1,218,207 (40%) | 1,824,701 (60%) | |
| Proposition 9 | Taxes; Property | Exempt church buildings in the course of construction, including the equipment used and land where located, from taxation. |
| 2,405,125 (73%) | 869,733 (27%) |
Colorado
See also: Colorado 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment No. 1 | Utility policy | Allow the state government to regulate the facilities, service, and rates of public utilities (except those owned by municipalities). |
| 229,175 (65%) | 123,923 (35%) | |
| Amendment No. 2 | Civil service | Exclude the Director of the Water Conservation Board from classified civil service | | 133,073 (45%) | 159,800 (55%) | |
| Amendment No. 3 | State executive official measures | Establish provisions relating to the offices of state executive officials. | | 123,112 (44%) | 155,539 (56%) | |
| Amendment No. 4 | Public employee retirement funds | Add phrasing that allows the General Assembly to change pension provisions in response to changes in federal law. | | 104,079 (32%) | 223,965 (68%) | |
| Amendment No. 5 | Redistricting policy | Provide new redistricting requirements for House districts | | 116,695 (42%) | 159,188 (58%) | |
| Amendment No. 7 | Taxes | Change provisions relating to tax exemptions and the collection of taxes. | | 143,486 (49%) | 148,517 (51%) | |
| Amendment No. 8 | Salaries of government officials; Local government officials and elections | Set the term length for certain county officials as four years and establish such officials' compensation. |
| 168,055 (53%) | 151,271 (47%) | |
| Statutory Referendum No. 6 | Bond issues; Transportation | Allow the issuance of revenue anticipation warrants of up to $35 million for the maintenance of state highways. |
| 177,697 (57%) | 132,628 (43%) |
Florida
See also: Florida 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Salaries of government officials; State legislative processes and sessions | Revise provisions relating to extra sessions of the legislature and the compensation of legislators |
| 83,868 (56%) | 64,739 (44%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Highways and bridges; Toll roads | Prohibit the use of state funds for toll roads extending into more than three counties | | 64,032 (43%) | 84,198 (57%) | |
| Amendment 3 | State judiciary structure | Allow for additional county judges in counties with a population of more than 125,000 |
| 88,283 (62%) | 55,209 (38%) | |
| Amendment 4 | State executive powers and duties | Increase the number of days the Governor has to approve or veto bills for 10 days to 20 days |
| 105,251 (68%) | 49,212 (32%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Local government finance and taxes; Local government officials and elections | Establish procedures for allowing the county tax assessor to assess municipal taxes |
| 85,677 (59%) | 59,523 (41%) | |
| Amendment 6 | Local government officials and elections; Property taxes | Establish that the County Tax Assessor in Monroe County is to assess all property in the county for all tax districts |
| 74,780 (58%) | 54,210 (42%) | |
| Amendment 7 | State judiciary structure | Revise the Escambia County court system |
| 81,926 (61%) | 51,491 (39%) |
Georgia
See also: Georgia 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Administration of government; County and municipal governance | Authorize the General Assembly to allow municipalities to self-govern |
| 172,733 (78%) | 48,808 (22%) | |
| Amendment 13 | County and municipal governance; Healthcare governance | Enlarge the membership of the Macon-Bibb County Health Board, and authorize the City Council of Macon and the Commissioners of Bibb County to enact health regulations |
| 73,530 (72%) | 28,190 (28%) | |
| Amendment 19 | Public education governance; County and municipal governance | Allow the merger of the Canton school system with the Cherokee County school system | | 69,862 (73%) | 26,346 (27%) | |
| Amendment 2 | State legislative processes and sessions; Administration of government | Limit the time of the annual sessions of the General Assembly to 40 days |
| 144,787 (73%) | 53,245 (27%) | |
| Amendment 20 | Public education governance; County and municipal governance | Establish a single school district for all of Clarke County under one Board of Education |
| 67,945 (74%) | 24,351 (26%) | |
| Amendment 24 | Public education governance; County and municipal governance | Authorize the merger of Douglas City’s independent school system with Coffee County’s school district, and create a countywide district with a seven-member Board of Education |
| 65,886 (72%) | 25,188 (28%) | |
| Amendment 27 | County and municipal governance; Homestead tax exemptions | Prohibit tax exemptions for homesteads from applying to taxes levied to fund education in DeKalb County | | 63,674 (58%) | 45,357 (42%) | |
| Amendment 28 | Administration of government; County and municipal governance | Allow the consolidation of the City of Albany and Dougherty County | | 59,387 (58%) | 42,841 (42%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Property taxes; Property; Property tax exemptions | Allow tax exemptions for property owned by religious groups for residential purposes if no income is derived from the property |
| 149,056 (73%) | 54,679 (27%) | |
| Amendment 30 | County and municipal governance; Public education governance | Authorize the General Assembly to consolidate Elberton City and Elbert County schools and establish a Board of Education with defined qualifications and powers | | 61,617 (71%) | 24,688 (29%) | |
| Amendment 32 | County and municipal governance; Homestead tax exemptions | Prohibit tax exemptions for homesteads from applying to taxes levied for the support and maintenance of education in the Fulton County School District |
| 57,816 (60%) | 38,729 (40%) | |
| Amendment 33 | County and municipal governance; Public education funding | Limit the Fulton County Board of Education’s debt for the school district to 10% of the assessed value of all taxable property |
| 64,747 (70%) | 28,095 (30%) | |
| Amendment 4 | School choice policy; State legislative authority | Allow the Georgia General Assembly to provide grants of state or local funds to citizens for educational purposes |
| 210,478 (54%) | 181,148 (46%) | |
| Amendment 44 | Public education governance; County and municipal governance; Public education funding | Authorize the General Assembly to merge the Thomasville City and Thomas County school systems, establish an elected school board, appoint superintendents, increase the school tax rate to 20 mills, and require voter approval before implementation | | 60,370 (70%) | 26,476 (30%) | |
| Amendment 45 | County and municipal governance; Public education governance | Establish that Tift County would have one school district under the control of a County Board of Education |
| 61,687 (73%) | 23,141 (27%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Property taxes; Public employee retirement funds | Allow a tax to fund pensions for firemen |
| 122,747 (61%) | 77,381 (39%) | |
| Amendment 6 | Public economic investment policy; County and municipal governance | Add a new article to the constitution titled Slum Clearance and Redevelopment, addressing the government's use of eminent domain for low-income housing projects |
| 137,419 (68%) | 63,997 (32%) | |
| Amendment 7 | Public education funding; Property taxes; County and municipal governance | Allow counties to remove or increase the limitation of tax levies for education |
| 109,178 (54%) | 94,171 (46%) |
Idaho
See also: Idaho 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiative 1 | Mineral resources; Business regulations |
| 174,377 (85%) | 30,102 (15%) |
Illinois
See also: Illinois 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State legislatures measures; Redistricting policy | This measure proposed a number of rules related to the drawing of senatorial districts in Illinois. It proposed that there be 58 districts and that they should be redistricted in 1955, 1963 and every ten years going forward. |
| 2,085,224 (80%) | 525,502 (20%) | |
| Amendment 2 | State executive official measures | This measure proposed a number of rules related to the election and term in office of the governor, secretary of state, state treasurer and other state officials. |
| 2,024,483 (79%) | 531,318 (21%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Public land policy | It proposed rules for the sale or lease of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. |
| 2,011,134 (79%) | 523,572 (21%) |
Louisiana
See also: Louisiana 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 16 | Public education governance; Race and ethnicity issues | Provide that "All public elementary and secondary schools in the State of Louisiana shall be operated separately for white and colored children" |
| 217,992 (82%) | 46,929 (18%) |
Maine
See also: Maine 1954 ballot measures
September 13
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Debt limits | Raise the limit on municipal indebtedness from five percent to seven and a half percent |
| 111,726 (58%) | 80,402 (42%) | |
| Question 2 | Race and ethnicity issues; Race and suffrage; American Indian issues | Permit Native Americans to vote |
| 155,528 (79%) | 41,688 (21%) |
Maryland
See also: Maryland 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Law enforcement; Salaries of government officials |
| 168,118 (77%) | 51,563 (23%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Salaries of government officials; State executive official measures |
| 180,621 (67%) | 89,448 (33%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Absentee and mail voting |
| 195,862 (81%) | 44,749 (19%) | |
| Amendment 4 | State judiciary; County and municipal governance |
| 128,252 (59%) | 87,846 (41%) | |
| Amendment 5 | County and municipal governance; Eminent domain policy |
| 136,887 (63%) | 79,978 (37%) | |
| Amendment 6 | State executive official measures; Salaries of government officials |
| 173,375 (75%) | 56,461 (25%) | |
| Amendment 7 | County and municipal governance |
| 178,546 (78%) | 50,879 (22%) | |
| Amendment 9 | State judiciary; County and municipal governance |
| 156,551 (65%) | 83,215 (35%) |
Michigan
See also: Michigan 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal No. 1 | Residency voting requirements | Allow a voter who has moved within 30 days prior to an election to vote where they are registered |
| 1,202,811 (72%) | 465,556 (28%) | |
| Proposal No. 2 | Sales taxes; Revenue allocation | Establish a maximum sales tax levy and establish how sales tax revenue shall be distributed |
| 1,182,412 (73%) | 443,079 (27%) | |
| Proposal No. 3 | Bond issues; Veterans policy | Allow the state to borrow up to $80,000,000 for bonuses to those who served in the Korean War |
| 1,166,564 (68%) | 542,541 (32%) | |
| Proposal No. 4 | Gambling policy | Allow charitable organizations to conduct lotteries | | 903,303 (49%) | 944,388 (51%) |
Minnesota
See also: Minnesota 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Ballot measure supermajority requirements; State constitutional conventions | Require a 60% popular vote before a new state constitution could be ratified, and allow members of the legislature to serve in a constitutional convention |
| 638,818 (71%) | 266,434 (29%) | |
| Amendment 2 | State executive branch structure | Permit gubernatorial appointments in cases of vacancies in certain offices to run until the end of term, or January 1, whichever is sooner, in order to eliminate the need for elections to short terms |
| 636,237 (69%) | 282,212 (31%) | |
| Amendment 3 | State judicial authority; State legislative vote requirements; State legislative authority | Permit the state legislature to extend probate jurisdiction by a two-thirds (66.67%) vote |
| 610,138 (67%) | 303,838 (33%) | |
| Amendment 4 | Business regulations; State legislative authority; Banking policy | Authorize the legislature to limit the liability of stockholders of state banks |
| 624,611 (68%) | 290,039 (32%) |
Mississippi
See also: Mississippi 1954 ballot measures
December 21
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allow Legislature to Abolish Public Schools and Provide Funds for Non-Public Education Amendment | School choice policy; State legislative authority; Race and ethnicity issues; Public education governance | Allow the legislature to abolish public schools, dispose of school property if schools are abolished, and use public funds to aid "educable children... to secure an education" |
| 106,832 (70%) | 46,095 (30%) |
Montana
See also: Montana 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Administration of government |
| 97,875 (66%) | 50,167 (34%) | |
| R-56 | Elections and campaigns |
| 99,337 (69%) | 44,884 (31%) | |
| R-57 | Healthcare facility funding; Bond issues |
| 143,587 (87%) | 20,759 (13%) | |
| R-58 | Bond issues; Education |
| 131,400 (83%) | 25,982 (17%) |
Nebraska
See also: Nebraska 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Salaries of government officials | Remove the restriction on changing the salaries of certain officers more than once every eight years | | 159,361 (49%) | 163,006 (51%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Administrative organization; State legislative authority; Public education governance; Public education funding | Authorize the legislature to determine how members of the Board of Educational Lands and Funds are appointed. |
| 163,108 (53%) | 144,743 (47%) | |
| Amendment 3 | State executive elections | Change the residence requirements for certain executive officers | | 149,447 (50%) | 149,767 (50%) | |
| Amendment 4 | State legislative authority; Property taxes | Allow the legislature to establish methods for valuing real or tangible property at uniform values. |
| 167,979 (56%) | 134,006 (44%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Local government officials and elections; State legislative authority | Authorize the legislature to appoint county assessors and boards of equalization for counties or other taxing districts | | 134,938 (43%) | 175,621 (57%) | |
| Amendment 6 | Property tax exemptions | Allow the exemption of household goods and personal effects from taxation and the legislature to establish a formula for their valuation. |
| 185,972 (57%) | 139,238 (43%) | |
| Amendment 7 | Property taxes; Sales taxes; Income taxes | Prohibit the state from levying a property tax for state purposes if a general sales tax, income tax, or a combination of both is enacted. |
| 189,444 (60%) | 128,250 (40%) | |
| Amendment 8 | Administrative organization; Tax and revenue administration | Allow the legislature to appoint a Tax Commissioner or establish a Tax Commission with defined powers. | | 149,108 (50%) | 149,134 (50%) |
Nevada
See also: Nevada 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Right-to-work laws | Repeal Nevada’s right-to-work law banning compulsory union membership and related employment rules. | | 36,434 (49%) | 38,480 (51%) | |
| Question 2 | Constitutional wording changes | Abolish the office of surveyor-general by removing references to it from the Nevada Constitution. |
| 35,128 (64%) | 20,123 (36%) | |
| Question 3 | Constitutional wording changes | Eliminate the surveyor-general position and assign duties to other state executives as prescribed by law. |
| 33,903 (65%) | 18,648 (35%) | |
| Question 4 | Constitutional wording changes | Remove the requirement to publish public money receipts and expenditures after each legislative session. |
| 32,075 (63%) | 18,665 (37%) | |
| Question 5 | Constitutional wording changes; Higher education funding | Require the legislature to fund public schools and the state university through direct appropriations from the general fund. |
| 36,121 (68%) | 16,785 (32%) |
New Hampshire
See also: New Hampshire 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question | State constitutional conventions | It proposed that a convention be held to revise the constitution. |
| 64,813 (63%) | 37,497 (37%) |
New Jersey
See also: New Jersey 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Question No. 1 | Bond issues | An act would have authorized $25 million in bonds to establish a state medical-dental school. | | 565,878 (44%) | 718,020 (56%) |
North Carolina
See also: North Carolina 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elections to Fill Vacancies Amendment | State executive powers and duties | Remove election requirements for state office vacancies after January 1 before a general election, filling them by gubernatorial appointment |
| 190,098 (58%) | 135,683 (42%) | |
| Establish Board of Paroles Amendment | State executive branch structure | Establish a board of parole with the authority to grant, revoke, and terminate parole |
| 213,088 (63%) | 124,797 (37%) | |
| Reduce Precinct Residency Voting Requirement Amendment | Residency voting requirements | Reduce the residency requirement for voting in a precinct from four months to 30 days before an election |
| 195,474 (57%) | 148,698 (43%) | |
| Senatorial Districts Amendment | Redistricting policy | Limit senatorial districts with only one county to one senator. | | 147,588 (42%) | 200,436 (58%) | |
| Supreme Court Justice Retirement and Temporary Service Amendment | Judicial term limits; State judicial authority; State judiciary oversight | Authorize the General Assembly to establish a process for the retirement of Supreme Court justices |
| 205,788 (60%) | 137,086 (40%) |
North Dakota
See also: North Dakota 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiative 1 | Sales taxes; Food and beverage taxes; Food policy | | 73,472 (38%) | 118,339 (62%) | |
| Initiative 2 | Alcohol laws | | 87,203 (44%) | 111,228 (56%) | |
| Initiative 3 | Transportation; Taxes | | 82,290 (43%) | 109,057 (57%) | |
| Initiative 4 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Transportation | | 78,566 (42%) | 109,077 (58%) |
June 29
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiative 1 | Taxes | | 67,286 (44%) | 85,123 (56%) | |
| Initiative 2 | Business regulations |
| 75,362 (55%) | 61,780 (45%) | |
| Referendum 1 | Business regulations |
| 66,234 (50%) | 65,802 (50%) |
Ohio
See also: Ohio 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four-Year Terms for the State Legislature Amendment | State legislatures measures | Establish a four-year term for members of the state Senate and House of Representatives. | | 945,373 (47%) | 1,081,099 (53%) | |
| Term Limits for Executive Officials Amendment | State executive official measures | Establish four year term limits for certain executive officials and limit the governor to two successive terms. |
| 1,165,650 (56%) | 933,716 (44%) |
Oklahoma
See also: Oklahoma 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Question 361 | Taxes; Property | Allow the legislature to release or reduce tax and assessment charges on real property delinquent for the period required to acquire property by prescription. |
| 373,968 (70%) | 159,670 (30%) |
July 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Question 358 | Property | Allow corporations to acquire real estate for lease or sale under legislative limits and revise restrictions on corporations acting as agents for agricultural land transactions. |
| 227,055 (51%) | 215,371 (49%) | |
| State Question 362 | Veterans policy; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Allow common school funds to be invested in 3% mortgage loans for honorably discharged veterans, up to 93.5% of the land's value. |
| 259,301 (58%) | 189,819 (42%) |
January 26
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Question 359 | Transportation | Amend provisions on toll turnpikes and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, including corrections, route details, wages, contracts, and reimbursements for engineering services. |
| 174,236 (57%) | 133,650 (43%) | |
| State Question 360 | Transportation | Approve House Bill 933, which authorized the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to construct and maintain toll turnpikes on specified routes. |
| 171,151 (56%) | 132,121 (44%) |
Oregon
See also: Oregon 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 1 | Salaries of government officials; State legislatures measures | Authorize the legislature to fix the salaries of its members. | | 216,545 (42%) | 296,008 (58%) | |
| Measure 2 | State legislatures measures | Authorize the legislature to divide counties with more than one senator or representative into subdistricts. |
| 268,337 (56%) | 208,077 (44%) | |
| Measure 3 | Healthcare | Locate a previously authorized domiciliary hospital for the aged mentally ill within a twenty-mile radius of the Multnomah County Courthouse. |
| 397,625 (76%) | 128,685 (24%) | |
| Measure 4 | Initiative and referendum process | Increase the required voter signatures for a constitutional amendment from 8% to 10% of the legal voters who voted for the Supreme Court justice at the previous election. |
| 251,078 (52%) | 230,770 (48%) | |
| Measure 5 | Taxes | Establish the maximum state property tax levy limit at six mills, unless a higher levy is authorized by voters. | | 208,419 (44%) | 264,569 (56%) | |
| Measure 6 | Time standards | Establish daylight saving time throughout the State of Oregon. | | 252,305 (46%) | 300,007 (54%) | |
| Measure 7 | Fisheries and fishing regulations | Prohibit fishing for salmon or trout by any method except hook and line in any coastal stream south of the Columbia River. | | 232,775 (46%) | 278,805 (54%) | |
| Measure 8 | Agriculture policy; Administrative powers and rulemaking; Business regulations; Food policy | Repeal laws empowering the State Board of Agriculture and the Milk Marketing Administrator to regulate milk production and sale. |
| 293,745 (54%) | 247,591 (46%) |
Rhode Island
See also: Rhode Island 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal 1 | Elections and campaigns |
| 73,001 (59%) | 49,858 (41%) | |
| Proposal 2 | Bond issues |
| 113,375 (73%) | 41,433 (27%) | |
| Proposal 3 | Bond issues |
| 113,505 (76%) | 36,334 (24%) | |
| Proposal 4 | Bond issues |
| 116,248 (75%) | 39,104 (25%) |
South Dakota
See also: South Dakota 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment A | Revenue allocation; Mineral resources; Public education funding; Public land policy | Require that money from leasing state lands for oil, gas, and minerals be distributed to public schools and state institutions based on the proportion of land originally granted to them |
| 122,804 (66%) | 64,431 (34%) | |
| Amendment B | Property taxes; Debt limits | Limit the debt of local governments and school districts |
| 96,370 (52%) | 87,265 (48%) | |
| Amendment C | Local government officials and elections; Local official term limits | Allow the Clerk of Courts, the Sheriff, and the County Superintendent of Schools to succeed themselves in office |
| 97,059 (51%) | 93,073 (49%) | |
| Amendment D | Property taxes; Agriculture policy | Allow the Legislature to establish classes of property for assessment taxation purposes | | 75,830 (44%) | 96,499 (56%) |
Texas
See also: Texas 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Administration of government; Healthcare | Allow creation of county-wide hospital districts in counties over 190,000 with a tax for funding |
| 307,573 (61%) | 193,826 (39%) | |
| Proposition 10 | Administration of government; Public employee retirement funds | Authorize the legislature to facilitate state-federal agreements for extending federal social security coverage to political subdivision employees |
| 324,612 (67%) | 162,219 (33%) | |
| Proposition 11 | Veterans policy; Public employee retirement funds | Allow unused funds from the Confederate Pension Fund to be transferred to the State Building Fund |
| 394,152 (77%) | 116,354 (23%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Military service policy; Literacy, poll tax, and property voting requirements | Restrict military personnel voting to their county of residence upon service entry and repeal poll tax exemptions for them during war or national emergencies |
| 387,854 (77%) | 113,468 (23%) | |
| Proposition 3 | Elections and campaigns; County and municipal governance | Allow counties with a population of less than 10,000 to hold elections for an assessor-collector of taxes |
| 354,075 (75%) | 118,276 (25%) | |
| Proposition 4 | State executive official measures; State legislatures measures; Salaries of government officials | Allow the legislature to fix salaries for top state officials and limit legislator per diem at $25 for session's first 120 days |
| 308,066 (61%) | 193,895 (39%) | |
| Proposition 5 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; State legislatures measures | Prohibit the legislature from providing money or credit to any entity constructing, maintaining or operating toll roads or turnpikes |
| 295,014 (60%) | 197,461 (40%) | |
| Proposition 6 | Sex and gender issues; Jury rules | Allow women to serve on juries |
| 302,850 (57%) | 224,730 (43%) | |
| Proposition 7 | County and municipal governance | Provide for a four year term of office for elected district, county and precinct officials |
| 295,014 (60%) | 197,461 (40%) | |
| Proposition 8 | Public assistance programs | Increase aid expenditure limit for the elderly, blind, and needy children from $35 million to $42 million and provide recipient lists |
| 378,123 (73%) | 142,633 (27%) | |
| Proposition 9 | Public employee retirement funds | Credit members of the Teacher Retirement System and the Employees Retirement System of Texas for retirement benefits under either system |
| 317,512 (63%) | 185,389 (37%) |
Utah
See also: Utah 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make Each County a Senatorial District Amendment | Redistricting policy | Change the senatorial districts to align with the county boundaries | | 84,044 (37%) | 142,972 (63%) | |
| Referendum 1 | Higher education governance | End the state ownership and operation of three colleges | | 92,787 (40%) | 137,389 (60%) | |
| Referendum 2 | Higher education governance | Discontinue the operation of Carbon College as a state school | | 49,511 (22%) | 176,681 (78%) |
Virginia
See also: Virginia 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borrowing Retirement System Money for School Boards Amendment | Public education governance; Public education funding | Amend the Constitution of Virginia to allow for school boards to borrow money from the Retirement System | | 156,728 (50%) | 157,808 (50%) |
Washington
See also: Washington 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HJR 16 | Business regulations | Allow corporations organized under U.S. law, but majority-owned by noncitizens, to own land in Washington |
| 364,382 (55%) | 296,362 (45%) | |
| Initiative 188 | Complementary and alternative healthcare; Healthcare governance | Modify chiropractic certification requirements, by testing on chemistry and pathology and establishing a Board of Chiropractic Examiners. | | 320,179 (39%) | 493,108 (61%) | |
| Initiative 192 | Business regulations; Fisheries and fishing regulations | Regulate commercial salmon harvesting, prohibiting fishing during certain times and establishing preserves where harvesting is forbidden. | | 237,004 (30%) | 555,151 (70%) | |
| Initiative 193 | Time standards | Establish a state-wide daylight saving time from the last Sunday of April to the last Sunday of September. | | 370,005 (45%) | 457,529 (55%) | |
| Initiative 194 | Alcohol laws; Business regulations | Prohibit television advertising of alcoholic beverages between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. | | 207,746 (25%) | 615,794 (75%) |
West Virginia
See also: West Virginia 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State legislatures measures |
| 190,877 (58%) | 137,624 (42%) |
Wisconsin
See also: Wisconsin 1954 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Residency voting requirements | Allow people who have resided in Wisconsin for less than one year to vote for president and vice president |
| 550,056 (57%) | 414,680 (43%) | |
| Question 2 | Telecommunications infrastructure | Establish a state-owned, tax-supported statewide TV station | | 308,385 (31%) | 697,262 (69%) |
Other years
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also
Ballotpedia
Footnotes
