2009 ballot measures
From Ballotpedia
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26 statewide ballot measures appeared on the November 3, 2009 ballot in six different states. Californians already voted on six statewide measures, on May 19, so the total number of statewide ballot measures in 2009 was 32. This was the lowest number of statewide ballot measures in the last 20 years.
Three states -- Maine, Ohio and Washington -- of the several dozen states with initiative or referendum offer this option in odd-numbered years. In each of the three states, the petition process was used to qualify measures for the ballot that are traditional hot-button issues, including marriage, taxes, casinos, school consolidation, and marijuana.
The less-well-known veto referendum process took center stage in 2009, with R-71 in Washington and Question 1 and Question 3 in Maine. (In the off-year election of 2007 in Utah, voters used their right of veto referendum to toss out a school choice law.)
Comparison to other years
There are typically far fewer statewide ballot measures on the ballot in odd-numbered years than in even-numbered years. This is because:
- Only three states that allow ballot initiatives allow them in odd-numbered years.
- Laws about amending state constitutions also prohibit many state legislatures from putting legislatively-referred constitutional amendments on the ballot at times other than general elections in even-numbered years.
- New Jersey open space bond passes
- Both statewide proposals pass in New York
- All three Ohio amendments pass
- Mainers overturn same-sex marriage, reject tax-cutting measures
- Washington voters said "yes" to domestic rights and "no" to I-1033
- Ohio county faced ballot shortage issues
- All eleven Texas amendments pass
- Two measures on today’s ballot for New Yorkers
- New Jersey voters decide today for open space
- Maine anti-tax group takes secretary of state to court
Comparing 2009 just to other odd-numbered years, there are fewer statewide measures on the ballot than has been the case for at least the last 20 years.
| Year | # of states with measures | # of measures on ballot |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 7 | 32 |
| 2007 | 9 | 43 |
| 2005 | 12 | 45 |
| 2003 | 14 | 67 |
| 2001 | 9 | 39 |
| 1999 | 16 | 71 |
| 1997 | 7 | 41 |
| 1995 | 7 | 33 |
| 1993 | 10 | 44 |
| 1991 | 5 | 34 |
| 1989 | 8 | 36 |
November statewide
Maine
- See also: Maine 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VR | Question 1 | Marriage | Attempt to repeal new same-sex law | 
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| CISS | Question 2 | Taxes | Tax reduction for citizens who follow certain energy efficiency requirements | 
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| VR | Question 3 | Education | Repeal the law mandating school district restructuring |
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| CISS | Question 4 | Taxes | Increases in government spending tied to inflation and population increases |
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| CISS | Question 5 | Marijuana | De-criminalize marijuana used medically |
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| LRSS | Question 6 | Bonds | $71 million in bonds |
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| LRCA | Question 7 | Elections | Increase the amount of time to certify signatures |
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New Jersey
- See also: New Jersey 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRSS | Open Space Bonds | Bond issues | $400 million for open space, farmland, historic areas |
|
New York
- See also: New York 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Proposal 1 | Environment | Retroactively approve power line along State Route 56 on six acres of forest preserve lands |
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| LRCA | Proposal 2 | Admin of gov't | Allow prisoners to perform volunteer work for nonprofit organizations |
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Ohio
- See also: Ohio 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Issue 1 | Bonds | $200 million for vets of Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq |
|
| LRCA | Issue 2 | Animals | Establish board to set livestock care standards |
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| CICA | Issue 3 | Gambling | Allow casinos in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo |
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Texas
- See also: Texas 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Proposition 1 | Bond issues | To aqcuire open spaces adjacent to military installations |
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| LRCA | Proposition 2 | Property tax | Provide for the taxation of a residence on basis of value, procedures for ad valorem. |
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| LRCA | Proposition 3 | Property tax | Providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property |
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| LRCA | Proposition 4 | Education | Funding research universities |
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| LRCA | Proposition 5 | Property tax | Single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities |
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| LRCA | Proposition 6 | Bond issues | Issue general obligation bonds same or less than authorized |
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| LRCA | Proposition 7 | Admin of gov't | Allow state militia to hold other civil offices |
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| LRCA | Proposition 8 | Veterans' affairs | Authorization of state to give money to veterans hospitals. |
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| LRCA | Proposition 9 | Property rights | Right of access to public beaches |
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| LRCA | Proposition 10 | Term limits | Terms of members on board of emergency service districts will not exceed four years |
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| LRCA | Proposition 11 | Eminent domain | Limiting public from private properties |
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Washington
- See also: Washington 2009 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITP | Initiative 1033 | Taxes | Limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth |
|
| VR | Referendum 71 | Marriage | Expansion of domestic partnership rights |
|
May statewide
California
In order to free up $5.8 billion to help close the state's $42 billion budget gap, a special election took place on May 19 where voters statewide voted on a package of constitutional amendments.[1]
| Number | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1A | Prop 1A combines a 4-year tax hike of about $16 billion with a state spending cap |
|
| Proposition 1B | Modification of California Proposition 98 (1998) to free up money for state's budget overruns. |
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| Proposition 1C | Sell rights to future lottery proceeds as a way of raising some cash now for state budget. |
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| Proposition 1D | Asks voters to approve taking money from Prop 10 in 1998 for purposes not allowed in that 1998 vote. |
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| Proposition 1E | Asks voters to take money from Prop 63 for purposes not allowed in that 2004 vote. |
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| Proposition 1F | No pay raises for state legislators in years when there is a state budget deficit |
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Hundreds of local measures
Local ballot measures appeared on the November 3, 2009 ballot in at least 29 states.
See also
- 2009 ballot measure calendar
- Petition drive deadlines, 2009
- Polls, 2009 ballot measures
- How to find campaign finance information about ballot measure campaigns
- Six states prepare to face off in November 3rd elections
External links
Additional reading
- USA Today,"State ballots tackle controversial issues Tuesday," November 1, 2009
- Daily Kos,"Election Night 2009: A Viewer's Guide," November 1, 2009
- Initiative & Referendum Institute,"Ballotwatch 2009," October 17, 2009
References
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "With budget stalemate over, next move is up to California voters", February 20, 2009
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