2003 ballot measures
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 2003.
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 Factbooks
- 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 2003 ballot measures
September 9
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Education |  | 417,721 (32%) | 886,860 (68%) | ||
| Amendment 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | This measure contained a number of "tax and accountability" proposals. | | 417,721 (33%) | 866,860 (67%) |
California
See also: California 2003 ballot measures
October 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 53 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Dedicate upwards of 3% of General Fund revenues each year to fund state and local infrastructure projects | | 3,020,577 (36%) | 5,318,065 (64%) | |
| Proposition 54 | Affirmative action | Prohibit government from classifying people based on race, ethnicity, color, or national origin in public education, contracting, or employment | | 3,144,145 (36%) | 5,541,314 (64%) |
Colorado
See also: Colorado 2003 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 32 | Taxes; Property | Increase the taxable portion of residential property. | | 203,449 (22%) | 702,829 (78%) | |
| Amendment 33 | Environment; Gambling policy | Require the creation of a state-sponsored video lottery program and establish the distribution of funds from such program. | | 180,959 (19%) | 766,893 (81%) | |
| Referendum A | Bond issues; Water | Allow the Colorado Water Conservation Board to borrow up to $2 billion through bonds for water projects. | | 307,412 (33%) | 627,716 (67%) |
Louisiana
See also: Louisiana 2003 ballot measures
October 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 1 | Environment | This measure authorized the annual deposit of $35 million from mineral revenue settlement funds into the Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Fund. |
| 731,662 (67%) | 358,177 (33%) | |
| Measure 10 | Administration of government | It proposed to authorize the legislature to establish a system of administrative law. | | 414,603 (40%) | 617,185 (60%) | |
| Measure 11 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | It proposed that mineral revenues could not be counted twice in the state budget. |
| 599,147 (58%) | 425,246 (42%) | |
| Measure 12 | Property; Law enforcement | This measure proposed that property related to illegal activities could be seized. |
| 574,307 (55%) | 466,914 (45%) | |
| Measure 13 | Public economic investment policy | It proposed that a local government could lease property at below market rates to a local company to encourage economic development. | | 425,615 (41%) | 610,608 (59%) | |
| Measure 14 | Administration of government | This measure proposed to limit the political activities of the legislative auditor and members of the legislative auditor's staff. | | 498,205 (48%) | 539,499 (52%) | |
| Measure 15 | State judiciary | This measure proposed that a judge who reached mandatory retirement age while in office could complete his term. |
| 572,690 (53%) | 501,829 (47%) | |
| Measure 2 | Environment | This amendment proposed to establish the Louisiana Coastal Restoration Fund. This fund would be supported with monies from the state's tobacco settlement. |
| 737,543 (68%) | 349,088 (32%) | |
| Measure 3 | Property | This measure proposed to limit the state's liability for damages to private property that were incurred due to coastal restoration projects. |
| 626,935 (61%) | 408,691 (39%) | |
| Measure 4 | Public education governance | This measure proposed that failing schools could be taken over by the state. |
| 647,950 (60%) | 435,826 (40%) | |
| Measure 5 | Workers' compensation laws; Administrative organization | This measure proposed a change in the manner in which some of the members of the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Board of Directors would be chosen. |
| 594,979 (56%) | 461,483 (44%) | |
| Measure 6 | Transportation | This measure proposed modifications to the highway widening program. |
| 636,973 (61%) | 407,981 (39%) | |
| Measure 7 | Public economic investment policy; Administrative powers and rulemaking | It proposed that a state infrastructure bank could issue loans to state and local governments to fund infrastructure projects. | | 449,005 (43%) | 592,315 (57%) | |
| Measure 8 | Taxes | It proposed that an ad valorem tax exemption should be given for drilling rigs that would be used outside the territorial waters of the state but were currently in state boundaries undergoing repair or renovation. |
| 589,355 (56%) | 464,487 (44%) | |
| Measure 9 | Public education funding; Gambling policy | It proposed that proceeds from the state lottery be dedicated to funding education. |
| 689,025 (64%) | 388,076 (36%) |
Maine
See also: Maine 2003 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 2 | Gambling policy | Permit those licensed to operate commercial horse racing tracks to operate slot machines |
| 272,394 (53%) | 242,490 (47%) | |
| Question 3 | Gambling policy; American Indian issues | Permit the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation to open a single location to conduct gambling and require the casino's operator to pay the state 25% of its revenue | | 170,500 (33%) | 346,583 (67%) | |
| Question 4 | Bond issues; Pollution, waste, and recycling policy; Drinking water systems | Issue $6.95 million in bonds to fund pollution control, hazardous substance control, and water treatment facilities |
| 295,569 (59%) | 201,617 (41%) | |
| Question 5 | Bond issues; Higher education funding | Issue $19 million in bonds to enhance access for students with disabilities and repair, upgrade, and improve the campuses of higher education facilities in the State of Maine |
| 266,146 (53%) | 232,127 (47%) | |
| Question 6 | Railways; Bond issues; Airport infrastructure; Highways and bridges; Ports and harbors | Issue $63.45 million in bonds to fund transportation projects |
| 326,802 (66%) | 171,715 (34%) |
June 10
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Public economic investment policy; Bond issues | Issue $60 million in bonds to fund grants and loans to municipalities, research and development at the University of Maine, and medical research at Maine-based institutions, among other things |
| 69,340 (61%) | 44,520 (39%) |
Mississippi
See also: Mississippi 2003 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Administration of government; Education |
| 588,444 (85%) | 102,020 (15%) |
New Jersey
See also: New Jersey 2003 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Bond issues; Environment; Parks, land, and natural area conservation |
| 735,872 (65%) | 399,243 (35%) | |
| Question 2 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance |
| 684,613 (61%) | 432,443 (39%) | |
| Question 3 | Flood infrastructure and management; Sewage and stormwater; Water storage; Bond issues |
| 654,630 (59%) | 449,458 (41%) |
New Mexico
See also: New Mexico 2003 ballot measures
September 23
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Administration of government; Education |
| 101,542 (55%) | 83,155 (45%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Education; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance |
| 92,198 (50%) | 92,003 (50%) |
New York
See also: New York 2003 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Debt limits | Allow local governments to exclude sewage‑facility debt from their constitutional debt limits for an additional ten years. |
| 839,208 (53%) | 758,359 (47%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Debt limits | Eliminate small city school districts from the state’s general constitutional debt limit. | | 724,141 (46%) | 855,567 (54%) |
Ohio
See also: Ohio 2003 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issue 1 | Bond issues; Public economic investment policy | Authorize the issuance of bonds and other financial assistance to support science and technology research and development for the purpose of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth | | 1,195,706 (49%) | 1,235,323 (51%) |
Oregon
See also: Oregon 2003 ballot measures
September 16
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 29 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Authorize the state to incur debt for savings on pension liabilities |
| 360,209 (55%) | 291,778 (45%) |
January 28
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 28 | Taxes | Increase state income tax rates for three years. | | 575,846 (46%) | 676,312 (54%) |
Pennsylvania
See also: Pennsylvania 2003 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Constitutional wording changes; Civil and criminal trials; Constitutional rights | amend the state constitutional language to match that of the United States Constitution providing that a person accused of a crime has the right to be "confronted with the witnesses against him," instead of the right to "meet the witnesses face to face," therefore allowing witnesses to testify without being physically present with the accused person |
| 1,239,356 (68%) | 578,031 (32%) | |
| Question 2 | Civil and criminal trials | allow the state legislature to provide laws concerning the testimony of children in criminal proceedings, including using videotaped depositions and closed-circuit television testimony |
| 1,494,261 (81%) | 360,283 (19%) |
Texas
See also: Texas 2003 ballot measures
September 13
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Housing; Veterans policy | Authorize the Veterans' Land Board to use excess funds for revenue bond payments to provide housing for aged or infirm veterans. |
| 1,127,888 (81%) | 256,735 (19%) | |
| Proposition 10 | Local government organization | Allow municipalities to donate surplus firefighting equipment to the Texas Forest Service for distribution to rural volunteer fire departments. |
| 1,284,004 (92%) | 116,677 (8%) | |
| Proposition 11 | Alcohol laws; Business regulations | Allow statewide winery regulation, regardless of local option election outcomes on wine sales. |
| 851,809 (62%) | 513,053 (38%) | |
| Proposition 12 | Tort law | Authorize the legislature to set limits on non-economic damages in civil lawsuits against doctors and health care providers. |
| 751,896 (51%) | 718,547 (49%) | |
| Proposition 13 | Taxes | Allow property tax freezes on residential homesteads for people who are disabled or aged 65 or older |
| 1,125,947 (81%) | 264,069 (19%) | |
| Proposition 14 | Transportation; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Authorize short-term borrowing by the Texas Department of Transportation for highway improvements, with a maximum term of two years. |
| 810,855 (61%) | 517,606 (39%) | |
| Proposition 15 | Public employee retirement funds | Prohibit local retirement systems and their funding political subdivision from reducing certain accrued benefits. |
| 964,515 (72%) | 383,710 (28%) | |
| Proposition 16 | Banking policy; Housing | Authorize home equity lines of credit and clarify related provisions in home equity lending law. |
| 862,009 (65%) | 455,707 (35%) | |
| Proposition 17 | Taxes | Prohibit school property tax increases on residence homesteads of disabled persons. |
| 1,063,917 (78%) | 304,860 (22%) | |
| Proposition 18 | Election administration and governance | Allow a candidate to assume local office without an election if they are the only qualifying candidate for the office. |
| 720,479 (53%) | 636,863 (47%) | |
| Proposition 19 | Administration of government | Repeal the legislature's authority to create rural fire prevention districts. |
| 759,336 (59%) | 533,264 (41%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Property taxes; Mineral resources | Increase redemption period for a mineral interest sold for unpaid ad valorem taxes at a tax sale from six months to two years. |
| 830,009 (62%) | 499,696 (38%) | |
| Proposition 20 | Bond issues; Public economic investment policy | Authorize up to $250 million in general bonds to provide loans to defense-related communities for economic development projects. |
| 743,048 (57%) | 563,848 (43%) | |
| Proposition 21 | Administration of government | Allow current or retired faculty members of public universities to be compensated for serving on water district governing bodies. |
| 692,937 (52%) | 631,328 (48%) | |
| Proposition 22 | Military service policy | Allow the appointment of a temporary acting officer to perform the duties of a public official who enters active duty in the U.S. armed forces without vacating their office |
| 1,069,328 (78%) | 293,083 (22%) | |
| Proposition 3 | Taxes | Exempt religious organization land used for school or worship from taxation. |
| 730,127 (53%) | 650,563 (47%) | |
| Proposition 4 | Parks, land, and natural area conservation; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Allow conservation districts to tax for parks and recreation facilities and Tarrant Regional Water District to issue park bonds. |
| 746,523 (56%) | 576,164 (44%) | |
| Proposition 5 | Property; Taxes | Allow tax exemptions for travel trailers not held or used for income production. |
| 846,005 (62%) | 511,507 (38%) | |
| Proposition 6 | Housing; Banking policy | Allow homeowners to refinance home equity loans with reverse mortgage loans. |
| 958,293 (71%) | 393,239 (29%) | |
| Proposition 7 | Jury rules | Reduce the number of persons in a jury in a district court criminal misdemeanor case from twelve to six. |
| 1,033,199 (75%) | 350,491 (25%) | |
| Proposition 8 | Election administration and governance | Allow a candidate to assume state or local office without an election if they are the only qualifying candidate for the office. |
| 781,330 (56%) | 604,385 (44%) | |
| Proposition 9 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | Adjust school funds annually based on investment growth for the next two years. |
| 655,983 (50%) | 648,167 (50%) |
Washington
See also: Washington 2003 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HJR 4206 | State judicial selection; State legislative elections; State executive elections | Permit new officers to assume office early when a vacancy occurs after the general election if they are of the same political party as the previous one. |
| 1,008,710 (83%) | 207,720 (17%) | |
| Initiative 841 | Administrative organization | Repeal ergonomics regulations and prohibit the department of labor and industries not to adopt new ergonomics regulations unless required. |
| 656,737 (53%) | 570,980 (47%) |
Wisconsin
See also: Wisconsin 2003 ballot measures
April 1
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Constitutional rights; Right to hunt and fish | Provide for a state constitutional right to hunt, fish, trap, and take game |
| 668,459 (82%) | 146,182 (18%) |
Other years
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also
Footnotes
