US Election Ballot Measures

[Camikaze]

Some of the ballot measures that Americans voted on are pretty interesting. I'm curious to hear what measures you had in your state, and how you voted on them.

Some interesting ones I've come across:

• California, Proposition 62 - would have abolished the death penalty. Defeated 54-46.
• Colorado, Amendment T - would have removed the exception to the slavery prohibition in the Colorado constitution, which exists to allow the use of forced, unpaid labour by convicted criminals. Defeated 51-49.
• Colorado, Amendment 69 - would have created 'ColoradoCare', essentially universal healthcare funded by a massive increase in payroll tax. Defeated 80-20.
• District of Columbia, advisory referendum - a referendum on whether DC should try to become a state. Passed 86-14.
  
• Georgia, Amendment 3 - appears to essentially abolish an independent judicial appointment commission in favour of purely political choices. Passed 62-38.
• Maine, Question 3 - increased background check for gun sales. Defeated 52-48.
• Maine, Question 5 - implements a ranked-choice voting system. Passed 52-48.
• Missouri, Amendment 2 - limits campaign contributions to candidates for state or judicial office. Passed 70-30.
• Missouri, Amendment 6 - requires voter ID for elections. Passed 63-37.
• Nebraska, Referendum 426 - reinstates the death penalty (vetoing legislation which had banned the death penalty). Passed 61-39.
• Nevada, Question 1 - expands background checks for gun sales. Passed 50.4-49.6.
• New Mexico, Amendment 1 - changes to bail regulations, which would require prosecutors to demonstrate a defendant is a threat to the public, and would prevent the denial of bail simply due to financial impecuniosity. Passed 87-13.
• Oklahoma, State Question 790 - would have repealed the prohibition in the Oklahoman constitution which prevents public money being spent for religious purposes. Defeated 57-43.
• Oregon, Measure 94 - would have removed the mandatory judicial retirement age (set at 75). Defeated 63-37.
• South Dakota, Amendment T - would have established an independent redistricting commission. Defeated 57-43.
• Washington, Initiative 732 - would create a carbon emission tax (though in a form somewhat controversial amongst environmentalists). Defeated 59-41.

There were also a number of marijuana legislation amendments, all of which passed except in Arizona. The minimum wage was also raised in a number of states.

 

[Phrossack]

What the hell happened in Nebraska that made everyone go wild for death?

 

[Camikaze]

The same thing as happened in California, apparently (though I supposed vetoing a legislative ban on the death penalty is a bit more pro-death than just not voting positively to ban it). California also voted to reduce the appeals process for the death penalty, so you go from sentencing to casket within 5 years.

 

[CaptainF]

In Oregon the most contentious ballot measure this year by far was Measure 97, which produced the most expensive ballot measure battle in Oregon history. Measure 97 would have removed the cap on the corporate gross sales tax, also known as the "minimum tax," and established a 2.5 percent tax on gross sales that exceed $25 million. It would have resulted in a tremendous increase to the state budget, with the money being dedicated towards education, healthcare, and support for seniors among other things. It failed handily, with roughly 60% of Oregonians voting No, despite Oregon having the lowest corporate tax rate in the nation. As a result, Oregon is now facing a massive budget shortfall, and schools, seniors and healthcare overall will likely suffer as a result, among other sectors. All because corporations spent tens of millions to spread lies about how this measure would increase the cost of everything from consumer goods to doctor's appointments, while they hide billions in offshore accounts, tax-free. What a crock of nonsense. Yet again, we shoot ourselves in the foot, because we are stupid.

I was totally unaware of these state amendments regarding the death penalty and forced labor by inmates. What a shameful disgrace. Americans are disgusting. I am starting to think there are few people on earth as cruel, violent and judgmental as your average white American.

It looks like the only really good thing about this election was the passage of marijuana legalization in California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine. Legalization in California will have especially profound implications, both nationally and internationally in furthering the end of the destructive "War On Drugs". I can only hope that Ghouliani or Krispy Kreme Christie aren't installed as Attorney General, since they may make the immensely foolish decision to try and stop a rapidly expanding, multi-billion dollar business legally employing tens of thousands of tax-paying Americans.

The same thing as happened in California, apparently (though I supposed vetoing a legislative ban on the death penalty is a bit more pro-death than just not voting positively to ban it). California also voted to reduce the appeals process for the death penalty, so you go from sentencing to casket within 5 years.

Can you provide a link to this? I would love to see it on record.

 

[Camikaze]

Thanks for the summary on that measure.

This is the second California death penalty measure.

 

[schlaufuchs]

Here's a summary of all the California statewide ballot measures. There were 17 of them this year:

Proposition 51: Proposes a $9 Billion Bond measure creating a fund from which schools around the state can draw to modernize or build new facilities. Schools petition the state for grants from the fund, of which the state is allowed to pay up to 60% of the cost of the renovations, with local funds paying the other 40%. Schools can also get the fund to pay 100% of the costs by special need petition.

Status: Passed | 53.98% Yes - 46.02% No

Proposition 52: Extends Medi-Cal funding. Basically the state levies fees from hospitals and uses that to provide low-cost healthcare for children, poor, and uninsured patients.

Status: Passed | 69.59% Yes - 30.41% No

Proposition 53: Mandates that any proposed statewide bond exceeding $2 billion dollars that would go to pay for a statewide project requires a statewide voter referendum to be approved. Essentially prop 53 can be seen as a referendum on California's High-Speed Rail project.

Status: Too Close to Call | 48.55% Yes - 51.45% No

Proposition 54: Requires the state legislature to publish any proposed bills on the internet for at least 72 hours before voting on them. I don't have the voter guide with me atm but iirc it also legalized filming in the legislature and implements a live stream in both houses.

Status: Passed | 64.3% Yes - 35.7% No

Proposition 55: Extends a 2012 tax increase which upped sales tax and income tax on those earning over $250,000 per year to help fund the California educational system (including the University of California and California State University systems), as well as make funds available to assist in the event of healthcare budgetary shortfalls. The 2012 proposition (Proposition 30) was proposed and backed by Jerry Brown as a temporary stopgap measure, set to expire in 2019. Prop 55 aimed to extend the tax for a further 12 years.

Status: Passed | 62.11% Yes - 37.89% No

Proposition 56: Increases the cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack (from $.87 per pack). Also increases tax at the same rate on other tobacco products such as cigars and e-cigarettes. The proposition mandates that the funds collected from this tax be directed towards healthcare, research programs, and school prevention programs associated with the maleffects of tobacco.

Status: Passed | 62.92% Yes - 37.08% No

Proposition 57: Changes the parole rules so that nonviolent felons serving multiple jail sentences become eligible for parole after the completion of their primary prison sentence. Also increases the opportunities for inmates to receive reduced sentence credits for rehabilitation, good behavior, and educational programs completed. Allows judges, rather than prosecutors, to make the decision on whether or not the severity of a crime mandates a juvenile instead be tried as an adult.

Status: Passed | 63.59% Yes - 36.41% No

Proposition 58: Ends the 1998 ban on bilingual education in the state. Provides greater opportunities for parent and community input on how best to ensure every student in the state learns English. Provides more opportunities for Native English speakers to learn other languages.

Status: Passed | 72.44% Yes - 27.56% No

Proposition 59: Orders state legislature to use their powers to pursue a constitutional amendment (at the national level) to overturn the Citizen's United Decision and replace it with a more comprehensive campaign funding program.

Status: Passed | 52.32% Yes - 47.68% No

Proposition 60: Requires all male porn actors to wear condoms at all times while performing. Punishes production company for failure to comply with new workplace regulation (hard to explain, but i.e. amateur [generally professional porn actors self-producing videos in their spare time] and real amateur [a husband and wife making a sex tape that ends up online] actors would be on the hook if OSHA comes after their videos). Grants the power to all California residents to report workplace violations witnessed in porn videos to OSHA. If OSHA fails to take action against the infraction, that reporter is allowed to sue the porn producers in court and take 25% of the damages awarded, with the other 75% going to the state.

Status: Failed | 46.06% Yes - 53.94% No

Proposition 61: Prohibits California from buying prescription pharmaceuticals at a price greater than what the Veterans Affairs in the state is paying.

Status: Failed | 46.25% Yes - 53.75% No

Proposition 62: Repeals the Death Penalty and replaces it with Life Imprisonment without parole.

Status: Failed | 46.07% Yes - 53.93% No

Proposition 63: Requires anybody wishing to purchase ammunition to first receive certification (i.e. pass a background check) from the California Department of Justice. Bans the sale of high capacity magazines. Adjusts the law raising the theft of a gun from that of a misdemeanor to that of a felony.

Status: Passed | 62.63% Yes - 37.37% No

Proposition 64: Legalizes the possession and use of marijuana for recreational purposes for anybody over the age of 21. Use only allowed in private homes and businesses licensed for on-site consumption. Possession of up to 28 grams of marijuana is legal generally, but remains illegal on the grounds of a school, day care center, or youth center. Levies a tax on growers and buyers of marijuana and directs those funds towards drug treatment, research, and enforcement. Also allows local governments to levy their own taxes on marijuana sale and consumption. Allows citizens to group up to 6 plants in a private home for personal use, so long as the place where the plants are grown is secured by lock and not visible from a public place. To answer BvBPL's question from a few months back, the proposition prohibits tv advertising of marijuana where the average percentage of viewers below the age of 21 of the channel in question is above a certain threshhold. I.e. it doesn't ban all tv advertising of marijuana, but it does ban advertising of marijuana on channels where children (those below the legal age to consume the product) are the primary demographic.

Status: Passed | 56.04% Yes - 43.96% No

Proposition 65: Mandates that all stores charge 10 cents for recycled, compostable, and reusable bags. Requires state to redirect all funds collected from bag sales to be redirected to a new fund - the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Fund, which would be managed by the Wildlife Conservation Board and would use the fund for Environment protection and for grants to Environmental conservation organizations.

Status: Failed | 44.66% Yes - 55.34% No

Proposition 66: Speeds up the appeals process on death penalty convictions. Requires all Death Row inmates to work while in prison and a portion of the money collected from their work would be directed towards the restitution of the victims' families. The amount would be 70% of whatever the inmate earned, or the restitution fine levied in court, which is is less. Nullifies any other death penalty measures (i.e. prop 62) that might pass if the number of affirmative voters for proposition 66 is higher.

Status: Too Close to Call | 50.92% Yes - 49.08% No

Proposition 67: Overturns a veto on a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

Status: Too Close to Call | 51.97% Yes - 48.03% No

 

[whyidie]

Great thread, think its more telling than Presidential election.



Overall pretty reasonable outcomes, doesn't really reflect a hyper polarized electorate. Good old fashioned step by step progress. Or you can view it as the Governor gets what he wants. Owns quite a few local businesses (small brewery gone big and restaurants) and is a democrat. Balance. The rundown :

LRCA Amendment T Civil rights Exception to slavery prohibition for criminals

This one failed but it was tight at 51%. Didn't get a lot of attention on the local airwaves. The governor was largely silent on this issue. I voted Yes.

LRCA Amendment U Taxes Property tax exemption for possessory interests of $6,000 or less

One of the more interesting ones on the ballot. Nays had it at 57%. Not a lot of airtime for this one either. I voted Yes. The counties which do the assessments wanted it as they felt it was a net loss due to collection costs. Revenue is under $6,000, effects mostly rural and outdoor guides, seemed like a nice boost. Can understand it further complicates the tax code and is unfair to others whose revenue is taxable if under $6,000, but this seemed like a good thing we could do now. I always take the approach of doing the good thing if a better thing isn't imminent. Governor didn't come down with an opinion.

CICA Amendment 69 Healthcare ColoradoCare, a new state healthcare system

This one was big but one sided as were the results with the Nays taking it with 80%. Democratic governor was against it. Lots of "practical" Democrats against it. No pro ads until the last couple of days. I voted yes, figured worst case it would get sorted on implementation.

CICA Amendment 70 Minimum wage Increase in minimum wage

Passed at 54%. Bit shocked by the outcome as the Nays had more airtime. Traditional party split in terms of supporters.

CICA Amendment 71 Initiatives Distribution and supermajority requirements for initiatives

Passed at 57%. Practical Democrats including the governor supported this and it tipped the scales. Currently you only need n signatures, regardless of where they were collected. This makes it so you have to get n from x counties. Also increased the requirement from simple majority to 55%. I voted no. I rather like letting the people decide.

CICA Amendment 72 Tobacco, Taxes Increase tax on cigarettes by $1.75 per pack of 20

Neas took it with 54%. I voted no. We're becoming overbearing on tobacco taxes. Go after suppliers. Maybe we'll see a boon in craft tobacco. This is the one amendment that failed and had the support of the Governor.

CISS Proposition 106 Assisted death Make assisted death legal under some circumstances

Passed at 65%. Surprising outcome given the large Christian population.

CISS Proposition 107 Elections Open presidential primary elections

Passed at 64%. Good riddance caucuses. For all the good, it makes it too hard for people to vote. More participation the better IMO.

CISS Proposition 108 Elections Unaffiliated electors voting in primaries

Passed at 52%. Conflicted on this one. Its a Republican Party. If you aren't a Republican, why should you get to choose who they elect ? Realities of the current two party dominance tilted me to yes. Downsides seem limited.