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Selected Ballot Measures and Referenda 2009

Maine  •  New Jersey  •  Ohio  •  Texas  •  Washington

Maine

Measure Title / Number Measure Summary and Text Vote Result
An Act to Decrease the Automobile Excise Tax and Promote Energy Question: Do you want to cut the rate of the municipal excise tax by an average of 55% on motor vehicles less than six years old and exempt hybrid and other alternative-energy and highly fuel-efficient motor vehicles from sales tax and three years of excise tax? Rejected
74% - 26%
An Act to Establish the Maine Medical Marijuana Act Question: Do you want to change the medical marijuana laws to allow treatment of more medical conditions and to create a regulated system of distribution? Passed
59% - 41%
An Act to Provide Tax Relief Question: Do you want to change the existing formulas that limit state and local government spending and require voter approval by referendum for spending over those limits and for increases in state taxes? Rejected
60% - 40%
An Act to Repeal the School District Consolidation Laws Question: Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect? Rejected
58% - 42%
Bond Question Question: Do you favor a $71,250,000 bond issue for improvements to highways and bridges, airports, public transit facilities, ferry and port facilities, including port and harbor structures, as well as funds for the LifeFlight Foundation that will make the State eligible for over $148,000,000 in federal and other matching funds? Passed
65% - 35%
Constitutional Resolution Question: Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to increase the amount of time that local officials have to certify the signatures on direct initiative petitions? Rejected
52% - 48%


New Jersey

Measure Title / Number Measure Summary and Text Vote Result
Open Space Bond Issue Question: Should the state borrow $400 million to preserve open space, farmland and historic areas? Passed
52% - 48%

Ohio

Measure Title / Number Measure Summary and Text Vote Result

Proposed constitutional amendment 1:

To authorize the state to issue bonds to provide compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts

The amendment authorizes the state to issue up to $200 million in bonds to provide compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, and to pay for the administration of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Bond Retirement Fund and the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Fund. The amendment also authorizes the Ohio Department of Veterans Services to provide compensation to persons who have served in active duty in the United States armed forces at any time during the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts and who were Ohio residents at the start of active duty services and are currently Ohio residents.

 Passed
72% - 27%

Proposed constitutional amendment 2:

To create the Ohio livestock care standards board to establish and implement standards of care for livestock and poultry.

Amended Substitute Senate Joint Resolution Number 6 (SJR 6) would require the state to create the Livestock Care Standards Board to prescribe standards for animal care and well-being that endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food and protect Ohio farms and families. The Board would establish standards after considering agricultural best management practices, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity/mortality data, food safety practices and the protection of local, affordable food supplies.

 Passed
63% - 36%

Texas

Measure Title / Number Measure Summary and Text Vote Result
Proposition 1 Constitutional amendment authorizing the financing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or for the construction of roadways, utilities or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation. Passed
55% - 45%
Proposition 2 Constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead. Passed
68% - 32%
Proposition 3 Constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes. Passed
66% - 34%
Proposition 4 Constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in the state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund. Passed
57% - 43%
Proposition 5 Constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations. Passed
62% - 38%
Proposition 6 Constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized. Passed
66% - 34%
Proposition 7 Constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices. Passed
73% - 27%
Proposition 8 Constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property and other resources for the establishment, maintenance and operation of veterans’ hospitals in this state. Passed
75% - 25%
Proposition 9 Constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico. Passed
77% - 23%
Proposition 10 Constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts may serve terms not to exceed four years. Passed
73% - 27%
Proposition 11 Constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity. Passed
81% - 19%


Washington

Measure Title / Number Measure Summary and Text Vote Result
State, County and City Revenue Question: This measure would limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not including voter-approved revenue increases. Revenue collected above the limit would reduce property tax levies. Should this measure be enacted into law? Rejected
55% - 45%
Domestic Partners Question: The legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5688 concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage. Should this be approved or rejected? Passed
51% - 49%