DemDaily: Moving Measures in the States
June 20, 2019
Ballot initiatives have become an integral part of our electoral process - as an effective tool for advancing direct democracy and as an avenue for checking legislative powers.
|
A Ballot Initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can bring about a public vote on a proposed statute or constituti
|
Types of Ballot Initiatives
Direct Initiative: a measure is put directly to a popular vote after being submitted by a petition.
Indirect initiative: a measure is first referred to the legislature, and then only put to a popular vote if not enacted by the legislature.
Referendum allows voters to approve or repeal an act of their state's legislature through a petition to demand a popular vote on the law.
Constitutional Amendments may be referred to a statewide ballot through these methods or through a
constitutional convention, where allowable by state.
History
The concept of ballot initiatives was developed by the Populist Party in the 1890s, which was strongest throughout the South and the West, and where initiatives are still most prevalent today.
CLICK for info on your state (Ballotpedia)
Major wedge or publicly controversial initiatives are usually held in on-election (even) years when congressional and more electoral seats are up, and when ballot measures can be used to help drive higher voter turnout to the polls.
In 2018 there were 167 statewide initiatives on the ballot in 38 states, covering issues from marijuana, redistricting, taxes, healthcare and energy, to victims' rights, minimum wage and abortion.
Twenty-six states and DC allow citizen-initiated statutes or amendments, or veto or legislative referenda. That includes Arizona and Florida, which have commissions with the authority to place statewide measures on the ballot.
On average, there are 170 statewide measures on the ballot in even years and hundreds more at the local level.
2019 Initiatives
Four of the 26 states, Colorado, Maine, Ohio, and Washington allow for ballot initiatives or veto referendums in any odd-numbered years, as does Mississippi when the governor's seat is up. Several more often refer statewide measures to the ballot via the legislature.
Over the last decade, the average total number for odd years is 33 initiatives on the ballot in an average of eight states. In 2019, 21 statewide ballot measures have so far been certified for the ballot in seven states.
2019 Statewide Ballot Measures
Key: LRCA: Legislatively-Referred Constitutional Amendment * LRSS: Legislatively-Referred State Statute * ITL: Initiatives to the Legislature. All measures will be voted on November 5, 2019, except for Louisiana, which will vote on October 12, 2019.
|
State
|
Type
|
Title
|
Subject
|
| Colorado | LRSS | Proposition CC | State Spending and Finance, Transportation and Education |
| LRSS | Proposition DD | Gambling and Taxes | |
| Kansas | LRCA | Census | |
| Louisiana | LRCA | Louisiana New Orleans Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemption Amendment | Taxes |
| LRCA | Louisiana Property Tax Exemption for Stored Materials Routed for Outer Continental Shelf Amendment | Taxes | |
| LRCA | Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals Jurisdiction Amendment | Government | |
| LRCA | Louisiana Education Excellence Fund Uses Amendment | Education | |
| Maine | LRCA | Allow for Alternative Initiative Signatures for Persons with Disabilities Amendment | Direct Democracy |
| Pennsylvania | LRCA | Marcy's Law Amendment | Law |
| Texas | LRCA | Texas Prohibit State Income Tax on Individuals Amendment | Taxes |
| LRCA | Texas Transfer of Care of Law Enforcement Animals Amendment | Animals | |
| LRCA | Texas Cancer Prevention and Research Institute Bonds Amendment | Bonds | |
| LRCA | Texas Increase Distributions to School Fund Amendment | Budgets | |
| LRCA | Texas Allowed to Serve as Multiple Municipal Judges Amendment | Municipal | |
| LRCA | Texas Precious Metals in Depositories Exempt from Property Tax Amendment | Taxes | |
| LRCA | Texas Sales Tax on Sporting Goods Dedicated to Parks, Wildlife, and Historical Agencies Amendment | Budgets | |
| LRCA | Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund Amendment | Budgets | |
| LRCA | Texas Water Development Board Bonds Amendment | Bonds | |
| LRCA | Texas Temporary Property Tax Exemption for Disaster Areas Amendment | Taxes | |
| Washington | LRCA | Washington Government Continuation Legislation for Catastrophic Incidents Amendment | Legislature |
| ITL | Washington Initiative 976, Limits on Motor Vehicle Taxes and Fees Measure | Taxes and Transportation |
The Cost
Ballot initiatives have also become a part of the political industry, with full-fledged media and ground campaigns which average around $1.1 million in cost.
According to Ballotpedia, a total of $1.185 billion was raised for or against 2018 measures, with $1.16 billion in expenditures. The 68 citizen-initiated measures accounted for 83% of the campaign finance activity.
As of June 19, 2019, 36 statewide ballot measures have been certified for the 2020 ballot in 17 states.
Make change where you can at the ballot box!
DemList will keep you informed.
Please Support DemList!
Connecting you to The Party
Connecting you to Each Other
Kimberly Scott
Publisher
Sources: Ballotpedia
