1973 ballot measures
| 1973 State Ballot Measures | |
|---|---|
1974» «1972 | |
| Part 1: Overview | |
| Current measures | |
| Measure Monthly | |
By state
Alabama
See also:Alabama 1973 ballot measures
December 18
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Amendment 1 | Development | Concerning the promotion of the swine industry | a |
| LRCA | Amendment 2 | Judiciary | Concerning a unified judicial system | a |
| LRCA | Amendment 3 | Taxes | Concerning a special tax in Marion County | a |
| LRCA | Amendment 4 | Public Works | Concerning the development of the Buttahatchee River | d |
| LRCA | Amendment 5 | Local Gov't | Concerning municipalities in Cleburne County | d |
| LRCA | Amendment 6 | Local Gov't | Concerning county offices in Morgan County | a |
| LRCA | Amendment 7 | Local Gov't | Concerning government officials' salaries and court fees in Cleburne County | a |
| LRCA | Amendment 8 | Local Gov't | Concerning government officials' salaries and court fees in Bibb County | a |
| LRCA | Amendment 9 | Local Gov't | Concerning recreational development in Tuscaloosa County | a |
| LRCA | Amendment 10 | Judiciary | Concerning judicial vacancies in Madison County | a |
| LRCA | Amendment 11 | Taxes | Concerning school taxes in Calhoun County | a |
Alaska
See also:Alaska 1973 ballot measures
March 6, 1973
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Athletics;Bonds | Authorize up to $11,500,000 in bonds to fund capital improvements for civic, convention, and community recreation centers. | 28,849 (42%) | 39,187 (58%) |
California
See also:California 1973 ballot propositions
November 6, 1973
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Limit the taxing and spending powers of the state, cities, counties, and other government agencies. | 1,961,685 (46%) | 2,303,026 (54%) |
Kentucky
See also:Kentucky 1973 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Amendment 1 | Admin of Gov't | Establishes a seven member State Board of Education, allows sheriffs to succeed themselves and abolishes the Railroad Commission | d |
| LRCA | Amendment 2 | Legislatures | Limits legislative sessions to 45 legislative days annually | d |
Maine
See also:Maine 1973 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndISS | Direct initiative Question | Utilities | Creates the Power Authority of Maine | d |
| LRSS | Referendum Question No. 1 | Lottery | Creates a state lottery | a |
| BI | Referendum Question No. 2 | Forests & Parks | Issues up to $3 million in bonds for the acquisition of real property for state parks | a |
| LRCA | Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1 | Gov't Finance | Removes municipal debt limits from constitution, shifts to legislative issue | a |
| LRCA | Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | Admin of Gov't | Regulates implementation bills that come beforeGovernor after end of a legislative session | a |
New Jersey
See also:New Jersey 1973 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Question 1 | State judiciary | Permits the legislature to authorize civil trials by a six-member jury. | a |
| BI | Question 2 | Bond issues | Allows for $25 million in bonds for educational facilities for severely handicapped children. | a |
New York
See also:New York 1973 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Proposition 1 | Public Works | Allows for $3.5 billion in debt for the maintenance of mass transportation | d |
| LRCA | Proposed Amendment No. 1 | Gov't Finances | Excludes certain indebtedness at the county, city, town or village level | a |
| LRCA | Proposed Amendment No. 2 | Trials | Allows certain persons charged with felonies wave indictment by a grand jury | a |
| LRCA | Proposed Amendment No. 3 | Gov't Finances | Allows the Legislature to loan the money of the state to a public corporation | a |
| LRCA | Proposed Amendment No. 4 | Judiciary | Increases the salaries and terms of district court judges | d |
| LRCA | Proposed Amendment No. 5 | Prisons | Deletes the provision in the Constitution that named the head of the department of correction as chairman of the state commission of correction | a |
| LRCA | Proposed Amendment No. 6 | Judiciary | Relates to the jurisdiction over the custody of minors in court proceedings | a |
| LRCA | Proposed Amendment No. 7 | Forests & Parks | Increases the size of the land in the Adirondack and Catskill parks that the Legislature can dedicate for whatever purpose | a |
| LRCA | Proposed Amendment No. 8 | Local Gov't | Removes requirement that no county can be erected unless its population is given a seat in the state assembly | d |
| LRCA | Proposed Amendment No. 9 | Judiciary | Permits retired judges to perform duties of his respective court | d |
| LRCA | Proposed Amendment No. 10 | Judiciary | Abolishes the Nassau county court | d |
North Carolina
See also:North Carolina 1973 ballot measures
November 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BI | Referendum 1 | Bonds | Issues bonds for school facilities | a |
| BI | Referendum 2 | Bonds | Amends the Clean Water Bond Act of 1971 | a |
| LRCA | Amendment 1 | Alcohol | Relates to the sale and consumption of mixed beverages | d |
North Dakota
See also:North Dakota 1973 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VR | Measure 1 | Redistricting | Provides for 37 legislative districts with 50 Senators and 2 Representatives per Senator | d |
| CICA | Amendment 1 | Redistricting | State legislative redistricting to be performed by an appointed nine-member commission | d |
Ohio
See also:Ohio 1973 ballot measures
May 8, 1973
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administration of the General Assembly Amendment | Modify rules regarding administration, organization, and procedures of the general assembly. | 680,870 (54%) | 572,980 (46%) | ||
| Amendments to Court Rules Amendment | Allow the General Assembly to amend court practices and procedures set by the state Supreme Court. | 580,106 (46%) | 679,223 (54%) | ||
| Authorization of a State Lottery Amendment | Allow a state lottery and put the funds from it into the state's General Revenue Fund. | 973,956 (64%) | 547,655 (36%) | ||
| Disqualifications for Public Office Amendment | Repeal the provisions that prohibit those convicted of embezzling public funds from holding public office and that require public money that one holds to be disbursed prior to one holding a seat in the General Assembly. | 530,232 (38%) | 848,743 (62%) | ||
| Judicial Compensation Amendment | Allow compensation of judges to be set by law and to not be decreased during a judge's term. | 646,384 (49%) | 677,787 (51%) | ||
| Supreme Court Commission Amendment | Repeal the appointment of a Supreme Court Commission. | 563,919 (45%) | 692,623 (55%) | ||
| Taking of Property of Sewer and Water Lines Amendment | Permit the taking of private property for sewer and water lines prior to the payment for such property. | 405,035 (29%) | 993,245 (71%) |
November 6, 1973
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administration and Organization of the State Courts Amendment | Revise provisions relating to the administration and organization of the state court system. | 1,317,379 (63%) | 778,466 (37%) | ||
| Bonds for Vietnam War Veterans Amendment | Authorize up to $300 million in bonds for payments to veterans of the Vietnam War. | 1,650,120 (72%) | 647,629 (28%) | ||
| Income Amount Exempt from Taxation Amendment | Allow for a new amount of income to be exempted from income taxation. | 1,299,882 (60%) | 883,123 (40%) | ||
| Tax Assessments of Agricultural Lands Amendment | Permit agricultural land to be evaluated for its agricultural use when assessed for tax purposes. | 1,810,630 (76%) | 567,189 (24%) |
Oregon
See also:Oregon 1973 ballot measures
May 1, 1973
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 1 | Education;Taxes;Property | Revise how educational institutions receive tax revenues. | 253,682 (41%) | 358,219 (59%) |
Pennsylvania
See also:Pennsylvania 1973 ballot measures
May 15:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Question 1 | State legislatures measures | Allows for legislation for establishing "standards, qualifications and special tax provisions" for agriculture land and reserves | a |
November 6:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Question 1 | State and local government spending | Increases state debt pursuant to the Vietnam Conflict Veterans' Compensation Act from fifty-five million dollars ($55,000,000) to sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,00) | a |
| LRCA | Question 2 | State judiciary | Allows courts of common pleas, with the approval from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, to initiate criminal proceedings by information, without grand jury indictment | a |
Rhode Island
See also:Rhode Island 1973 ballot measures
November 6:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRCA | Proposal 1 | Elections and campaigns | Sets voting and residency qualifications. | a |
| CRCA | Proposal 2 | Elections and campaigns | Bars those ineligible to vote for an office to be elected to that office. | a |
| CRCA | Proposal 3 | Civil and criminal trials | Requires a grand jury's indictment for charges punishable by death or life in prison. | a |
| CRCA | Proposal 4 | Lottery | Bans private lotteries. | a |
| CRCA | Proposal 5 | Constitutional conventions | Allows legislatively referred constitutional amendments and mandates an automatic ballot referral every ten years. | a |
| CRCA | Proposal 6 | Bond issues | Sets executive officials' terms at four years. | d |
| CRCA | Proposal 7 | State legislature | Sets compensation for most legislators at $2,000 per year. | d |
| LRSS | Proposal 8 | Insurance | Extends the Rhode Island Industrial Building Authority's power to insure mortgage payments. | a |
| LRSS | Proposal 9 | Insurance | Extends the Rhode Island Recreational Building Authority's power to insure mortgage payments. | a |
Texas
See also:Texas 1973 ballot measures
November 6, 1973
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Legislature;Salaries | Set a $15,000 annual salary for members of the legislature and provide for annual legislative sessions | 259,918 (43%) | 340,046 (57%) | ||
| Proposition 2 | Housing;Property | Extend homestead protection to single adults and require both spouses' consent for abandonment of a family homestead | 487,028 (82%) | 105,909 (18%) | ||
| Proposition 3 | Taxes;Property | Extend the $3,000 ad valorem tax on property exemption to homesteads of unmarried adults | 469,807 (79%) | 122,234 (21%) | ||
| Proposition 5 | Administration | Create new requirements regarding the creation of certain conservation and reclamation districts | 341,796 (61%) | 214,980 (39%) | ||
| Proposition 5 | Local;Bonds | Allow certain Gulf of Mexico bordering localities, with voter approval, to levy a tax for bonds funding sea walls and breakwaters construction | 387,736 (63%) | 228,011 (37%) | ||
| Proposition 6 | Judiciary | Grant district and county courts jurisdiction over probate courts | 307,642 (56%) | 239,277 (44%) | ||
| Proposition 7 | Veterans | Provide an extra $100 million in bonds or obligations for the veteran's land fund | 360,589 (62%) | 216,824 (38%) | ||
| Proposition 8 | Taxes;Local | Allow cities, towns, and villages to levy property taxes for principal and interest on general obligation bonds, subject to legal restrictions | 208,377 (37%) | 354,710 (63%) | ||
| Proposition 9 | Water;Taxes | Authorize the legislature to exempt certain water supply corporations and cooperatives from property taxes on certain facilities | 248,412 (43%) | 323,993 (57%) |
Washington
See also:Washington 1973 ballot measures
November 6, 1973
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HJR 22 | Economic investment | Allow local governments to finance development projects through creating districts generating tax revenues | 246,055 (27%) | 655,125 (73%) | ||
| HJR 37 | Income taxes | Provide for a graduated net income tax, prohibit excess levies for schools, and limit some excise taxes | 228,823 (23%) | 770,033 (77%) | ||
| HJR 40 | Local government | Provide for the application of the excess levy validation formula to bonds payable from such levies | 352,495 (41%) | 501,618 (59%) | ||
| Initiative 282 | Salaries | Provide limitations to the salary increases of elected officials and judges. | 798,338 (80%) | 197,795 (20%) | ||
| Referendum 32 | Local government | Require county auditors to appoint precinct committee-people of major political parties to assist in registering voters. | 291,323 (32%) | 609,306 (68%) | ||
| Referendum 33 | Fees;Parks and conservation | Provide additional fees for personalized vehicle license plates to be allocated towards wildlife preservation | 613,921 (63%) | 362,195 (37%) | ||
| Referendum 36 | Alcohol | Provide the lowering of the drinking age from 21 to 19. | 495,624 (49%) | 510,491 (51%) |
Wisconsin
See also:Wisconsin 1973 ballot measures
April 3, 1973
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Gambling | Allow the legislature to legalize bingo games operated by certain charitable organizations | 645,544 (62%) | 391,499 (38%) | ||
| Question 2 | Sex and gender;Constitutional rights | Prohibit the denial or abridgment of rights and protections under the law on the basis of sex | 447,240 (46%) | 520,936 (54%) |
If you know of a statewide measure that is not listed here or if you notice an error, please emaileditor@ballotpedia.org.

