2009 U.S. State Ballot Measures
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32 statewide ballot measures were on 2009 ballot in 7 states.

Three states --Maine,Ohio andWashington -- of theseveral dozen states with initiative or referendum offer this option in odd-numbered years. In each of the three states, the petition process was used to qualify measures for the ballot that are traditional hot-button issues, including marriage, taxes, casinos, school consolidation, and marijuana.

In 2009, there were two veto referendums —Referendum 71 in Washington andQuestion 1 andQuestion 3 in Maine.

Number of measures

2009 was a year with a somewhat lower-than-average number of measures on the ballot. Going back to 1989, the average number of measures on the ballot in an odd-numbered year is 45.

Summary of results

The charts below includes election results of all statewide ballot measures in 2009.

May statewide

California

See also:May 19, 2009 ballot measures in California

In order to free up $5.8 billion to help close the state's $42 billion budget gap, a special election took place onMay 19 where voters statewide voted on a package of constitutional amendments.^[1]

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposition 1A	Taxes	Extends tax increases passed under the February 2009 budget bill for one to two years resulting in an expected increase to state tax revenue by $16 billion	d
LRCA	Proposition 1B	Budget	Makes supplemental appropriations for K-12 schools and community colleges annually beginning in 2011-12 until reaching a total of $9.3 billion; dependent on approval of Proposition 1A	d
LRCA	Proposition 1C	Budget	Authorizes borrowing against future lottery proceeds; repeals the requirement that lottery revenue be used only for education; revises lottery management details	d
LRSS	Proposition 1D	Budget	Redirects $268 million in annual tobacco tax revenue currently earmarked for First Five early childhood development programs under the terms of Proposition 10 (1998) to other health programs for children aged five and under	d
LRSS	Proposition 1E	Budget	Redirects funds from Proposition 63 of 2004 for a two-year period ($226.7 million in 2009-10 and between $226.7 million and $234 million in 2010-11) to support mental health programs through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program	d
LRCA	Proposition 1F	Budget	Prohibits pay increases for state legislators and certain state executive officials in years that the state is experiencing a budget deficit	a

November statewide

Maine

See also:Maine 2009 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Question 1	Marriage & Family	Repeals an act allowing same-sex marriages	a
IndISS	Question 2	Taxes	Reduces excise taxes on vehicles that meet certain energy efficiency requirements	d
IndISS	Question 3	Education	Repeals the law mandating school district restructuring	d
IndISS	Question 4	Taxes	Limits increases in government spending to inflation and population increases	d
IndISS	Question 5	Marijuana	Creates nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries and identification cards	a
BI	Question 6	Bonds	Issues $71.25 million in bonds for transportation programs and improvements	a
LRCA	Question 7	Direct Democracy	Increases the amount of time for municipalities to certify initiative petition signatures	d

New Jersey

See also:New Jersey 2009 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Status
LRSS	Open Space Bonds	Bond issues	$400 million for open space, farmland, historic areas	a

New York

See also:New York 2009 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Status
LRCA	Proposal 1	Environment	Retroactively approve power line along State Route 56 on six acres of forest preserve lands	a
LRCA	Proposal 2	Admin of gov't	Allow prisoners to perform volunteer work for nonprofit organizations	a

Ohio

See also:Ohio 2009 ballot measures

November 3, 2009

Texas

See also:Texas 2009 ballot measures

November 3, 2009

Washington

See also:Washington 2009 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
ITP	Initiative 1033	Taxes	Limits growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth	d
VR	Referendum 71	Marriage	Expands the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded to state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses	a

Hundreds of local measures

See also:Local ballot measure elections in 2009

Local ballot measures were on the November 3, 2009 ballot in at least 29 states.

See also

• 2009 ballot measure calendar
• Ballot measure petition deadlines and requirements, 2009
• Polls, 2009 ballot measures
• How to find campaign finance information about ballot measure campaigns
• Six states prepare to face off in November 3rd elections

External links

• State Net's list of the 2009 ballot measures
• USA Today, "State ballots tackle controversial issues Tuesday," November 1, 2009
• Daily Kos, "Election Night 2009: A Viewer's Guide," November 1, 2009
• Initiative & Referendum Institute, "Ballotwatch 2009," October 17, 2009

Footnotes

v • e 2009 ballot measures States California •Maine •New Jersey •New York •Ohio •Texas •Washington Other Election results •Polls, 2009 ballot measures •Ballot measure petition deadlines and requirements, 2009 •2009 ballot measure litigation •List of ballot measure lawsuits in 2009 •2009 ballot measure calendar •2009 ballot measure endorsements