Georgia 2024 ballot measures
In 2024,three statewide ballot measures were on theballot inGeorgia for the election onNovember 5.
On the ballot
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Provide for a local option homestead property tax exemption and allow a county, municipality, or school system to opt out of the exemption |
| 3,094,322 (63%) | 1,823,529 (37%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Create the Georgia Tax Court with statewide jurisdiction as provided by law |
| 2,525,406 (52%) | 2,341,612 (48%) | |
| Referendum A | Increase the personal property tax exemption from $7,500 to $20,000 |
| 3,223,888 (64%) | 1,775,768 (36%) |
Political party advisory questions
TheRepublican Party andDemocratic Party placednonbinding advisory questions on theMay 21, 2024, statewide primary ballots. Republican ballots featured eight questions, and Democratic ballots featured nine questions.
Click here to read more about the nonbinding questions.
Getting measures on the ballot
In Georgia, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level.
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments
Atwo-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for theGeorgia State Legislature to place an amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 120 votes in theGeorgia House of Representatives and 38 votes in theGeorgia State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Legislatively referred state statutes
- See also:Legislatively referred state statute
In Georgia, voter approval is required for legislation concerning property tax exemptions. Atwo-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for theGeorgia State Legislature to place a state statute on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 120 votes in theGeorgia House of Representatives and 38 votes in theGeorgia State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Statutes require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Advisory questions
- See also:Advisory question
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for theGeorgia State Legislature to place an advisory question on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 91 votes in theGeorgia House of Representatives and 29 votes in theGeorgia State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Advisory questions require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Historical facts
In Georgia, a total of 132 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2022. Of that number, 109 ballot measures were approved, and 27 ballot measures were defeated.
| Georgia statewide ballot measures, 1985-2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Annual average | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | Approved | Defeated | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRSS | Statewide Homestead Property Tax Exemption Increase Measure (HB 1019) | Taxes andProperty | Increase the statewide homestead property tax exemption |  |
| LRSS | Expand Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption to Spouses and Minor Children Measure (HB 871) | Taxes andProperty | Extend the homestead property tax exemption to an un-remarried spouse or minor child upon the death of a disabled veteran receiving said exemption | |
| LRCA | Timber Tax Reduction Amendment | Taxes | Reduces the tax on timber at the time of harvest or sale and provides for state appropriations to counties, municipalities, and school districts affected by the tax revenue reduction | |
| LRCA | Local Government Loan Payments Amendment (HR 804) | State and local government budgets, spending and finance | Requires loans incurred by counties and other local governments to be paid in full within 12 months (rather than by December 31 of the calendar year) | |
| LRCA | Sports Betting Legalization Amendment (SR 579) | Gambling | Authorize the state legislature to provide for sports betting with 80% of revenues dedicated to pre-kindergarten education and college scholarships | |
| LRCA | Waiver for Delinquent Local Property Taxes Amendment (SR 82) | Property andTaxes | Allow delinquent local ad valorem property taxes, penalties, and interest to be waived by the tax commissioner | |
| LRCA | Create Human Trafficking Victims Fund Amendment (SR 616) | Civil and criminal trials andHealthcare | Create the Human Trafficking Victims Fund funded through additional penalties assessed on those found guilty of human trafficking to pay for services for victims of sexual exploitation | |
| LRCA | Volunteer Program for Senior Tax Credit Amendment (HR 1021) | Taxes | Allow local governments and school districts to offer local property tax credits to seniors for volunteer service | |
| LRCA | Development Impact Fees to Fund Education Facilities Amendment (SR 189) | State and local government budgets, spending and finance andEducation | Allow local boards of education to impose and collect development impact fees subject to local voter approval and use the proceeds to pay for part of the costs associated with educational facilities | |
State profile
| Demographic data for Georgia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 10,199,398 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 57,513 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 60.2% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 30.9% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 3.6% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.1% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 9.1% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 85.4% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 28.8% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $49,620 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 21.1% | 11.3% |
| Source:U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Clickhere for more information on the 2020 census andhere for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Georgia. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
Georgiavoted Republican in six out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted forDonald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won thesePivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, five are located in Georgia, accounting for 2.43 percent of the total pivot counties.[1]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won asRetained Pivot Counties and those won byJoe Biden (D) asBoomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Georgia had five Retained Pivot Counties, 2.76 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Georgia coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Georgia
- United States congressional delegations from Georgia
- Public policy in Georgia
- Endorsers in Georgia
- Georgia fact checks
- More...
See also
- 2024 ballot measures
- List of Georgia ballot measures
- History of Initiative & Referendum in Georgia
- Campaign finance requirements for Georgia ballot measures
External links
.svg.png) | State ofGeorgia Atlanta (capital) |
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- ↑The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip ofAtlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
