Election Central 2009
This election, states such as Ohio, Maine, Washington, Texas, and New Jersey faced tough ballot measure races around the issues of marriage equality, fiscal and budget issues, and economic security.
Please see below for unofficial results.*
*Please note: numbers are subject to change due to late precinct reporting and absentee balloting.
Click here for our 2009 Post-Election Analysis.
Click here for our 2009 Pre-Election Analysis.
Click here for a map depicting 2009 ballot initiative and referenda.
Click here for states that allow the ballot initiative process.
Click here for 2010 gubernatorial races and initiative states.
Click here for 2010 Senate races and initiative states.
Click below for the ballot measures on this year's ballot.
MAINE (3 Passed)
- Seven measures were on the statewide ballot.
- Five were citizen-petitioned initiatives.
- Two were legislative referenda.
1 Popular Referendum Qualified
Question 1: LGBT Equality
People's Veto of P.L. 2009, c. 82 "An Act To End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom": Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?
Proponents: http://standformarriagemaine.com
Opponents: http://www.protectmaineequality.org
PASSED 53% - 47%
4 Statutory Initiatives Qualified
Question 2: Fiscal/Budget
“An Act to Decrease the Automobile Excise Tax and Promote Energy Efficiency”: 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?
Proponents: http://www.moregreennow.com
Opponents: http://www.mainecandobetter.org
FAILED 74% - 26%
Question 3: Education
“An Act to Repeal the School District Consolidation Laws": Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect?
Proponents: http://repealconsolidation.weebly.com/
Opponents:
FAILED 59% - 41%
Question 4: Fiscal/Budget (TABOR II)
“An Act to Promote Tax Relief": 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?
Proponents: http://www.tabornow.com
Opponents: http://www.votenoontabor.org
FAILED 60% - 40%
Question 5: Drug Reform
“An Act to Establish the Maine Medical Marijuana Act": Do you want to change the medical marijuana laws to allow treatment of more medical conditions and to create a regulated system of distribution?
Proponents: http://www.mainepatientsrights.org
Opponents:
PASSED 59% - 41%
1 Bond Was Referred
Question 6: Transportation/Fiscal/Budget
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%
1 Constitutional Amendment Was Referred
Question 7: Election Reform
"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?"
FAILED 48% - 52%
NEW JERSEY (1 Passed)
- One measure was on the statewide ballot; it was a legislative referenda.
Public Question: Environment/Fiscal/Budget
The “Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2009” would authorize bonds for $400 million to provide funding for acquiring and developing lands for recreation and conservation purposes, preserving farmland, buying flood-prone or storm-damaged properties, and historic preservation projects.
Proponents: http://www.njkeepitgreen.org
Opponents:
PASSED 52% - 48%
NEW YORK (2 Passed)
- Two measures were on the statewide ballot; all were legislative referenda.
2 Constitutional Amendments Were Referred
Question 1: Administration of Government/Environment
“The proposed amendment would authorize the Legislature to convey up to six acres of forest preserve land along the State Route 56 in St. Lawrence County to National Grid for construction of a power line. In exchange, National Grid would convey to the State at least 10 acres of forest land in St. Lawrence County, to be incorporated into the forest preserve. The land to be conveyed by National Grid to the State must be at least equal value to the land conveyed to National Grid by the State. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
PASSED 66% - 34%
Question 2: Other Issues
“The Proposed amendment would authorize the Legislature to pass legislation to permit inmates in state and local correctional facilities to perform work for nonprofit organizations. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
PASSED 67% - 33%
OHIO (3 Passed)
- Three measures were on the statewide ballot.
- One was a citizen-petitioned initiative.
- Two measures were legislative referenda.
1 Constitutional Amendment Qualified
Question 3: Gambling
Gaming: “To amend the constitution to allow for one casino each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo and distribute to all Ohio Counties a tax on the casinos”
Proponents: http://www.yesonissue3.com
Opponents: http://www.truthpac.org
PASSED 53% - 47%
2 Constitutional Amendments Were Referred
Question 1: Fiscal/Budget
“To authorize the state to issue bonds to provide compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts”
PASSED 72% - 28%
Question 2: Animal Rights
“To create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to establish and implement standards of care for livestock and poultry”
Proponents: http://www.ohiolivestockcare.com
Opponents:
PASSED 64% - 36%
TEXAS (11 Passed)
- Eleven measures were on the statewide ballot; all were legislative referenda.
11 Constitutional Amendments Were Referred
Proposition 1: Land Use/Fiscal/Budget
"The 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: Fiscal/Budget
"The 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: Fiscal/Budget
"The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes."
PASSED 65% - 35%
Proposition 4: Education/Fiscal/Budget
"The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this 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 56% - 44%
Proposition 5: Fiscal/Budget
"The 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: Administration of Government
"The 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: Administration of Government/Election Reform
"The 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: Administration of Government
"The 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: Land Use
"The 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: Election Reform
"The 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: Land Use
"The 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 (1 Passed)
- Two measures were on the statewide ballot.
- One was a citizen-petitioned initiative.
- One was a people’s veto.
1 Statutory Initiative Qualified
Initiative Measure 1033: Fiscal/Budget (TABOR)
Investment/Taxes: 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.
Proponents: http://permanent-offense.org
Opponents: http://www.no1033.com
FAILED 45% - 55%
1 Popular Referendum Qualified*
*PLEASE NOTE: Current numbers for Ref. 71 based on ballots counted thus far. Given Washington state’s mail-in ballot system, it may take several days to certify results on this measure. Please check back often for updates.
Referendum Measure 71: LGBT Equality
LGBT Equality: 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.
Proponents: http://approvereferendum71.org
Opponents: http://protectmarriagewa.com/
PASSED 51% - 49%
