1 Ballot Initiatives

Tomorrow's elections contain opportunities to decide on a variety of public policy issues. We summarize here ballot initiatives in some of the states where members of the family currently live.

Idaho
There are no statewide initiatives on the ballot in the Gem State. Supporters of three measures (on animal rights, judicial reform, and business regulation) failed to obtain enough signatures by the May 1 deadline to get the issues on the ballot.

Utah
The Beehive State has five constitutional amendments on the ballot:

- Amendment A revises various provisions affecting succession of executive branch officers.

- Amendment B makes changes to the permanent state trust fund.

- Amendment C changes the start and duration of the legislature's annual general session.

- Amendment D clarifies the time when the legislature is required to divide the state into congressional, legislative, and other districts.

- Amendment E allows the state to invest money in private stocks or bonds if the money comes from the State School Fund or from land granted by the federal government.

All five seem to be reasonable updates to the state's constitution. No arguments have been submitted against any of them.

Washington
Three initiatives are on the ballot in the Evergreen State:

- Initiative 985 is on transportation and would open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all traffic during specified hours, require traffic light synchronization, increase roadside assistance funding, and dedicate certain taxes, fines, tolls and other revenues to traffic-flow purposes.

- Initiative 1000 deals with aid in dying. It would permit terminally ill, competent, adult Washington residents who are medically predicted to have six months or less to live, voluntarily to request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician. Supporters refer to the measure as the Death with Dignity initiative. Critics refer to it as the Assisted Suicide initiative. The initiative is based on a measure Oregon voters passed in 1994. Oregon is the only state to have enacted similar legislation.

- Initiative 1029 would revise examination, certification, and professional discipline standards and requirements for long-term care workers for the elderly or disabled.

California
Twelve propositions will appear on statewide ballots in the Golden State, in addition to 380 local ballot measures. The statewide issues deal with transportation, animal rights, health, abortion, law enforcement, the environment, election reform, and a bond issue.

Arguably the most controversial and most publicized of the measures is Proposition 8. It deals with the definition of marriage in California. A lot of time, effort, and money has been spent by both supporters and opponents of this measure. If passed, the proposition would amend the state constitution to prohibit same-sex couples from marrying in California and would state that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." The proposition would restore a state law approved in 2000 by 61 percent of California voters until it was struck down in May 2008 by a 4-3 vote of the state supreme court.

Texas
There is no referendum or initiative available in Texas. And no constitutional amendments this year. Hence, there are no issues on statewide ballots in the Lone Star State.

Nevada
Four initiatives are on the ballot in the Silver State:

- Question 1 would eliminate an unconstitutional requirement that a person must reside in Nevada for six months prior to an election in order to be eligible to vote in that election.

- Question 2 would prevent government agencies from using eminent domain to take land from one private owner and give to it another private owner.

- Question 3 deals with tax exemptions.

- Question 4 deals with sales tax and voter approval.

New Mexico
Five proposed constitutional amendments and four proposed bond issues are on the ballot in the Land of Enchantment. The constitutional amendments deal with details of governmental administration and election issues.

Georgia
Three constitutional amendments are on the ballot in the Peach Tree State:

- Amendment 1 encourages protection of Georgia's forests through special assessment and taxation of forest lands and assistance grants to local governments.

- Amendment 2 allows local governments to use education property taxes to fund development projects.

- Amendment 3 authorizes the General Assembly to provide for the creation and regulation of infrastructure development districts.