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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Ballot measures alter culture map | Ballot measures alter culture map |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two states rejected limits on abortion rights while others banned same-sex marriage as Americans voted on scores of state-level ballot measures. | Two states rejected limits on abortion rights while others banned same-sex marriage as Americans voted on scores of state-level ballot measures. |
| Voters in 36 states weighed in on 153 proposals, redrawing America's cultural map as they voted for a president. | Voters in 36 states weighed in on 153 proposals, redrawing America's cultural map as they voted for a president. |
| Measures under consideration ranged from initiatives on gambling, drug laws and stem cell research to tax laws and affirmative action on race. | Measures under consideration ranged from initiatives on gambling, drug laws and stem cell research to tax laws and affirmative action on race. |
| A high-profile proposal to ban same-sex marriage in three states was passed. | |
| The proposal to limit marriage to heterosexual couples came months after California's top court ruled that a law banning marriage between same-sex couples was unconstitutional. | The proposal to limit marriage to heterosexual couples came months after California's top court ruled that a law banning marriage between same-sex couples was unconstitutional. |
| With 95% of precincts in California reporting by Wednesday, the proposal had 5,163,908 votes (52%) supporting it to 4,760,336 votes (48%) against. | |
| Florida and Arizona also backed proposals to ban gay marriage, by 62% and 56% respectively. | |
| Some measures are put on state ballots because of constitutional mandates, but in 24 states voters can get a referendum if they gather a required number of signatures. | Some measures are put on state ballots because of constitutional mandates, but in 24 states voters can get a referendum if they gather a required number of signatures. |
| There were 59 such initiatives in 2008. | |
| Assisted suicide | Assisted suicide |
| In South Dakota and Colorado, measures curtailing abortion rights were rejected. | In South Dakota and Colorado, measures curtailing abortion rights were rejected. |
| Michigan voted to allow medical use of marijuana, while Nebraska voted to end race and gender-based affirmative action. | Michigan voted to allow medical use of marijuana, while Nebraska voted to end race and gender-based affirmative action. |
| In Oregon, a measure designed to limit teaching of students in language other than English to no more than two years was defeated. | In Oregon, a measure designed to limit teaching of students in language other than English to no more than two years was defeated. |
| Washington state voted to allow doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill people. | Washington state voted to allow doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill people. |
| Riverboat gambling | Riverboat gambling |
| Amid deep economic uncertainty, proposals to cut state income taxes were defeated decisively in North Dakota and Massachusetts. | Amid deep economic uncertainty, proposals to cut state income taxes were defeated decisively in North Dakota and Massachusetts. |
| Meanwhile, energy measures met a mixed fate. | Meanwhile, energy measures met a mixed fate. |
| Californian voters defeated a plan that would have required the state's utilities to generate half their electricity from renewable sources by 2025. | Californian voters defeated a plan that would have required the state's utilities to generate half their electricity from renewable sources by 2025. |
| But in Missouri, voters approved a measure requiring the state's investor-owned electric utilities to get 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2021. | But in Missouri, voters approved a measure requiring the state's investor-owned electric utilities to get 15% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2021. |
| Missouri also repealed by a decisive margin the state's $500 loss limit - designed to protect compulsive gamblers on riverboats. | Missouri also repealed by a decisive margin the state's $500 loss limit - designed to protect compulsive gamblers on riverboats. |