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| California bans same-sex marriage | |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Californian voters have chosen to ban same-sex marriage, months after it was legalised by the state's top court. | |
| The measure limiting marriage to heterosexual couples gained 52% support - more than 5.1 million votes - with 95% of precincts declaring results. | |
| Twenty-seven states already ban same-sex marriage. California's legal approval had seen thousands of gay couples wed there since May. | |
| State attorney general Jerry Brown has said those marriages will remain valid. | |
| However, legal challenges are possible. | |
| The referendum called for the California constitution to be amended by adding the phrase that: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." | |
| Florida and Arizona also backed proposals to ban gay marriage, by 62% and 56% respectively, on 4 November's ballot paper. | |
| The measure, known as Proposition 8, was among 153 state-level proposals up for vote on US general election day. | |
| Other measures under consideration by 36 states ranged from initiatives on gambling, drug laws and stem cell research to tax laws and affirmative action on race. | |
| 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. |
| Abortion views | |
| There were 59 such initiatives in 2008. | There were 59 such initiatives in 2008. |
| 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. | |
| 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. |