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| US state ballot initiatives - from same-sex marriage to marijuana | US state ballot initiatives - from same-sex marriage to marijuana |
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| Americans across the country will be voting for and against candidates from dog catcher to president. But they will also get the chance to vote on state ballot measures that will impact on their daily lives. Within this article, you'll read about measures from the death penalty to marijuana to same-sex marriage on which Americans will vote directly. It looks like marijuana legalization and same-sex marriage will win historic victories in a number of states. | Americans across the country will be voting for and against candidates from dog catcher to president. But they will also get the chance to vote on state ballot measures that will impact on their daily lives. Within this article, you'll read about measures from the death penalty to marijuana to same-sex marriage on which Americans will vote directly. It looks like marijuana legalization and same-sex marriage will win historic victories in a number of states. |
| Here's the list of all the key ballot measures in alphabetical and chronological order. | Here's the list of all the key ballot measures in alphabetical and chronological order. |
| California crime referenda (11pm ET) | California crime referenda (11pm ET) |
| Death penalty | Death penalty |
| Polling projection: Anything from Yes (ending death penalty) winning by 10 percentage points to No winning by 10 percentage points | Polling projection: Anything from Yes (ending death penalty) winning by 10 percentage points to No winning by 10 percentage points |
| Text of ballot measure (read the full text here): | Text of ballot measure (read the full text here): |
| Repeals the death penalty and replaces it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Applies retroactively to existing death sentences. Directs $100m to law enforcement agencies for investigations of homicide and rape cases. | Repeals the death penalty and replaces it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Applies retroactively to existing death sentences. Directs $100m to law enforcement agencies for investigations of homicide and rape cases. |
| Three strikes Polling projection: Yes (revising three strikes) winning by 20 to 40 percentage points | Three strikes Polling projection: Yes (revising three strikes) winning by 20 to 40 percentage points |
| Text of ballot measure (read the full text here): "Revises law to impose life sentence only when new felony conviction is serious or violent. May authorize re-sentencing if third strike conviction was not serious or violent." | Text of ballot measure (read the full text here): "Revises law to impose life sentence only when new felony conviction is serious or violent. May authorize re-sentencing if third strike conviction was not serious or violent." |
| Florida abortion (7pm ET for eastern part of state; 8pm ET for west) | Florida abortion (7pm ET for eastern part of state; 8pm ET for west) |
| Polling projection: Anything from Yes (anti-abortion) winning by 5 percentage points to No winning by 5. The measure needs to win by 20% to be adopted. | Polling projection: Anything from Yes (anti-abortion) winning by 5 percentage points to No winning by 5. The measure needs to win by 20% to be adopted. |
| Text of ballot measure (read the full text here): | Text of ballot measure (read the full text here): |
| This proposed amendment provides that public funds may not be expended for any abortion or for health-benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. This prohibition does not apply to an expenditure required by federal law, a case in which a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, or a case of rape or incest. | This proposed amendment provides that public funds may not be expended for any abortion or for health-benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. This prohibition does not apply to an expenditure required by federal law, a case in which a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, or a case of rape or incest. |
| Marijuana | Marijuana |
| Massachusetts (8pm EST) Polling projection: Yes (looser restrictions) winning by 25 to 30 percentage points | Massachusetts (8pm EST) Polling projection: Yes (looser restrictions) winning by 25 to 30 percentage points |
| Text of ballot measure: | Text of ballot measure: |
| A YES VOTE would enact the proposed law eliminating state criminal and civil penalties related to the medical use of marijuana, allowing patients meeting certain conditions to obtain marijuana produced and distributed by new state-regulated centers or, in specific hardship cases, to grow marijuana for their own use. A NO VOTE would make no change in existing laws. | A YES VOTE would enact the proposed law eliminating state criminal and civil penalties related to the medical use of marijuana, allowing patients meeting certain conditions to obtain marijuana produced and distributed by new state-regulated centers or, in specific hardship cases, to grow marijuana for their own use. A NO VOTE would make no change in existing laws. |
| Arkansas (8.30pm EST) Polling projection: No (looser restrictions) winning by 15 to 20 percentage points, a change from a dead-even race in the summer | Arkansas (8.30pm EST) Polling projection: No (looser restrictions) winning by 15 to 20 percentage points, a change from a dead-even race in the summer |
| Text of ballot measure(read the full text here): | Text of ballot measure(read the full text here): |
| An act making the medical use of marijuana legal under Arkansas State Law, and establishing a system for the cultivation, acquisition and distribution of marijuana for qualifying patients through nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries and granting those nonprofit dispensaries limited immunity | An act making the medical use of marijuana legal under Arkansas State Law, and establishing a system for the cultivation, acquisition and distribution of marijuana for qualifying patients through nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries and granting those nonprofit dispensaries limited immunity |
| Colorado (9pm EST) Polling projection: Yes (looser restrictions) winning by 5 to 10 percentage points | Colorado (9pm EST) Polling projection: Yes (looser restrictions) winning by 5 to 10 percentage points |
| Text of ballot measure: | Text of ballot measure: |
| Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning marijuana, and, in connection therewith, providing for the regulation of marijuana; permitting a person twenty-one years of age or older to consume or possess limited amounts of marijuana; providing for the licensing of cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities, and retail stores; permitting local governments to regulate or prohibit such facilities; requiring the general assembly to enact an excise tax to be levied upon wholesale sales of marijuana; requiring that the first $40 million in revenue raised annually by such tax be credited to the public school capital construction assistance fund; and requiring the general assembly to enact legislation governing the cultivation, processing, and sale of industrial hemp? | Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning marijuana, and, in connection therewith, providing for the regulation of marijuana; permitting a person twenty-one years of age or older to consume or possess limited amounts of marijuana; providing for the licensing of cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities, and retail stores; permitting local governments to regulate or prohibit such facilities; requiring the general assembly to enact an excise tax to be levied upon wholesale sales of marijuana; requiring that the first $40 million in revenue raised annually by such tax be credited to the public school capital construction assistance fund; and requiring the general assembly to enact legislation governing the cultivation, processing, and sale of industrial hemp? |
| Montana (10pm EST) Polling projection: For (tighter restrictions) winning by 15 to 30 percentage points | Montana (10pm EST) Polling projection: For (tighter restrictions) winning by 15 to 30 percentage points |
| Text of ballot measure(read the full text here): | Text of ballot measure(read the full text here): |
| In 2004, Montana voters approved I-148, creating a medical marijuana program for patients with debilitating medical conditions. Senate Bill 423, passed by the 2011 Legislature, repeals I-148 and enacts a new medical marijuana program, which includes: permitting patients to grow marijuana or designate a provider; limiting each marijuana provider to three patients; prohibiting marijuana providers from accepting anything of value in exchange for services or products; granting local governments authority to regulate marijuana providers; establishing specific standards for demonstrating chronic pain; and reviewing the practices of doctors who certify marijuana use for 25 or more patients in a 12-month period. FOR Senate Bill 423, a bill which repeals I-148 and enacts a new medical marijuana program. AGAINST Senate Bill 423, a bill which repeals I-148 and enacts a new medical marijuana program. A vote against Senate Bill 423 will restore I-148. | In 2004, Montana voters approved I-148, creating a medical marijuana program for patients with debilitating medical conditions. Senate Bill 423, passed by the 2011 Legislature, repeals I-148 and enacts a new medical marijuana program, which includes: permitting patients to grow marijuana or designate a provider; limiting each marijuana provider to three patients; prohibiting marijuana providers from accepting anything of value in exchange for services or products; granting local governments authority to regulate marijuana providers; establishing specific standards for demonstrating chronic pain; and reviewing the practices of doctors who certify marijuana use for 25 or more patients in a 12-month period. FOR Senate Bill 423, a bill which repeals I-148 and enacts a new medical marijuana program. AGAINST Senate Bill 423, a bill which repeals I-148 and enacts a new medical marijuana program. A vote against Senate Bill 423 will restore I-148. |
| Oregon (10pm ET in the eastern counties and 11pm ET in the western counties) Polling projection: No (looser restrictions) by 5 to 10 percentage points | Oregon (10pm ET in the eastern counties and 11pm ET in the western counties) Polling projection: No (looser restrictions) by 5 to 10 percentage points |
| Text of ballot measure: | Text of ballot measure: |
| Allows personal marijuana, hemp cultivation/use without license; commission to regulate commercial marijuana cultivation/sale. Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote allows commercial marijuana (cannabis) cultivation/sale to adults through state-licensed stores; allows unlicensed adult personal cultivation/use; prohibits restrictions on hemp (defined). Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains existing civil and criminal laws prohibiting cultivation, possession and delivery of marijuana; retains current statutes that permit regulated medical use of marijuana. | Allows personal marijuana, hemp cultivation/use without license; commission to regulate commercial marijuana cultivation/sale. Result of "Yes" Vote: "Yes" vote allows commercial marijuana (cannabis) cultivation/sale to adults through state-licensed stores; allows unlicensed adult personal cultivation/use; prohibits restrictions on hemp (defined). Result of "No" Vote: "No" vote retains existing civil and criminal laws prohibiting cultivation, possession and delivery of marijuana; retains current statutes that permit regulated medical use of marijuana. |
| Washington (11pm ET) Polling projection: Support (looser restrictions) by 10 to 20 percentage points | Washington (11pm ET) Polling projection: Support (looser restrictions) by 10 to 20 percentage points |
| Text of ballot measure: | Text of ballot measure: |
| This measure would remove state-law prohibitions against producing, processing, and selling marijuana, subject to licensing and regulation by the liquor control board; allow limited possession of marijuana by persons aged twenty-one and over; and impose 25% excise taxes on wholesale and retail sales of marijuana, earmarking revenue for purposes that include substance-abuse prevention, research, education, and healthcare. Laws prohibiting driving under the influence would be amended to include maximum thresholds for THC blood concentration | This measure would remove state-law prohibitions against producing, processing, and selling marijuana, subject to licensing and regulation by the liquor control board; allow limited possession of marijuana by persons aged twenty-one and over; and impose 25% excise taxes on wholesale and retail sales of marijuana, earmarking revenue for purposes that include substance-abuse prevention, research, education, and healthcare. Laws prohibiting driving under the influence would be amended to include maximum thresholds for THC blood concentration |
| Maryland Dream Act (8pm ET) | Maryland Dream Act (8pm ET) |
| Polling projection: For (Dream Act) by 2 to 25 percentage points | Polling projection: For (Dream Act) by 2 to 25 percentage points |
| Text of ballot measure: | Text of ballot measure: |
| Establishes that individuals, including undocumented immigrants, are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at community colleges in Maryland, provided the student meets certain conditions relating to attendance and graduation from a Maryland high school, filing of income taxes, intent to apply for permanent residency, and registration with the selective service system (if required); makes such students eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at a four-year public college or university if the student has first completed 60 credit hours or graduated from a community college in Maryland; provides that students qualifying for in-state tuition rates by this method will not be counted as in-state students for purposes of counting undergraduate enrollment; and extends the time in which honorably discharged veterans may qualify for in-state tuition rates. | Establishes that individuals, including undocumented immigrants, are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at community colleges in Maryland, provided the student meets certain conditions relating to attendance and graduation from a Maryland high school, filing of income taxes, intent to apply for permanent residency, and registration with the selective service system (if required); makes such students eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at a four-year public college or university if the student has first completed 60 credit hours or graduated from a community college in Maryland; provides that students qualifying for in-state tuition rates by this method will not be counted as in-state students for purposes of counting undergraduate enrollment; and extends the time in which honorably discharged veterans may qualify for in-state tuition rates. |
| Same-sex marriage | Same-sex marriage |
| Maine (8pm ET) Polling projection: Support (pro same-sex marriage) by 5 to 15 percentage points Text of ballot measure: | Maine (8pm ET) Polling projection: Support (pro same-sex marriage) by 5 to 15 percentage points Text of ballot measure: |
| Do you want to allow the State of Maine to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples? | Do you want to allow the State of Maine to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples? |
| Maryland (8pm ET) Polling projection: For (same-sex marriage) by 1 to 10 percentage points | Maryland (8pm ET) Polling projection: For (same-sex marriage) by 1 to 10 percentage points |
| Text of ballot measure: | Text of ballot measure: |
| Establishes that Maryland's civil marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license, provided they are not otherwise prohibited from marrying; protects clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs; affirms that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who may marry within that faith; and provides that religious organizations and certain related entities are not required to provide goods, services, or benefits to an individual related to the celebration or promotion of marriage in violation of their religious beliefs. | Establishes that Maryland's civil marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license, provided they are not otherwise prohibited from marrying; protects clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs; affirms that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who may marry within that faith; and provides that religious organizations and certain related entities are not required to provide goods, services, or benefits to an individual related to the celebration or promotion of marriage in violation of their religious beliefs. |
| Minnesota (9pm ET) Polling projection: Anything from For (constitutionally banning same-sex marriage) by 2 percentage points to Against by 8 percentage points. | Minnesota (9pm ET) Polling projection: Anything from For (constitutionally banning same-sex marriage) by 2 percentage points to Against by 8 percentage points. |
| Text of ballot measure: | Text of ballot measure: |
| Recognition of Marriage Solely Between One Man and One Woman. | Recognition of Marriage Solely Between One Man and One Woman. |
Washington (11pm ET) Polling projection: Approve (pro-same sex marriage) by 5 to 20 percentage points. | Washington (11pm ET) Polling projection: Approve (pro-same sex marriage) by 5 to 20 percentage points. |
| Text of ballot measure: | Text of ballot measure: |
| The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage for same-sex couples, modified domestic-partnership law, and religious freedom, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would allow same-sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony. | The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage for same-sex couples, modified domestic-partnership law, and religious freedom, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would allow same-sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony. |
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