1980 ballot measures

1980 state ballot measures

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This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1980.

In the United States, a ballot measure is a law, issue, or question that appears on a statewide or local ballot for voters of that jurisdiction to decide.

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Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks

See also: Historical Ballot Measures (HBM) Factbooks

The inventory of statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks, which document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and voters on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life. Click here to access the state historical ballot measure factbooks.

List of ballot measures by state

Alabama

See also: Alabama 1980 ballot measures

November 19

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Agriculture policy	This measure proposed to allow the creation of nonprofit associations financed through voluntary levies on farmers to support the promotion of peanut, dairy and cotton farmers in Alabama.	a	462,809 (83%)	97,691 (17%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State legislatures measures	It proposed that statutes enacted prior to January 13, 1978, that apply to local areas based upon population statistics should not become invalid due to a population change reflected in a later census or because the statute was not properly advertised.	a	315,404 (64%)	177,707 (36%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Family-related policy	It proposed that alimony payments could be terminated if a person receiving alimony either remarried or lived with a person of the opposite sex. Child support would not be affected by this amendment.	a	464,448 (83%)	97,615 (17%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Salaries of government officials	It proposed that, subject to the approval of voters in Escambia County, the legislature would be authorized to set the court fees and compensation of officials in that county.	a	242,731 (70%)	101,742 (30%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Local government organization	This measure proposed that volunteer firefighting districts may be created in Lee County. It also proposed that county funds could be used for support of these districts.	a	224,360 (66%)	117,351 (34%)
LRCA	Amendment 6	Taxes	It proposed that a portion of the ad valorem tax in Mobile County that was approved for mosquito and pest control could be used for general health purposes.	a	184,819 (53%)	164,366 (47%)
LRCA	Amendment 7	State legislative authority	It proposed that costs and charges of the courts in Sumter County would be set by the legislature.	d	162,742 (49%)	168,845 (51%)

September 17

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Gambling policy	It proposed that nonprofit organizations in Jefferson County could hold legal bingo games for charitable or educational purposes.	a	157,682 (60%)	106,140 (40%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Gambling policy	It proposed that nonprofit organizations in Madison County could hold legal bingo games for charitable or educational purposes.	a	151,464 (59%)	104,746 (41%)

Alaska

See also: Alaska 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Ballot Proposition 1	Administrative powers and rulemaking; State legislative authority	Allow the legislature to annul regulations by resolution instead of requiring a bill for annulment.	d	58,808 (42%)	82,010 (58%)
LRCA	Ballot Proposition 2	State legislative processes and sessions	Eliminate the prohibition that prevents a legislator, during their term and for one year after, from taking a state office or position of profit whose salary or benefits were increased while they were in office	d	47,054 (32%)	99,705 (68%)
LRCA	Ballot Proposition 3	State legislative structure; State legislative processes and sessions	Allow interim and special committees to be established by legislative rule without veto or referendum, and grant committees authority to approve or disapprove budget revisions.	d	41,868 (29%)	102,270 (71%)
LRCA	Ballot Proposition 4	State legislative authority	Authorize the legislature to appoint and confirm members of all state boards and commissions, except those at the head of principal departments or regulatory agencies.	d	56,316 (41%)	80,506 (59%)
LRCA	Ballot Proposition 5	Restricted-use funds; Public economic investment policy	Establish a general stock ownership corporation in Alaska	d	72,072 (48%)	78,404 (52%)
BI	Bonding Proposition A	Bond issues; Fisheries and fishing regulations	Issue $7,718,800 in general obligation bonds for capital improvements to fisheries facilities.	a	91,091 (60%)	60,342 (40%)
BI	Bonding Proposition B	Drinking water systems; Sewage and stormwater; Bond issues	Issue $33,000,000 in general obligation bonds for capital improvements to water and sewer systems, solid waste facilities, and village safe water facilities.	a	84,650 (56%)	66,668 (44%)
BI	Bonding Proposition C	Bond issues; Energy conservation and efficiency	Issue $18,787,500 in general obligation bonds for energy conservation, code upgrades, and architectural barrier removal in state facilities.	d	64,978 (44%)	84,187 (56%)
BI	Bonding Proposition D	Bond issues; Prison and jail funding	Issue $28,350,000 in general obligation bonds for capital improvements in correctional facilities.	a	77,816 (52%)	72,090 (48%)
BI	Bonding Proposition E	Bond issues	Issue $20,000,000 in general obligation bonds for the construction of cultural facilities.	d	62,545 (41%)	90,255 (59%)
BI	Bonding Proposition F	Ports and harbors; Airport infrastructure; Highways and bridges; Bond issues	Issue $156.99 million in bonds for transportation projects	a	105,122 (68%)	48,726 (32%)
BI	Bonding Proposition G	Higher education funding; Bond issues; Public education funding; Public school teachers and staff	Issue $63,451,000 in general obligation bonds for education, teacher housing, and University of Alaska facilities improvements.	a	86,958 (57%)	66,718 (43%)

August 26

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRSS	Establish Statehood Commission to Study Relationship with United States Measure	Statehood; Federal government issues	Create the Alaska Statehood Commission to examine and recommend possible changes to the state's relationship with the U.S.	a	46,705 (51%)	45,598 (49%)

Arizona

See also: Arizona 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 100	Local government officials and elections; State executive elections; State legislative elections	Require incumbents to resign from their positions in order to run for a different public office	a	540,605 (69%)	241,625 (31%)
LRCA	Proposition 102	State executive official measures	Adopt a term limit of two consecutive elected terms for the state treasurer	a	516,131 (66%)	266,500 (34%)
LRCA	Proposition 103	Taxes; Business regulations	Provide for the exemption of taxation of certain parts of privately owned airports that are available to the public without charge	d	318,144 (41%)	451,676 (59%)
CICA	Proposition 106	Taxes	Provide for the limitation of the maximum amount of ad valorem tax on all taxable property	d	247,107 (30%)	570,820 (70%)
CISS	Proposition 200	Gambling policy	Provide for the establishment of a state lottery	a	412,992 (51%)	398,437 (49%)
CRSS	Proposition 300	Salaries of government officials	Provide for the increase of legislative salaries to $15,000 per year	a	434,162 (55%)	354,421 (45%)
LRCA	Propostion 101	Business regulations; Transportation	Provide for the classification of railroads as public service corporations	a	537,240 (67%)	266,500 (33%)
LRCA	Propostion 105	Workers' compensation laws; Tort law	Allow an injured employee the choice of compensation or to sue the employer or co-employee if they knowingly caused the injury	a	436,290 (56%)	342,603 (44%)
LRCA	Propsotion 104	Juvenile criminal justice	Allow minors convicted of an adult criminal offense to be confined in an adult state correctional institution	d	385,035 (49%)	406,944 (51%)

June 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 100	Administration of government; Property; Taxes	Include Coast Guard veterans for property tax exemptions and establish new levels of property tax exemptions for veterans and widows	a	185,454 (75%)	60,574 (25%)
LRCA	Proposition 101	Taxes; Administration of government; Property	Provide for the establishment of a new classification for widowers for property tax exemptions	a	186,258 (77%)	56,566 (23%)
LRCA	Proposition 102	Taxes; Property; Administration of government	Provide for the establishment of property tax exemptions for those persons medically certified as totally and permanently disabled	a	198,809 (81%)	47,403 (19%)
LRCA	Proposition 103	Administration of government; Taxes; Property	Permit the legislature to enact laws to increase the amounts of property tax exemptions for widows, widowers, veterans and totally and permanently disabled persons	a	176,185 (72%)	67,424 (28%)
LRCA	Proposition 104	Taxes; Administration of government; Property	Provide for the increase of initial debt limits upon taxable property within counties, cities, towns, school districts and other municipal corporations	a	152,419 (62%)	93,427 (38%)
LRCA	Proposition 105	Property; Administration of government; Taxes	Provide for the definition of state revenues for the effect of program transfers between governmental units	a	173,822 (72%)	67,011 (28%)
LRCA	Proposition 106	Property; Administration of government; Taxes	Provide a tax limit on owner-occupied residential property and placing a limit on increases in valuation used for property tax purposes of mobile homes and real property	a	211,433 (85%)	36,495 (15%)
LRCA	Proposition 107	Property; Taxes; Administration of government	Limit counties, cities, towns and community college districts in the amount of property taxes which they can levy in any given year	a	203,291 (83%)	41,191 (17%)
LRCA	Proposition 108	Taxes; Administration of government; Property	Provide for the establishment of expenditure limitations determined by the Economic Estimates Commission for counties, cities and towns	a	206,817 (84%)	40,595 (16%)
LRCA	Proposition 109	Administration of government; Property; Taxes	Provide for the establishment of expenditure limits determined by the Economic Estimates Commission for community college districts	a	201,439 (82%)	44,311 (18%)

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposed Amendment 59	Property taxes; Property tax exemptions; Homestead tax exemptions	Require property tax rollbacks after assessment increases, change how certain property is assessed, and authorize additional property tax relief for some homeowners age 65 and older.	a	649,307 (81%)	152,629 (19%)
CICA	Proposed Amendment 60	Business regulations; Banking policy	Authorize interest rates above 10% with a two-thirds legislative vote.	d	327,172 (44%)	416,155 (56%)
CCRCA	Proposed Constitution	State constitution ratification; State constitutional conventions	Replace the 1874 Arkansas Constitution with the proposed Constitution of 1980.	d	276,257 (37%)	464,210 (63%)
CISS	Proposed Initiated Act 1	Public education governance	Establish statewide minimum education standards for all children and create a commission to recommend changes to those standards.	d	314,105 (44%)	396,821 (56%)
CCRCA	Selection of Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals Judges Alternate Proposal	State judicial selection	Provide for the selection of Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges through a merit selection and appointment process.	a	334,092 (56%)	264,849 (44%)

California

See also: California 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
BI	Proposition 1	Bond issues; Parks, land, and natural area conservation	Allow for the issuance of bonds up to $285,000,000 for the development of parks and other recreational spaces and establish the terms of such bonds.	a	3,997,292 (52%)	3,731,440 (48%)
CISS	Proposition 10	Smoking bans	Provide for smoking and no-smoking areas in certain enclosed places	d	3,861,614 (47%)	4,432,209 (53%)
LRCA	Proposition 11	State judiciary	Allow the legislature to stop increases to a judge's salary during their term and establish that judicial salaries are not an obligation of contract.	a	5,204,250 (70%)	2,198,702 (30%)
BI	Proposition 2	Property; Environment; Bond issues	Allow for bonds up to $85,000,000 for acquiring property in the Lake Tahoe Basin to prevent the environmental decline in the area.	d	3,757,009 (49%)	3,934,723 (51%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Taxes; Insurance policy	Allow the legislature to allow insurance companies to deduct their contributions to the Insurance Guarantee Association from their taxes.	d	2,014,362 (28%)	5,251,746 (72%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	Taxes	Allow for the increase in ad valorem taxes on real property to pay for the interest and redemption charges on indebtedness for property acquisition and improvements.	d	1,807,080 (25%)	5,449,215 (75%)
LRCA	Proposition 5	Earthquake infrastructure; Taxes	Establish provisions relating to property valuation of property updated to comply with seismic safety laws and property destroyed by disaster.	d	3,053,861 (42%)	4,164,104 (58%)
LRCA	Proposition 6	State judiciary	Establish provisions relating to the juries of civil trials.	a	4,332,330 (58%)	3,197,458 (42%)
LRCA	Proposition 7	Energy; Taxes	Establish that the term "newly constructed" for tax purposes shall not apply to the addition or construction of any active solar energy systems.	a	4,749,199 (65%)	2,502,444 (35%)
LRCA	Proposition 8	Eminent domain policy; Water	Establish that no water from the Wild and Scenic Rivers System may be stored unless permitted by statute and prohibit any public agency from condemning any water rights in the delta area.	a	3,918,199 (54%)	3,367,711 (46%)
BI	Proposition 9	Bond issues; Water	Allow for bonds up to $30,000,000 for the improvement of domestic water systems that have are contaminated by compounds or radiation.	a	4,857,006 (64%)	2,686,329 (36%)

June 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
BI	Proposition 1	Bond issues; Water; Parks, land, and natural area conservation	Allow for bonds up to $495,000,000 for land and water resource management and establish the terms of such bonds.	d	2,800,038 (47%)	3,163,823 (53%)
CICA	Proposition 10	Housing; Property	Establish that rent-control is a local government issue and establish it should only be imposed if established through the enactment by voters.	d	2,247,395 (35%)	4,090,180 (65%)
CISS	Proposition 11	Business taxes; Public transportation; Fossil fuel energy; Revenue allocation	Establish provisions relating to the taxation of energy businesses.	d	2,821,150 (44%)	3,544,840 (56%)
BI	Proposition 2	Veterans policy; Bond issues	Allow for the issuance of bonds up to $750,000,000 for farms and houses for veterans and establish the terms of such bonds.	a	3,952,383 (65%)	2,081,982 (35%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	State and local government budgets, spending, and finance	Require that money spent to alter or modify historically restored areas of the state capital come from money specifically appropriated for this.	a	2,975,344 (51%)	2,864,729 (49%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	Housing assistance programs; Initiative and referendum process	Establish provisions relating to low-income housing projects.	d	2,617,478 (41%)	3,756,100 (59%)
LRCA	Proposition 5	Business regulations; Civil trials	Prohibit any government body from issuing a citation to any person connected with news for refusing to disclose their sources of information.	a	4,445,400 (73%)	1,618,175 (27%)
LRCA	Proposition 6	Redistricting policy	Require that all types of districts be reasonably equal in population	a	2,989,761 (55%)	2,475,818 (45%)
LRCA	Proposition 7	Environment	Establish that the political subdivisions may provide aid for cleaning private lands and waters if the President has declared a major disaster in the area.	a	4,986,629 (83%)	1,026,516 (17%)
LRCA	Proposition 8	Bond issues; Energy	Allow the legislature to authorize bonds for the acquisition, construction, and installation of alternative energy source facilities.	a	2,896,767 (50%)	2,874,309 (50%)
CICA	Proposition 9	Taxes	Establish that income taxes cannot exceed 50% of the 1978 rates and establish the indexing of income tax brackets	d	2,538,667 (39%)	3,942,248 (61%)

Colorado

See also: Colorado 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment No. 1	Initiative and referendum process	Establish provisions relating to signatures for initiatives and referendums and create new provisions relating to initiatives and referendums.	a	638,731 (60%)	423,322 (40%)
LRCA	Amendment No. 2	Gambling policy	Allow the General Assembly to conduct a state-supervised lottery to generate funds for the State Conservation Trust Fund.	a	660,213 (60%)	443,289 (40%)
CICA	Amendment No. 3	Administration of government; Property	Establish procedures for municipalities to acquire unincorporated land through annexation.	a	601,302 (57%)	460,084 (43%)
CICA	Amendment No. 4	Property; Business regulations	Allow for the sale of real estate while preventing lenders from accelerating the debt on the real estate or from altering the terms and conditions of the indebtedness or security interest.	d	381,821 (34%)	745,625 (66%)
CISS	Amendment No. 5	Banking policy	Allow commercial banks to request the ability to establish one or more branches.	d	292,323 (26%)	850,454 (74%)
CISS	Amendment No. 6	Administration of government; Transportation	Establish the election of a 15-member board of directors for the Regional Transportation District.	a	570,049 (56%)	444,902 (44%)

Connecticut

See also: Connecticut 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	Residency voting requirements	Remove the waiting six-month waiting period for new state residents to become eligible voters	a	441,087 (66%)	225,096 (34%)
LRCA	Question 2	Voter registration; Voting age policy	Eliminate the provision in the state constitution to allow a 17-year-old to register to vote four months before turning 18, and instead allow the legislature to establish when young people may register	a	370,326 (53%)	326,503 (47%)
LRCA	Question 3	State legislative elections; State executive elections; Age limits for officials	Lower the minimum age from to hold state elective offices, except for governor and lieutenant governor, from 21 to 18	a	357,845 (53%)	320,945 (47%)
LRCA	Question 4	Redistricting policy	Extend the deadline for reapportionment following the decennial census from May 15 to August 1	a	414,907 (67%)	203,837 (33%)

Florida

See also: Florida 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Constitutional wording changes	Abolishes the Florida Constitution Revision Commission	d	1,164,824 (44%)	1,512,682 (56%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Constitutional rights	Provide for a constitutional right of privacy	a	1,722,987 (61%)	1,120,302 (39%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	State legislative processes and sessions	Establish that publishing the title of a bill in the legislative journals serves as the first reading required by the State Constitution	a	1,763,624 (67%)	873,211 (33%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Sewage and stormwater; Pollution, waste, and recycling policy; Bond issues	Allow for the issuance of bonds for water facilities	a	1,826,026 (67%)	899,906 (33%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Transportation taxes and fees; Bond issues; Local government finance and taxes	Remove certain limits on the use of the "second gas tax" to finance bonds for roads	a	1,498,801 (56%)	1,195,483 (44%)

October 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Property tax exemptions; Solar and wind energy	Authorize an ad valorem tax exemption for a renewable energy source device and the property where it is installed	a	1,042,685 (75%)	347,766 (25%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Housing development funding; Bond issues	Allow for the issuance of revenue bonds to fund housing	a	826,742 (57%)	618,694 (43%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Property tax exemptions; Local government finance and taxes	Allow counties and municipalities, upon approval by a referendum of local voters, to grant certain ad valorem tax exemptions	a	916,043 (63%)	541,630 (37%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Homestead tax exemptions; Property tax exemptions	Allow for expanded local homestead and ad valorem tax exemptions	a	1,251,096 (81%)	289,620 (19%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Property tax exemptions; Business regulations	Allow business inventories and livestock to be classified for tax purposes or exempted from taxation	a	1,003,979 (69%)	442,386 (31%)

March 11

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Amendment 1	Homestead tax exemptions	Establish a homestead exemption of $25,000 from certain ad valorem school millage levies, provide procedures for the enactment of the exemption from the millage levies, and allow for ad valorem tax relief for permanent resident renters	a	1,088,729 (70%)	475,834 (30%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State judicial authority	Modify the jurisdiction of the state Supreme Court	a	940,420 (67%)	460,266 (33%)

Georgia

See also: Georgia 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes; Property	Allow the General Assembly to establish property classes for the State Revenue Commissioner’s review of county tax digests	d	441,802 (42%)	598,560 (58%)
LRCA	Amendment 10	Civil trials; Tort law	Allow courts to issue default judgments in tort cases without a jury	a	536,052 (54%)	456,485 (46%)
LRCA	Amendment 11	Civil service	Allow counties and municipalities to create employee suggestion and award programs, funded by public funds, to reward meritorious service	d	413,898 (41%)	591,150 (59%)
LRCA	Amendment 12	State judicial authority	Provide that the venue of juvenile court cases may be determined by the Juvenile Court Code of Georgia	a	680,864 (69%)	311,322 (31%)
LRCA	Amendment 13	Insurance policy; Taxes	Allow the General Assembly to tax life insurance companies on gross direct premiums in unincorporated county areas and reduce ad valorem taxes in those areas	a	595,893 (59%)	418,204 (41%)
LRCA	Amendment 14	Administration of government	Create the Gwinnett Judicial Building Authority as a corporate and politic instrumentality of the State of Georgia	d	337,186 (38%)	558,563 (62%)
LRCA	Amendment 15	Property tax exemptions; Public education funding	Exempt certain property owned by nonprofit corporations promoting education and welfare of children and youth from all state, county, municipal, and school taxes in counties with populations of 600,000 or more	d	435,851 (45%)	537,519 (55%)
LRCA	Amendment 16	Administration of government; Bond issues	Create the Rockdale County Public Facilities Authority, grant it powers to issue revenue bonds, contract with Rockdale County and other entities, and provide facilities or services to the county and its residents	d	375,615 (43%)	491,317 (57%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Public education funding	Allow general obligation debt to build educational facilities, with a transfer of ownership to local school boards upon completion	a	551,884 (53%)	480,798 (47%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Public education governance; Public education funding; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Public school teachers and staff	Authorize a State Board of Education program to reimburse Georgia-certified teachers for tuition costs to maintain certification	a	619,916 (56%)	483,367 (44%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Tax and revenue administration; Public education funding	Authorize the General Assembly to enact a state tax in order to purchase uniforms for public schools	d	193,863 (18%)	869,076 (82%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Public employee retirement funds	Allow the General Assembly to increase retirement benefits for Georgia Firemen's Pension Fund retirees, and ensure no retiree receive more than current benefit levels	a	625,415 (60%)	422,388 (40%)
LRCA	Amendment 6	Insurance policy; Law enforcement officers and departments	Authorize the State to provide indemnification, or compensation, of up to $50,000 to law enforcement officers, firemen and prison guards permanently disabled in the line of duty	a	990,627 (76%)	305,672 (24%)
LRCA	Amendment 7	Homestead tax exemptions	Allow counties and municipalities additional powers to enhance redevelopment programs, and include tax exemptions for properties in redevelopment areas	d	451,821 (45%)	546,357 (55%)
LRCA	Amendment 8	Property; Taxes	Increase the income exclusion on homestead exemptions for senior citizens to $8,000	a	956,519 (84%)	182,088 (16%)
LRCA	Amendment 9	Law enforcement; Marijuana laws	Allow municipal courts jurisdiction to handle cases involving possession of one ounce or less of marijuana	a	689,323 (65%)	373,206 (35%)

Hawaii

See also: Hawaii 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Ballot measure process; Ballot measure supermajority requirements	Require a proposed constitutional amendment to receive votes equal to at least 50% of total voter turnout in addition to a majority of votes cast on the amendment	a	178,030 (68%)	85,530 (32%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Ballot measure process; Ballot measure supermajority requirements	Require constitutional amendments to address a single subject, be presented as yes-or-no questions, and meet additional publication, voter education, and ratification requirements	a	187,093 (72%)	72,682 (28%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	State judicial selection; State legislative processes and sessions	Allow the Senate to convene itself in special session to consider judicial nominations when requested by two-thirds of its members	a	153,868 (61%)	97,929 (39%)

Idaho

See also: Idaho 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	HJR 12	Healthcare facility funding	Allow a state health facilities authority to finance or refinance certain nonprofit health facilities operated by religious organizations.	a	201,277 (53%)	181,278 (47%)
LRCA	SJR 112	Ballot measure supermajority requirements; Initiative and referendum process	Allow citizen initiatives to appear on any general election ballot	a	231,566 (62%)	139,092 (38%)

Illinois

See also: Illinois 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 2	Taxes	It proposed reducing the redemption period on the sale of tax delinquent property.	a	1,857,985 (70%)	798,422 (30%)
CICA	Reduce Size of House of Representatives and Eliminate Cumulative Voting Initiative	Cumulative voting; State legislative structure		a	2,112,224 (69%)	962,325 (31%)

Iowa

See also: Iowa 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Constitutional rights; Sex and gender issues	Prohibit the denial or restriction of rights on account of a person's gender	d	468,708 (44%)	591,925 (56%)
ACCQ	Constitutional Convention	State constitutional conventions	The question appears on the Iowa ballot automatically every 10 years as per the state constitution. It would have called for a convention to revise the constitution.	d	404,249 (39%)	640,130 (61%)

Kansas

See also: Kansas 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	Bond issue requirements; Highways and bridges; Flood infrastructure and management	Allow the state to participate in certain internal improvement projects, including highways, flood control, and federally funded projects approved by a two-thirds vote of the legislature	a	513,971 (72%)	199,747 (28%)
LRCA	Question 2	Ballot measure process	Change the state constitutional amendment process by requiring amendments to be presented with plain-language titles and summaries, voted on separately, and limiting ballots to no more than five constitutional amendments at one election	a	488,357 (71%)	196,021 (29%)
LRCA	Question 3	Business regulations; Banking policy	Require banks to operate under general banking laws and prohibit the state from owning stock in banking institutions	a	582,367 (80%)	146,278 (20%)

Louisiana

See also: Louisiana 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State judiciary	This measure proposed that the jurisdiction for the appeal of all criminal cases, except those that involved the death penalty, would reside with the court of appeals.	a	725,048 (67%)	362,993 (33%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Taxes	The constitution that was adopted in 1974 called for property reappraisal in 1982. This amendment was intended to compensate for the rise in property taxes that might be caused by the reappraisal by raising the homestead tax exemption from $5,000 to $7,500 of assessed value.	a	937,417 (78%)	260,106 (22%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Higher education governance; Administrative organization	This measure proposed that a student member be added to the Board of Regents. It also proposed that student members of the other higher education boards be given voting rights.	a	602,485 (58%)	434,633 (42%)

Maine

See also: Maine 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
BI	Court Facilities Bond Measure	Public land policy; Bond issues	Issue $4 million in bonds to fund improvements to court facilities	d	173,485 (37%)	296,837 (63%)
LRCA	Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1	State legislative elections; Redistricting policy	Align the years apportionment occurred for the state Senate and House beginning in 1983	a	298,113 (67%)	144,976 (33%)
LRCA	Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 2	Initiative and referendum process	Allow referendum votes to be held at the next statewide election, rather than the next general election, and require initiatives be voted upon at an election in November of the year the petition was filed	a	364,629 (79%)	96,099 (21%)
LRCA	Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3	State legislative authority; State judicial selection; State executive powers and duties	Provide that the judges of probate and justices of the peace were to be appointed by the governor unless another method of selection is specified in the constitution or in the statutes	a	288,116 (65%)	156,880 (35%)
BI	Referendum Question No. 2	Energy conservation and efficiency; Bond issues; Environment	Issue $7 million in bonds for energy conservation improvements for public school buildings and the University of Maine	a	317,033 (66%)	160,067 (34%)

September 23

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
IndISS	Prohibit Nuclear Fission for Electricity Measure	Nuclear energy	Prohibit the generation of electrical power by means of nuclear fission	d	161,181 (41%)	233,198 (59%)

June 10

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
BI	Vocational-Technical Institutes and Maritime Academy Improvements Bond Measure	Bond issues; Higher education funding	Issue $8 million in bonds for improvements to vocational-technical institutes and the Maine Maritime Academy	a	67,011 (60%)	44,345 (40%)

March 11

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
VR	Prohibit Gambling Machines Veto Referendum	Gambling policy	Uphold a law that prohibits gambling machines	a	60,757 (62%)	37,406 (38%)

Maryland

See also: Maryland 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	Local government officials and elections	a	512,318 (75%)	171,478 (25%)
LRCA	Question 2	State judiciary structure; State judicial authority	a	606,767 (78%)	175,041 (22%)
LRCA	Question 3	State judicial authority; Criminal trials; Civil trials	a	628,688 (75%)	213,527 (25%)
LRCA	Question 4	Local government finance and taxes	a	469,813 (66%)	246,153 (34%)
LRCA	Question 5	Eminent domain policy	d	301,481 (45%)	371,483 (55%)

Massachusetts

See also: Massachusetts 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	Constitutional rights	Prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability	a	1,503,771 (66%)	758,978 (34%)
IndISS	Question 2	Vehicle and driver regulations; Local government finance and taxes; Public education funding; Revenue and spending limits; Property taxes; Income taxes	Limit property taxes to 2.5% of the value of the property	a	1,438,768 (59%)	998,839 (41%)
IndISS	Question 3	Property taxes; Public education funding; Revenue and spending limits	Limit increases in local property taxes and state taxes, while requiring increases in state aid for local education	d	816,805 (36%)	1,473,804 (64%)
VR	Question 4	Salaries of government officials	Increase for an increase in the salaries of members of the legislature and constitutional officers	d	265,675 (12%)	2,014,261 (88%)
LRCA	Question 5	State legislative vote requirements; Local government finance and taxes	Require local approval before state laws that increase municipal employment costs, such as wages, hours, or benefits, can take effect	a	1,401,897 (66%)	722,425 (34%)
LRCA	Question 6	State legislative processes and sessions	Allow the Legislature to declare a measure an emergency law by voice vote	d	610,138 (29%)	1,479,110 (71%)

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Proposal A	Property taxes; Public education funding; Public education governance; Property tax exemptions; Homestead tax exemptions; Revenue and spending limits	Revise provisions relating to school funding and establish a property tax break for those 65 and older	d	746,027 (21%)	2,769,497 (79%)
LRCA	Proposal B	Alcohol laws	Lower the state's drinking age to 19	d	1,403,935 (38%)	2,250,873 (62%)
LRCA	Proposal C	Homestead tax exemptions; Public education funding; Revenue allocation; Budget stabilization funds; Property tax exemptions; Sales taxes	Exempt part of home property taxes, eliminate sales tax on home energy, raise the state sales tax by 1.5 percentage points, dedicate lottery revenue to schools, and require a state rainy day fund	d	894,441 (26%)	2,583,253 (74%)
CICA	Proposal D	State legislative vote requirements; Ballot measure supermajority requirements; Revenue and spending limits; Property taxes; Property tax exemptions; Homestead tax exemptions	Require 60% voter approval for new taxes and tax increases and revise various other tax provisions	d	1,622,301 (44%)	2,051,008 (56%)
VR	Proposal E	Prison and jail funding; Income taxes	Provide for development of new correctional facilities and the demolition of an old correctional facility and fund such through a 0.1% income tax increase for five years	d	1,288,999 (37%)	2,202,042 (63%)
LRCA	Proposal G	State legislative authority	Allow the legislature to make changes relating to the civil immunity of members of the legislature	d	1,287,172 (38%)	2,134,546 (62%)
LRCA	Proposal H	State executive elections; State executive powers and duties	Establish provisions relating to vacancies in the office of lieutenant governor and relating to the lieutenant governor's powers	d	1,410,912 (42%)	1,927,001 (58%)

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Campaign finance	Require campaign spending limits for executive and legislative offices and public disclosure of campaign spending for all state candidates	a	1,457,454 (79%)	398,551 (21%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Highways and bridges; Bond issues	Remove restrictions on the interest rate for and the amount of highway bonds	d	964,212 (54%)	823,192 (46%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	State legislative authority	Require state senate approval for notaries public	d	944,883 (53%)	850,251 (47%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Redistricting policy	Establish a bipartisan reapportionment commission	d	1,036,581 (58%)	754,935 (42%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Initiative and referendum process	Establish the initiative and referendum process in the state	d	970,407 (53%)	854,164 (47%)

Missouri

See also: Missouri 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 3	Gambling policy	Authorize organizations to conduct bingo games, subject to certain restrictions	a	1,338,272 (71%)	533,458 (29%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Revenue allocation; Parks, land, and natural area conservation; Public land policy	Allocate funds from the one-eighth cent sales tax for payments of commission lands and forest cropland	a	1,152,704 (66%)	603,181 (34%)
CICA	Amendment 5	Tax and revenue administration; Local government finance and taxes; Property taxes; Revenue and spending limits	Limit state taxes to annual income-based adjustments or emergencies, require voter approval for local tax increases, and prohibit unfunded state mandates on local governments	a	1,002,935 (55%)	807,187 (45%)
CISS	Proposition 11	Nuclear energy	Prohibit the operation of nuclear power plants unless federally approved sites for permanent radioactive waste storage exist	d	772,597 (39%)	1,201,821 (61%)

Montana

See also: Montana 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	C-9	State judiciary oversight; State legislative authority	Authorize the legislature to pass laws to make certain proceedings of the judicial standards commission public	a	181,140 (58%)	129,394 (42%)
CISS	I-84	Business regulations; Pollution, waste, and recycling policy	Forbid the disposal of radioactive waste material produced by milling or other processing of ore within Montana, except for the mining of materials like uranium	a	172,909 (50%)	172,493 (50%)
CISS	I-85	Open meetings and public information; Ethics rules and commissions	Require public disclosure and accounting from businesses on money spent to influence the actions of a public official, employing lobbyists, and spending more than $1000 a year to promote or oppose official actions of a public official; also, public officials are required to disclose their business interests	a	259,698 (77%)	76,358 (23%)
CISS	I-86	Income taxes	Require the Montana income tax structure to be adjusted each year to prevent tax increases due solely to inflation	a	233,497 (69%)	102,635 (31%)
CISS	I-87	Business regulations; Pollution, waste, and recycling policy	Provide a voluntary program to recycle beverage containers by beverage and recycling businesses, place a $0.05 minimum refundable deposit on all beverage containers if said program fails to recycle a set amount by a given time, prohibit the sale of non-refillable glass or plastic bottles or cans, prohibit the sale and use of detachable pole tabs and plastic connectors, and allow private recycling centers to redeem and recycle beverage containers	d	100,761 (29%)	248,928 (71%)

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State judiciary structure	Change the number and formation of the Supreme Court judicial districts	d	265,791 (50%)	271,110 (50%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State judiciary oversight; State judicial selection; State judiciary structure	Change the membership of the Commission on Judicial Qualifications and provide for additional disciplinary measures for judges	a	358,264 (70%)	153,925 (30%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Energy conservation and efficiency; Property tax exemptions	Authorize the legislature to provide tax exemptions for energy conservation improvements	a	314,354 (59%)	221,024 (41%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Public education funding; Property taxes	Enact a system of public education financing that did not impose unfair or excessive property tax burdens	d	245,845 (44%)	311,203 (56%)

May 13

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State executive powers and duties	Allow the governor to fill vacancies in the office of lieutenant governor	a	203,135 (64%)	114,254 (36%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Administrative organization; Salaries of government officials	Create a compensation review commission, which would have had the authority to recommend changes in salaries and expenses for state officials	d	134,589 (44%)	173,515 (56%)

Nevada

See also: Nevada 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	Criminal sentencing; Bail policy	Expand the list of crimes for which bail may be denied to include murders punishable by life imprisonment without parole.	a	177,592 (78%)	49,690 (22%)
LRCA	Question 2	State judicial selection; Salaries of government officials	Allow the legislature to raise judges' salaries during their terms and require one-third of district judges to be elected each general election.	d	64,496 (28%)	162,421 (72%)
LRCA	Question 3	Salaries of government officials	Allow the legislature to set the payment amount for legislators' postage, express charges, newspapers, and stationery.	d	86,624 (38%)	141,758 (62%)
LRCA	Question 4	Public education funding; Public economic investment policy; Higher education funding; State legislative authority	Allow the legislature to determine policies for investing state educational funds beyond bonds and agricultural mortgages.	a	116,445 (52%)	108,288 (48%)
LRCA	Question 5	Local government officials and elections	Allow county auditors and public administrators to be appointed rather than elected.	d	75,265 (33%)	150,730 (67%)
CICA	Question 6	Property taxes; State legislative vote requirements; Revenue and spending limits	Limit property taxes to 1% of value, cap annual increases at 2%, and require two-thirds approval for new taxes.	d	103,334 (42%)	140,018 (58%)
LRCA	Question 7	State judiciary structure; State judicial authority	Create an intermediate Court of Appeals to review District Court decisions, with some cases subject to Supreme Court review.	d	106,131 (47%)	118,933 (53%)
CICA	Question 8	Property tax exemptions	Exempt household goods and furniture used by a single household and owned by a member of that household from state taxation.	a	178,947 (77%)	52,593 (23%)
CICA	Question 9	Sales taxes; Food and beverage taxes	Exempt food for human consumption from state taxation.	a	163,384 (70%)	68,985 (30%)

New Hampshire

See also: New Hampshire 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CCRCA	Gender Neutral Language in Bill of Rights	Constitutional wording changes	This measure proposed replacing terms "men", "man", and "man's" with "people", "person" and "persons" in the Bill of Rights.Note: Although this measure gathered more "yes" votes, it did not pass because New Hampshire requires that an amendment receive greater than two-thirds of the vote to be approved.	d	201,251 (62%)	123,901 (38%)
CCRCA	Present Proposed Amendments to Voters	Constitutional wording changes	This measure stated that all proposed constitutional amendments should be presented to voters at the subsequent November election.	a	261,600 (86%)	40,899 (14%)
CCRCA	Remove Obsolete Provisions	Constitutional wording changes	This measure proposed removing or rewriting three obsolete constitutional provisions.	a	205,432 (68%)	98,732 (32%)
CCRCA	Repeal Article 99	Constitutional wording changes	This measure proposed the repeal of Article 99 and the modificiation of Article 100 to add the provision in Article 99 requiring more than two-thirds of the votes to pass an amendment.	a	189,321 (70%)	80,588 (30%)
CCRCA	Votes Requied to Propose and Amendment	Constitutional wording changes	This measure proposed that three-fifths of the constitutional convention votes would be required to propose an amendment.	a	249,284 (83%)	51,603 (17%)

February 26

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CCRCA	Acting Governor	State executive official measures	This measure proposed that an acting governor may not actively serve in the legislature at the same time.Note: Although this measure gathered more "yes" votes, it did not pass because New Hampshire requires that an amendment receive greater than two-thirds of the vote to be approved.	d	140,400 (65%)	76,609 (35%)
CCRCA	Age requirements for Governor	State executive official measures	This measure proposed to reduce the age requirement for those seeking to be governor.	d	87,065 (39%)	138,993 (61%)
CCRCA	Governor's Councilors	Constitutional wording changes	This measure proposed that the language of the New Hampshire Constitution be amended to reflect that the governor's councilors are selected from councilor districts.	d	104,268 (50%)	106,232 (50%)

New Jersey

See also: New Jersey 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
BI	Public Question No. 1	Bond issues	The Natural Resources Bond Act of 1980 authorized $145 million in bonds for resource recovery, sewage treatment, water supplies, dam restoration and harbor cleanup.	a	1,412,678 (62%)	873,381 (38%)
BI	Public Question No. 2	Bond issues	The Public Purpose Buildings Construction Bond Act of 1980 authorized $159 million in bonds for mental health facilities, correctional institutions, veterans' care facilities and care facilities for the elderly and disabled.	a	1,245,981 (55%)	1,002,915 (45%)
BI	Public Question No. 3	Bond issues	The amendment allowed eligible senior citizens and disabled people to claim a real property tax deduction on dwelling houses sitting on land that they do not own.	a	1,758,598 (75%)	588,183 (25%)
LRCA	Public Question No. 4	Taxes	The amendment to Article VIII, Section 1, paragraph 4 of the New Jersey Constitution increased the maximum property tax deduction for senior and disabled citizens each year until 1983, when it was capped at $250. The annual income limitation to qualify for this deduction was likewise increased to a maximum of $10,000 in 1983 and thereafter.	a	1,790,199 (76%)	555,788 (24%)
BI	Public Question No. 5	Bond issues	The Energy Conservation Bond Issue authorized $50 million in bonds, including $3 million for energy audits and $47 million for projects to make public buildings and facilities more energy-efficient.	a	1,172,160 (53%)	1,024,937 (47%)
LRSS	Public Question No. 6	Gambling policy	The measure would have changed the state gambling laws to allow horse racing on Sundays and extend Saturday horse racing by one hour.	d	996,006 (44%)	1,285,074 (56%)
LRCA	Public Question No. 7	Gambling policy	The proposed amendment to Article IV, Section VII, paragraph 2 of the New Jersey Constitution would have allowed the state legislature to regulate amusement games with prizes of merchandise.	d	996,006 (44%)	1,285,074 (56%)

New Mexico

See also: New Mexico 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment No. 2	Public education governance; Constitutional wording changes	The referendum allowed for large school districts to have seven elected school board members.	a	147,035 (61%)	95,385 (39%)
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment No. 3	Constitutional wording changes; Bail policy	The referendum allowed for the limiting of bail in certain circumstances.	a	157,992 (64%)	88,033 (36%)
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment No. 4	Constitutional wording changes; State executive official measures	The referendum would have allowed for state executive officers to serve two consecutive four-year terms in office.	d	107,676 (44%)	138,393 (56%)
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment No. 5	Jury rules; Criminal trials; Constitutional wording changes	The referendum changed the number of signatures needed to require a convention of a grand jury.	a	124,996 (54%)	108,056 (46%)
LRCA	Constitutional Amendment No. 6	Constitutional wording changes; Salaries of government officials	The referendum would have increased the amount legislators were reimbursed for expenses incurred as part of their duties.	d	105,693 (43%)	138,339 (57%)
LRCA	Constitution Amendment No. 1	Constitutional wording changes	The referendum allowed for five county commissioners in class B counties.	a	132,542 (57%)	100,449 (43%)

North Carolina

See also: North Carolina 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Judge Requirements Amendment	State judicial selection	Require justices and judges to be authorized to practice law before election or appointment	a	888,634 (72%)	352,714 (28%)

North Dakota

See also: North Dakota 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Agriculture policy; Bond issues	Change the security requirement on bonds issued or guaranteed by the Bank of North Dakota to provide more funds for loans to beginning farmers	a	132,014 (51%)	125,973 (49%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Salaries of government officials; State legislative authority	Authorize the state legislature to set the compensation of members and repeal language which provided for $5 in compensation per day and 10 cents per mile for mileage expenses	d	128,341 (49%)	132,768 (51%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	State legislative structure; State constitutional conventions; Redistricting policy	Reorganize legislative reapportionment and allow for constitutional convention measures to be placed on the ballot every 30 years	d	111,250 (45%)	137,849 (55%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	State executive branch structure; State legislative authority	Repeal the executive article and creates a new article requiring executive reorganization	d	94,166 (38%)	153,927 (62%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Severance taxes; Restricted-use funds	Require that at least 15% of the coal severance tax be placed in a permanent trust fund	a	154,590 (60%)	104,762 (40%)
CISS	Measure 6	Revenue allocation; Severance taxes	Levy a 6.5% oil extraction tax, providing for tax relief and specifying use of revenues raised	a	163,991 (57%)	125,231 (43%)
CISS	Measure 7	Housing assistance programs	Empower the Industrial Commission to act as a state housing finance agency in providing mortgage loans to finance the purchase or rehabilitation of homes by low-income persons	a	159,633 (60%)	104,644 (40%)
LRSS	Measure 8	Election administration and governance; Absentee and mail voting; Initiative and referendum process; Ballot measure process; Campaign finance	Repeal and replace the North Dakota election code	d	97,307 (38%)	157,916 (62%)

September 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State legislative authority; Salaries of government officials	Allows the state legislature to increase salaries of public officers during their terms of office	d	53,495 (45%)	65,289 (55%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Property taxes; State legislative authority	Prohibit the legislative assembly from levying a tax on the assessed value of real or personal property	a	63,699 (53%)	56,618 (47%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Property taxes; Healthcare governance; Higher education funding	Repeal the one-mill levy on taxable property for operation of the medical school at the University of North Dakota	d	55,785 (47%)	63,002 (53%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	State legislative authority; Property tax exemptions; Property taxes	Authorize the state legislature to exempt, by law, property taxes for properties used for public purposes	d	51,178 (46%)	60,830 (54%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Local government officials and elections; State judicial selection	Repeal the jurisdiction of police magistrates, constables and justices of the peace; provide for the election of the clerk of district court; allow for the clerk of district court to be elected in counties with populations between 6,000 and 15,000 residents	a	58,827 (54%)	50,643 (46%)
LRCA	Amendment 6	State legislative elections; Election administration and governance; Salaries of government officials	Allow legislators to run for state elective office even though the state legislature raised the salary for the office	d	45,960 (42%)	63,906 (58%)
VR	Measure 7	Primary election systems	Move the primary election from September to June and provides for a presidential preference primary	a	64,231 (55%)	52,699 (45%)
VR	Measure 8	Veterans policy; Parks, land, and natural area conservation	Appropriate money to the Parks and Recreation Department for the acquisition of the cross ranch and other land for a veterans memorial state park	d	57,002 (44%)	72,442 (56%)

Ohio

See also: Ohio 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
IndISS	Changes to State Taxes Initiative	Taxes	Change taxes on personal income, real estate, corporations, and personal property.	d	880,671 (23%)	3,000,028 (77%)
LRCA	Classification of Real Property Amendment	Taxes; Property	Authorize the Ohio General Assembly to classify real property for tax purposes.	a	1,973,344 (53%)	1,751,277 (47%)

June 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Bonds for Transportation Projects Amendment	Transportation; Bond issues	Issue bonds for transportation projects.	d	815,011 (43%)	1,084,438 (57%)
LRCA	Money for Low-Incoming Housing Amendment	Housing	Authorize the state and local governments to borrow money for the purpose of constructing low-income housing.	d	797,020 (41%)	1,137,028 (59%)
LRCA	Municipal Charter Proposal Delivered to Households or Other Methods Amendment	Election administration and governance	Require that copies of proposed municipal or county charters be delivered to each household with a registered voter, rather than to each registered voter	d	868,199 (48%)	956,204 (52%)
LRCA	Non-Profit Electric Utilities Amendment	Utility policy	Allow non-profit organizations to become political subdivisions for the purpose of operating electric utilities and establish laws governing such political subdivisions.	d	793,256 (41%)	1,124,596 (59%)

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	State Question 540	State legislatures measures	Allow the legislature to call special sessions with a two-thirds agreement, while retaining the Governor's authority.	a	508,510 (52%)	476,699 (48%)
LRCA	State Question 544	Transportation	Allow the state to manage federal transportation funds, with legislative authority for administration and taxation on projects.	d	286,758 (29%)	692,351 (71%)
LRCA	State Question 545	Transportation	Allow municipalities, counties, and transportation districts to pledge revenues, issue bonds, or levy taxes for transportation.	d	370,688 (38%)	606,953 (62%)
LRCA	State Question 546	Education; Taxes	Increase the school district emergency levy from 5 mills to 15 mills on taxable property.	d	382,413 (39%)	596,547 (61%)
LRCA	State Question 548	State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Education	Increase the maximum allowable indebtedness for school districts from 10% to 20% of the valuation of taxable property.	d	333,189 (34%)	643,540 (66%)
LRCA	State Question 549	Taxes	Authorize an additional five mill ad valorem tax levy for counties, cities, towns, and school districts.	d	325,669 (33%)	651,404 (67%)
LRCA	State Question 551	State legislatures measures; Redistricting policy	Require apportionment within 45 days after the second regular session, with a commission handling it if the legislature fails.	d	394,403 (41%)	566,722 (59%)
LRCA	State Question 552	Bond issues; Utility policy	Allow municipalities or joint agencies to issue revenue bonds or incur debt for public utilities without constitutional debt limits.	d	344,633 (36%)	605,173 (64%)

Oregon

See also: Oregon 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Measure 1	Public education governance; State executive elections	Repeal the election of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.	d	291,142 (26%)	820,892 (74%)
LRCA	Measure 2	Constitutional wording changes	Remove language prohibiting voting by a person considered an 'idiot or mentally diseased person' and instead guarantee full voting rights to mentally handicapped individuals	a	678,573 (60%)	455,020 (40%)
LRCA	Measure 3	Education; Taxes	Allocate revenues from oil and natural gas taxes, except motor vehicle fuel taxes, to the Common School Fund and limit such taxes to 6%.	a	594,520 (54%)	500,586 (46%)
LRSS	Measure 4	Transportation; Taxes	Increase the motor vehicle and aircraft fuel taxes from 7 to 9¢ per gallon and flat rate taxes on commercial vehicles using non-gasoline fuel.	d	298,421 (26%)	849,745 (74%)
CISS	Measure 5	Hunting regulations	Prohibit the sale and use of snare and leghold traps, except to temporarily control predatory livestock loss or to protect human health and safety.	d	425,890 (37%)	728,173 (63%)
CICA	Measure 6	Taxes; Property	Limit the annual real property tax to 1% of the 1977 true cash value of property and prohibit sales and transaction taxes on real property.	d	416,029 (37%)	711,617 (63%)
CISS	Measure 7	Nuclear energy	Require a federally licensed permanent disposal facility for nuclear waste and approval for plant financing.	a	608,412 (53%)	535,049 (47%)
LRCA	Measure 8	Law enforcement; Bond issues	Authorize bonds up to four thirty-fifths of one percent of true cash value of taxable property to fund state, regional, and local correctional facilities.	d	523,955 (49%)	551,383 (51%)

May 20

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Measure 1	Transportation; Taxes	Limit the uses of gasoline and highway user tax revenues to solely highways, park and recreation areas, and weighmaster activities.	a	451,695 (64%)	257,230 (36%)
LRCA	Measure 2	Alcohol laws	Authorize laws permitting liquor-by-the-drink licenses for other passenger common carriers such as buses	d	325,030 (46%)	383,346 (54%)
LRCA	Measure 3	Energy; Bond issues	Authorize state bonds up to one-half of one percent of value of taxable property in the state for small scale local energy project loans.	a	394,466 (59%)	278,125 (41%)
LRCA	Measure 4	Veterans policy	Standardize veterans’ home and farm loan eligibility requirements.	a	574,148 (81%)	130,452 (19%)
LRSS	Measure 5	Taxes	Continue the tax reduction program after 1980, which limits property assessment increases to five percent	a	636,565 (91%)	64,979 (9%)
LRCA	Measure 6	Housing; Public assistance programs	Define "multifamily housing" for low income elderly housing bond program to include various structures used by low-income elderly households.	a	536,002 (79%)	138,675 (21%)

Rhode Island

See also: Rhode Island 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposal 1	State legislatures measures	The measure would have resolved to change the state constitution to set new legislative session procedure and compensation rates.	d	110,173 (45%)	134,599 (55%)
BI	Proposal 2	Bond issues	The measure authorized $87.7 million in bonds for funding to the Narragansett Bay Water Quality Management District Commission.	a	215,614 (68%)	103,069 (32%)
BI	Proposal 3	Bond issues	The measure authorized $5.23 million in bonds for pre-construction work relating to the Big River reservoir and water treatment plant.	a	184,829 (62%)	112,782 (38%)
BI	Proposal 4	Bond issues	The measure authorized $8,579,600 for mental health facilities.	a	185,267 (59%)	130,251 (41%)
BI	Proposal 5	Bond issues	The measure authorized $1.06 million in bonds for facilities housing programs for abused, neglected and/or homeless youth.	a	187,754 (61%)	119,788 (39%)
BI	Proposal 6	Bond issues	The measure authorized $5.965 million in bonds for improvements to public university and college facilities.	a	181,643 (65%)	99,736 (35%)

South Carolina

See also: South Carolina 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State executive official measures	Allow the governor to serve two successive terms	a	418,937 (56%)	322,557 (44%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Property		a	355,077 (52%)	323,812 (48%)

South Dakota

See also: South Dakota 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment A	State judicial selection	Revise appointment of Supreme Court Justices and circuit court judges	a	158,490 (54%)	135,062 (46%)
CICA	Amendment B	Revenue and spending limits; Property taxes; State legislative vote requirements	Limit property tax increases	d	113,863 (37%)	192,116 (63%)
CICA	Amendment C	Initiative and referendum process; Ballot measure process; State legislative authority	Limit the Legislature’s power to alter voter-initiated laws	d	126,181 (47%)	140,632 (53%)
LRCA	Amendment D	State legislative vote requirements; Initiative and referendum process	Prohibit the Legislature from amending or repealing initiated or referred laws approved by the voters for seven years after the effective date of the law without two-thirds majority vote of each house of the Legislature	d	77,225 (35%)	140,406 (65%)
LRCA	Amendment E	State legislative processes and sessions	Change the legislative session lengths to alternate between forty and thirty-five days, and establish the start date to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January	a	156,630 (56%)	120,703 (44%)
IndISS	Initiative 1	Mineral resources; Nuclear energy; Pollution, waste, and recycling policy	Prohibit new uranium mining, nuclear waste storage, and nuclear power plant construction in South Dakota unless approved by both the State Department of Water and Natural Resources and a majority of state voters	d	146,381 (48%)	156,293 (52%)
VR	Referendum 1	Hunting regulations	Allow the hunting of mourning doves	a	182,180 (58%)	129,478 (42%)

Texas

See also: Texas 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 1	Business regulations; Banking policy	Allow banks to use unmanned teller machines	a	2,267,028 (67%)	1,138,094 (33%)
LRCA	Proposition 2	Criminal trials	Authorize the appeal of certain pretrial rulings in criminal cases by both parties involved	d	1,544,020 (48%)	1,687,900 (52%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Property taxes	Require single county appraisal and equalization board for ad valorem property taxation	a	1,778,975 (58%)	1,307,396 (42%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	Gambling policy	Authorize bingo games if approved by majority of voters in the locality, run by specified nonprofit groups, with proceeds supporting charitable goals	a	2,205,355 (65%)	1,189,312 (35%)
LRCA	Proposition 5	State and local government budgets, spending, and finance	Grant the governor the power to exercise fiscal control over spending of appropriated funds	d	1,400,301 (44%)	1,775,810 (56%)
LRCA	Proposition 6	State executive official measures	Authorize governor, with senate approval, to remove appointed office holders, and call special senate sessions for this purpose	a	2,248,941 (70%)	971,069 (30%)
LRCA	Proposition 7	Highways and bridges	Authorize counties with a population below 5,000 people to perform private road work	a	2,154,852 (68%)	1,025,528 (32%)
LRCA	Proposition 8	State judiciary	Restructure the appellate jurisdiction, renaming court of civil appeals to court of appeals and amending supreme court eligibility requirements	a	1,704,913 (57%)	1,278,301 (43%)
LRCA	Proposition 9	Property; Family-related policy	Allow spouses to agree on separate property status for previously owned property or income	a	2,297,464 (70%)	961,614 (30%)

Utah

See also: Utah 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CISS	Initiative A	Sales taxes; Food policy; Food and beverage taxes	Exempt food from the 4% sales tax	d	256,075 (44%)	324,555 (56%)
CISS	Initiative B	Local government finance and taxes; Property taxes; Revenue and spending limits; Ballot measure process; State legislative vote requirements	Set a limit on property tax of 1% of the fair market value	d	258,749 (45%)	313,320 (55%)
LRCA	Proposition 1	Executive official term limits; State legislative processes and sessions; State executive elections; State executive branch structure	Revise the Executive Article of the constitution	a	295,729 (56%)	232,368 (44%)
LRCA	Proposition 2	Property tax exemptions; Public education funding	Revise the Revenue and Taxation Article	d	270,069 (49%)	280,667 (51%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Sex and gender issues; Gender-based labor regulations; Prison work regulations	Permit women to work in underground mines and allow the legislature to create prison work release programs	a	287,987 (52%)	262,881 (48%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	Salaries of government officials	Change the salaries of legislators	d	236,304 (43%)	311,313 (57%)

Virginia

See also: Virginia 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	State legislative processes and sessions; State legislative authority	Authorize the General Assembly to convene to discuss legislation vetoed by the Governor	a	792,206 (59%)	549,732 (41%)
LRCA	Question 2	Local government finance and taxes	Reduce the maximum allowable debt a city or town may incur	a	852,560 (66%)	445,511 (34%)
LRCA	Question 3	Property tax exemptions; State legislative authority; Property taxes	Allow the General Assembly to authorize personal property exemptions for those who are at least 65 and/or who are disabled	a	1,089,083 (81%)	248,044 (19%)
LRCA	Question 4	Property taxes; State legislative authority; Property tax exemptions	Authorize the General Assembly to allow tax exemptions for property that replaced its natural gas equipment after 1974	a	838,182 (65%)	446,729 (35%)

Washington

See also: Washington 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	HJR 37	State judiciary oversight	Create a judicial qualification commission and authorize the Supreme Court to discipline and remove judges	a	1,043,490 (69%)	464,941 (31%)
CISS	Initiative 383	Nuclear energy	Prohibit the importation and storage of non-medical radioactive wastes generated outside the state.	a	1,211,606 (75%)	393,415 (25%)
BI	Referendum 38	Water storage; Bond issues	Provide a $125 million bond to fund the planning, construction, and improvement of water supply facilities	a	1,008,646 (66%)	527,454 (34%)
BI	Referendum 39	Pollution, waste, and recycling policy; Bond issues	Provide a $450 million bond for the construction and improvement of public waste disposal facilities	a	964,450 (63%)	558,328 (37%)
LRCA	SJR 132	Public land policy; Federal government issues	Remove constitutional legal barriers that restrict the state's control over unappropriated federal public lands.	d	579,060 (40%)	864,850 (60%)

West Virginia

See also: West Virginia 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Gambling policy	a	380,790 (64%)	216,659 (36%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Property; Taxes	a	498,466 (85%)	88,346 (15%)

Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRSS	Question 1	Residency voting requirements	Allow non-resident property owners in public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts to vote at district meetings	a	1,210,452 (77%)	355,024 (23%)

Wyoming

See also: Wyoming 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State judiciary	d	44,446 (20%)	181,004 (80%)

Other years

Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.

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