1908 ballot measures

1908 State Ballot Measures
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By state

Alabama

See also: Alabama 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Public Works	Proposes that infrastructure projects be funded by the Convict Fund	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Legislature	Proposes that the legislature meet once every two years	d
LRCA	Amendment 3	Local Gov't	Proposes to establish new counties from pre-existing counties	d

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas 1908 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 9	Suffrage	Implements a poll tax	a
LRCA	Local Bond Issues Amendment	Local Gov't	Regards local bond issues	a

California

See also: California 1908 ballot propositions

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Provides for separate state and local taxation	d
LRCA	Amendment 14	Gov't Salaries	Sets the annual compensation for state officials	a
LRCA	Amendment 16	Legislature	Provides for biennial sessions of the legislature	a
LRCA	Amendment 26	Property	Repeals the section of the constitution that requires the assessment of a mortgage deed of trust	d
LRCA	Amendment 29	Gov't Finances	Prevents the legislature from creating any debt greater than $300,000	a
LRCA	Amendment 31	Business Reg	Allows a corporation to extend its terms of existence for up to 50 years prior to the expiration of the current term	a
LRCA	Amendment 32	Legislature	Limits expenditures by legislators for employees to $500 per day while in session	a
LRCA	Amendment 33	Business Reg	Provides that a stockholder be liable for a proportion of a corporation's debts	a
LRCA	Amendment 34	Business Reg	Prohibits the fictitious sale of shares of capital stock of corporations	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Elections	Allows the legislature to enact laws related to the election of delegates to political party conventions	a
LRCA	Amendment 7	Trials	Regulates the compensation of grand and trial jurors	a
LRCA	Amendment 8	Education	States which schools are included in the public school system	a
LRCA	Amendment 24	Admin of Gov't	Relates to boards of education	d
LRCA	Amendment 28	State Exec	Relates to gubernatorial veto power	a
LRSS	Proposition 1	Capitals	Relocates the seat of government from the city of Sacramento to the city of Berkeley	d
LRSS	Proposition 2	Bonds	Issues bonds to fund the construction of wharves, piers and seawalls in San Francisco	d
LRSS	Proposition 3	Bonds	Issues bonds to pay the debt incurred for the acquisition of an area for a tidal basin in front of San Francisco	d

Colorado

See also: Colorado 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Referendum 1	Gov't Finance	Allows state bonded indebtedness to pay for outstanding warrants	d
LRCA	Referendum 2	Gov't Salaries	Regards the salaries of state officers and judges	d
LRCA	Referendum 3	Gov't Salaries	Regards the salaries of county, precinct and other officers	d

Florida

See also: Florida 1908 ballot measures

November 3, 1908

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Additional Judicial Circuits Amendment	Amend provisions relating to allowing for additional judicial circuits		6,150 (47%)	6,850 (53%)
LRCA	Judicial Salaries Amendment	Establish that the Legislature shall set judicial salaries		6,835 (48%)	7,469 (52%)
LRCA	Tax for State Educational Institutions Amendment	Provide for a 1 mill tax to support and maintain certain state educational institutions		6,961 (48%)	7,477 (52%)

Idaho

See also: Idaho 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	HJR 3	Judiciary	Abolishes the Probate Court, extends jurisdiction of District Court	a
LRCA	HJR 10	Local Gov't	Permits County Assessors and Tax Collectors to employ deputies / clerical as required	a

Illinois

See also: Illinois 1908 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Illinois Deep Waterway Amendment	Bonds	Shall bonds be issued to fund a deep waterway project?	a
LRSS	General Banking Law Amendment	Banking	Shall the general banking law be amended?	a

Iowa

See also: Iowa 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Utilities	Permits the construction of drains, ditches and levees for agricultural, sanitary or mining purposes	a

Maine

See also: Maine 1908 ballot measures

September 14

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Initiative and Referendum	Direct Democracy	Provides for people's veto and direct initiatives	a
LRCA	Const. Revision Election	Direct Democracy	Provides for legislatively referred constitutional amendments to be voted on in September elections	a

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1908 ballot measures

November 3, 1908

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CRCA	Constitution Revision Measure	Ratify the Michigan Constitution of 1908	a	244,705 (65%)	130,783 (35%)
LRCA	Taxation of Property by a State Board of Assessors Amendment	Revise amendments to the constitution relating to the taxation of property by a state board of assessors	a	227,899 (62%)	137,500 (38%)

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Limits exemption of church property from taxation	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Taxes	Permits unlimited taxation for roads and bridges	d
LRCA	Amendment 3	Insurance	Authorizes state hail insurance	d
LRCA	Amendment 4	Education	Establishes qualifications for county superintendent of schools	d

Montana

See also: Montana 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Admin of gov't	Creates a state depository board	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Taxes	Increases the tax levy	d
LRSS	Referendum 1	Bonds	Creates a state bond for higher education	a

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Judiciary	Provides term limits and salaries for judges	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Education	Relates to the investment of educational funds	a

North Dakota

See also: North Dakota 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Referendum	Judiciary	Increases number of supreme court justices from three to five	a
LRCA	Referendum	Admin of Gov't	Sets minimum state land prices at no less than the appraised value and no less than $10 per acre	a
LRCA	Referendum	Education	Limits the ways the school fund can be invested	a

Ohio

See also: Ohio 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Allows for classification of property for taxation purposes	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Legislature	Provides that regular sessions of General Assembly commence on the first Monday in January	d
LRCA	Amendment 3	State Exec	Provides for repassage of bills vetoed by the governor	d

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1908 ballot measures

November 3, 1908

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	State Question 1	Alcohol; Administration	Create a State Agency to dispense spirituous liquors in original packages based on physicians' prescriptions.		105,392 (46%)	121,573 (54%)
LRCA	State Question 2	Property	Establish the Torrens System to adjudicate land titles, issue certificates, and streamline real estate registration and transfers.		114,394 (58%)	83,888 (42%)
LRCA	State Question 3	State capitals	Allow the people of the state to select a Capitol location by majority vote during any election where the question is submitted.		120,352 (63%)	71,933 (37%)
LRSS	State Question 4	State capitals	Authorize the State to obtain a Capitol site with grounds and lots that could be sold for the benefit of the State.		117,441 (61%)	75,792 (39%)
CISS	State Question 5	Property	Allow auction sales of school and public lands, granting lessees purchase rights, capping sales at 160 acres, permitting deferred payments, and taxing upon sale.		96,745 (47%)	110,840 (53%)

Oregon

See also: Oregon 1908 ballot measures

June 1, 1908

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Measure 9	Suffrage	Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution		36,858 (39%)	58,670 (61%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 300-301	Government salaries	Increase legislator compensation from $120 to $400 for regular sessions and from $3 plus mileage to $10 for special sessions.		19,691 (22%)	68,892 (78%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 302-303	Administration; State capitals	Allow state institutions to be located outside of the state capital.	a	41,975 (51%)	40,868 (49%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 304-305	Judiciary	Expand the Supreme Court to five judges and authorize the legislature to reorganize circuit courts' and county courts' powers.		30,243 (37%)	50,591 (63%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 306-307	Elections	Move the general biennial election from the first Monday of June to the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November.	a	65,728 (78%)	18,590 (22%)
VR	Measure Nos. 308-309	Prisons	Provide for the compensation of prison employees and regulate prison labor and costs of prisoners' food and boarding.	a	60,443 (67%)	30,033 (33%)
VR	Measure Nos. 310-311	Eminent domain; Transportation	Require railway firms to grant free transportation to state officers, county judges, and sheriffs in order to acquire land through eminent domain.		28,856 (33%)	59,406 (67%)
VR	Measure Nos. 312-313	Budgets	Appropriate $25,00 annually for four years to purchase land and build armories for the Oregon National Guard.		33,507 (38%)	54,848 (62%)
VR	Measure Nos. 314-315	Education; Budgets	Increase the annual appropriation for the University of Oregon from $47,500 to $125,000.	a	44,115 (52%)	40,535 (48%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 318-319	Hunting and fishing	Restrict salmon and sturgeon fishing for conservation purposes.	a	46,582 (53%)	40,720 (47%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 320-321	Alcohol; Local government	Empower voters of every city and town to license, regulate, tax, and prohibit the sale of liquors within their municipalities.		39,442 (43%)	52,346 (57%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 322-323	Food and agriculture; Taxes	Provide tax exemptions for farm housing, equipment, livestock, and crops.		32,066 (35%)	60,871 (65%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 324-325	Recall; Elections	Grant voters the power to call for a special election to recall an elected official and elect the official's successor at any time.	a	58,381 (65%)	31,002 (35%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 326-327	Elections	Instruct the state legislature to vote for and elect the United States Senate candidate selected by voters.	a	69,668 (77%)	21,162 (23%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 328-329	Electoral systems; Elections	Allow for alternative state electoral systems	a	48,868 (59%)	34,128 (41%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 330-331	Government accountability; Elections	Provide campaign rules and regulations such as campaign contribution limits and punishments for corrupting use of money.	a	54,042 (63%)	31,301 (37%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 332-333	Hunting and fishing	Prohibit salmon and sturgeon fishing except by hook and line in the Columbia River and Sandy River and prohibit salmon fishing during spawning season.	a	56,130 (65%)	30,280 (35%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 334-335	Trials	Mandate that no person shall be charged of a crime without indictment by a grand jury and provide jury selection methods.	a	52,214 (65%)	28,487 (35%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 336-337	Local government	Create the County of Hood River out of the western portion of Wasco County in Oregon.	a	43,948 (62%)	26,778 (38%)

South Dakota

See also: South Dakota 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Attorney General's Salary Referendum	Gov't Salaries	Makes the attorney general's salary equivalent to the other state officers listed in Section 12 of Article 4	d
LRCA	Revise Taxation Articles Referendum	Taxes	Revises the Revenue and Finance article of the state constitution	d
IndISS	Local Liquor Option Initiative	Alcohol	Provides for the licensing, restriction and regulation of intoxicating liquors and spirits by local governments	d
VR	Action for Divorce Referendum	Divorce & Custody	Requires one year residence in state before commencement of divorce proceedings	a
VR	Protection of Quail Referendum	Hunt & Fish	Prohibits quail hunting until October 1, 1912; indefinitely prohibits quail nest and egg destruction	a
VR	Against Sunday Performance Referendum	Sunday	Prohibits most performances and sporting events on Sundays	a

Texas

See also: Texas 1908 ballot measures

November 3, 1908

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 1	Redistricting; Local government	Increase the maximum number of justice precincts per county from 8 to 12 and redistrict county commissioner precincts		69,389 (48%)	74,497 (52%)
LRCA	Proposition 2	Bonds; Voting policy	Increase the maximum school district property tax rate to $0.05/$100 and lower tax approval from two-thirds to simple majority vote.	a	130,402 (71%)	52,077 (29%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Taxes; Local government	Allow local approval of up to $0.30/$100 road and bridge taxes or to issue bonds for 20% of property value for roads and bridges.		24,539 (30%)	57,493 (70%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	Executive officials; Government salaries	Increase the governor's annual salary to $8,000 and the lieutenant governor's annual salary to $2,500		47,396 (30%)	112,430 (70%)

Washington

See also: Washington 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment to VII	Taxes	Affects the assessment and taxation of property	d
LRCA	Amendment to I.16	Eminent Domain	Affects the exercise of the power of eminent domain	d

Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin 1908 ballot measures

November 3, 1908

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	Allow the state to fund public highway construction and improvement	a	116,407 (71%)	46,762 (29%)
LRCA	Question 2	Authorize a graduated income tax system	a	85,677 (69%)	37,719 (31%)
LRCA	Question 3	Increase the time the governor has to approve or veto a legislative bill from three to six days	a	85,955 (76%)	27,171 (24%)
LRCA	Question 4	End the practice of allowing noncitizens with a declared intention of becoming citizens to vote in Wisconsin	a	85,838 (70%)	36,773 (30%)

If you know of a statewide measure that is not listed here or if you notice an error, please email [email protected].