1936 ballot measures

1936 State Ballot Measures
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By state

Arizona

See also: Arizona 1936 ballot measures

November 3, 1936

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRSS	Measure Nos. 300-301	Healthcare; Labor	Redefine the rules and regulations regarding workmen's compensation insurance		15,656 (45%)	19,302 (55%)

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas 1936 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Amendment 1	Redistricting	Provides for the Board of Apportionment to apportion representatives and senators	a
CICA	Amendment 2	Taxes	Exempts homesteads from certain state taxes	a
LRCA	Amendment 21	Gov't Salaries	Increases the salaries of criminal prosecutors	a

California

See also: California 1936 ballot propositions

November 3, 1936

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Proposition 10	Require the use of vehicle registration fees and taxes for highway purposes and require registration fees to be equal for all types of vehicles.		829,440 (44%)	1,061,114 (56%)
CICA	Proposition 11	Create the State Tenure Board to hear cases against instructors and determine tenure.		438,490 (26%)	1,259,603 (74%)
LRCA	Proposition 12	Create the Court of Criminal Appeals to succeed in jurisdiction to the Supreme Court in cases regarding the death penalty and allow the governor to appoint the first justices whose position is later filled by election.		278,498 (17%)	1,378,765 (83%)
LRCA	Proposition 13	Allow state agencies and corporations operating, managing, and controlling fairs and expositions which are given public moneys to use eminent domain.		322,526 (20%)	1,282,644 (80%)
LRCA	Proposition 14	Allow any county with one or more incorporated cities to frame and adopt a charter for a consolidated city and county with the same boundaries as the county.		793,050 (47%)	887,235 (53%)
LRCA	Proposition 15	Allow the legislature to enact laws to repay or refund from public funds for street and highway improvement purposes.	a	857,818 (53%)	764,615 (47%)
LRCA	Proposition 16	Allow water districts and water conservation districts to acquire stock in companies having water possessions and allow the treasurer to temporarily transfer funds to pay the interest and principal of bonds.		706,307 (44%)	883,339 (56%)
LRCA	Proposition 17	Base tax rates for oil rights, mining rights, improvements on leased land, and improvements on land exempt from taxation on the preceding year's tax rate.	a	967,896 (62%)	605,791 (38%)
VR	Proposition 18	Uphold a tax of $0.10 per pound on oleomargarine sold in California.		400,367 (21%)	1,513,924 (79%)
LRCA	Proposition 19	Exempt costs up to $5,000 for compiling the histories of bills, resolutions, and constitutional amendments from legislative expense restrictions.		709,095 (46%)	836,882 (54%)
LRCA	Proposition 20	Allow the governing bodies of political subdivisions to maintain museums and art galleries.		705,417 (43%)	917,941 (57%)
LRCA	Proposition 21	Allow the legislature to provide for punishment, custody, and care for women in a manner different than that of men convicted of similar felonies.	a	879,010 (50%)	871,558 (50%)
VR	Proposition 22	Require those owning stores to obtain a license for their store, and exempt certain businesses.		1,067,443 (44%)	1,369,778 (56%)
LRCA	Proposition 23	Rename the Railroad Commission the Public Service Commission of the State of California and eliminate the fixed term for its commissioners.		306,831 (19%)	1,331,767 (81%)
LRCA	Proposition 24	Require that the first question on a ballot for the adoption of a city or city and county charter be "Shall a board of freeholders be elected to frame a proposed new charter?".	a	834,864 (53%)	751,314 (47%)
CICA	Proposition 2	Require a vote by the majority of electors approving an income tax and repeal the 1935 Personal Income Tax Act and similar personal income tax laws.		737,629 (38%)	1,193,225 (62%)
CICA	Proposition 3	Create the Alcoholic Beverage Commission to take control of alcohol regulation and licensing.		748,486 (34%)	1,432,559 (66%)
CISS	Proposition 4	Establish procedures for the leasing of tide, submerged, or overflowed lands.		971,569 (47%)	1,081,346 (53%)
BI	Proposition 5	Allow for the issuance of bonds up to $5,000,000 for a celebration of the completion of the Boulder Dam and establish the terms of such bonds.		645,279 (39%)	1,013,332 (61%)
LRCA	Proposition 6	Establish procedures for the city of Los Angeles to celebrate the completion of the Boulder Dam.		670,587 (42%)	911,223 (58%)
CICA	Proposition 7	Require that appointments be based on fitness and prohibit dismissals except for with cause after a hearing.		670,407 (36%)	1,174,612 (64%)
LRCA	Proposition 8	Allow the legislature to provide for the registration of electors' conduct of elections.		471,478 (28%)	1,193,690 (72%)
CICA	Proposition 9	Allow all cities, towns, counties, cities and counties, and territories to regulate the sale of alcoholic beverages within their limits.		719,185 (33%)	1,474,571 (67%)

Colorado

See also: Colorado 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Measure 1	Taxes	Imposes an ownership tax on motor vehicles	a
CISS	Measure 2	Health Care	Provides public assistance to indigent tubercular residents	a
CICA	Measure 3	Taxes	Limits tax rates for all purposes to 20 mills in cities and towns of the first class	d
CICA	Measure 4	Taxes	Empowers the General Assembly to provide for an income tax within limitations	d
CICA	Measure 5	Pension	Provides for a $45.00 per month pension for the elderly	a
CISS	Measure 6	Labor	Amends the “workmen’s compensation act to benefit employees”	a
LRCA	Measure 7	Constitutional Rights	Permits women to serve on juries	d
LRCA	Measure 8	Taxes	Empowers the General Assembly to provide for a graduated state income tax	a
LRCA	Measure 9	Taxes	Exempts churches, schools and cemeteries from property taxes	a

Florida

See also: Florida 1936 ballot measures

November 3, 1936

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	City of Key West Municipal Corporation Amendment	Allow the Legislature the power to establish, alter or abolish, a municipal corporation known as the City of Key West	a	114,460 (84%)	21,226 (16%)
LRCA	State Social Welfare System Amendment	Establish a state social welfare system	a	197,927 (92%)	17,149 (8%)

Georgia

See also: Georgia 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Classifies personal property for taxation	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	State Exec	Creates the office of lieutenant governor	d
LRCA	Amendment 3	Admin of Gov't	Creates the office of state school superintendent instead of the office of state school commissioner	d
LRCA	Amendment 4	Term Limits	Extends the term of office for constitutional officers from two years to four years	d
LRCA	Amendment 5	Judiciary	Provides for the disposition of cases delayed by an illness or death	a
LRCA	Amendment 6	Local Gov't	Authorizes the city of Moultrie to pass zoning laws	a
LRCA	Amendment 7	State Exec	Provides that the lieutenant governor be the president of the senate	d

Idaho

See also: Idaho 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	HJR 1	Judiciary	Enlarges jurisdiction of Supreme Court	a
LRCA	SJR 1	Property	Gives the legislature the authority to exchange granted lands for other lands	a
VR	REFER 1	Taxes	Confirms an existing two percent sales tax	d

Iowa

See also: Iowa 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Census	Abolishes the state census	a

Maine

See also: Maine 1936 ballot measures

September 14

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Question No. 5	Hunt and Fish	Relates to the issuance of hunting and fishing licenses to residents	a
IndISS	Question No. 6	Gov't Finance	Prevents diversions of the general highway fund	a

Maryland

See also: Maryland 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Judiciary	Adds a judge to the 6th Judicial Circuit	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Legislature	Allows the governor to fill vacancies in the General Assembly	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Legislature	Removes provision that allows the general assembly to grant charters for banking purposes	a

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1936 ballot measures

November 3, 1936

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposal No. 1	Allow dangerous weapons to be introduced as evidence in criminal proceedings	a	815,221 (59%)	574,324 (41%)
LRCA	Proposal No. 2	Establish provisions for the incorporation of counties		583,057 (44%)	753,315 (56%)
CICA	Proposal No. 3	Exempt certain food products from taxation		581,485 (38%)	944,573 (62%)
CICA	Proposal No. 4	Prohibit certain property taxes and establish an income tax		382,262 (27%)	1,032,384 (73%)

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Property	Authorizes the legislature to exchange state public lands for federal lands	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Taxes	Exempts personal property from taxation	d

Missouri

See also: Missouri 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Issue 1	Gov't Salaries	Authorizes a salary of $125 per month plus travel expenses for the general assembly	d
LRCA	Issue 2	Pension	Authorizes local governments to issue pensions to firefighters	a
CICA	Issue 3	Pension	Prohibits the state from withholding funds intended for teachers' pensions	a
CICA	Issue 4	Admin of Gov't	Creates the Conservation Commission	a

Montana

See also: Montana 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Local gov't	Prohibits the consolidation of counties except by majority vote in counties involved	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Labor	Regards hours of labor in all industries	a
VR	IR-36	Marriage & family	Requires health certificates before marriage	d
VR	IR-37	Insurance	Provides for state insurance of public buildings	d

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Admin of gov't	Abolishes the office of the land commissioner	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Banking	Removes individual liability of stockholders in banking institutions	d

Nevada

See also: Nevada 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CISS	Old Age Pensions	Pension	Relating to pensions	d

New York

See also: New York 1936 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Proposition 1	Bonds	Issues a $30 million bond for unemployment relief funds	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 1	Con Convention	Shall there be a constitutional convention to amend the Constitution?	a

North Carolina

See also: North Carolina 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Allows for uniform taxation across property classes	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Taxes	Increases the limitation on income taxes	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Gov't Finances	Changes the purposes for public debt	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Taxes	Exempts certain homesteads from taxation	a
LRCA	Amendment 5	Judiciary	Gives the general assembly the power to increase the number of supreme court justices	a

North Dakota

See also: North Dakota 1936 ballot measures

June 24

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Referendum	Property	Deals with the assessment of property values	d
LRCA	Referendum	Elections	Deals with the election terms of county officials	d
LRCA	Referendum	Admin of Gov't	Deals with sales or rentals of state lands designated for school or university use	d
LRCA	Referendum	Admin of Gov't	Deals with the sales of school and public lands	d
LRCA	Referendum	Direct Democracy	Increases initiative and referendum signature requirements to 20,000	d
VR	Referendum	Taxes	Keeps a 1935 income tax measure	d
VR	Referendum	Business	Regulates livestock packing plant practices	d
VR	Referendum	Local Gov't	Delineates jurisdictions of police magistrates and city justices	d
VR	Referendum	Alcohol	Grants more municipal control regarding liquor sales	d
CISS	Initiative	Elections	Abolishes the use of absent voters ballots	d
CISS	Initiative	Elections	Makes it unlawful to expend federal funds in the state for political purposes	d

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CISS	Initiative	Alcohol	Legalizes the sale of liquor and allocating the tax and license revenue for apportionment to Counties to reduce real estate taxes	a

Ohio

See also: Ohio 1936 ballot measures

November 3, 1936

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Prohibition of the Taxation of Food Initiative	Prohibit the levy or collection of excise taxes on the sale or purchase of food for human consumption	a	1,585,327 (69%)	719,966 (31%)
LRCA	Stockholder Liability Amendment	Eliminate the liability of individual stockholders of corporations authorized to receive money or deposits	a	1,078,170 (57%)	824,968 (43%)

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1936 ballot measures

July 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	State Question 225	Welfare	Creates and funds state social security and public welfare programs	a
CISS	State Question 226	Welfare	Creates and funds state social security and public welfare programs	a
CISS	State Question 230	Environment	Provides for conservation of water, soil and reclamation projects	d

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	State Question 207	Pension	Authorizes cities to pension meritorious and disabled police officers	a
LRCA	State Question 210	Education	Relieves the State Board of Agriculture of their duties as Board of Regents	d
CICA	State Question 222	Alcohol	Repeals the state prohibition amendment, and replaces it with lesser alcohol regulation laws	d

Oregon

See also: Oregon 1936 ballot measures

January 31, 1936

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Measure Nos. 300-301	Elections	Move primary nominating elections from the third Friday in May to the first Friday after the first Monday in September.		61,270 (28%)	155,922 (72%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 302-303	Government salaries	Determine legislative compensation by law, rather than amendment.		28,661 (13%)	184,332 (87%)
LRSS	Measure Nos. 304-305	Taxes	Implement a 2% sales tax on retail sales and a 0.25% sales tax on wholesale sales to fund public assistance to the elderly, children, and the blind.		32,106 (15%)	187,319 (85%)
VR	Measure Nos. 306-307	Education	Authorize public higher educational institutions to collect a $5 per term activity fee from students.		50,971 (24%)	163,191 (76%)

November 3, 1936

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
VR	Measure Nos. 300-301	Welfare	Reduce the eligibility age of old age public assistance from 70 to 65.		174,293 (49%)	179,236 (51%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 302-303	Business	Prohibit regulation of truthful commercial advertisement.		100,141 (31%)	222,897 (69%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 304-305	Taxes	Authorize school districts with over 100,000 people to levy taxes for 1937 that do not exceed 80% of the total 1932 tax levy of the district.		112,546 (36%)	203,693 (64%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 308-309	Education	Disallow military courses, drills, and services as requirements for higher education degrees.		131,917 (38%)	214,246 (62%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 310-311	Property; Taxes	Limit and reduce the total permissible state tax on real and tangible property to six mills per dollar of assessed and equalized valuation.		79,604 (25%)	241,042 (75%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 312-313	Energy	Allow the state to purchase electric energy from the United States and to develop hydroelectric power.		131,489 (39%)	208,179 (61%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 314-315	Administration; Energy	Allow the board of control to administer state water power and hydroelectric laws.		100,356 (32%)	208,741 (68%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 316-317	Banking	Create the state owned and operated "Bank of Oregon" and its board of directors.		82,869 (25%)	250,777 (75%)

South Dakota

See also: South Dakota 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Legislature Membership	Legislature	Reduces the membership of the legislature	a
LRCA	State Treasurer Term Limits	State exec	Limits the state treasurer to two terms	a
LRCA	Superintendents of Schools Elections	Elections	Makes election of superintendents of schools nonpartisan	a
LRCA	Debt Limit for Internal Improvements	Gov't Finances	Allows internal improvements with a debt limit of 0.5 percent of state properties	a
LRCA	Responsibility of Bank Shareholders	Business reg	Makes state bank shareholders individually responsible	a

Texas

See also: Texas 1936 ballot measures

November 3, 1936

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 1	Alcohol	Establish a state-ran dispensary system, which would give the state the exclusive right to purchase liquor at wholesale and sell it at retail		247,198 (40%)	373,919 (60%)
LRCA	Proposition 2	Redistricting	Limit county representatives at seven, except for counties with over 700,000 people, which get an extra representative for each additional 100,000 people	a	344,173 (59%)	238,879 (41%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Executive officials; Government salaries	Increase annual salaries of the governor to $12,000, secretary of state to $5,000, attorney general to $10,000, and other executive officials to $6,000	a	326,856 (54%)	275,060 (46%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	Pension	Create the Teachers' Retirement System for public school, college, and university employees funded by the state	a	323,725 (53%)	289,763 (47%)
LRCA	Proposition 5	Labor	Grant the legislature to power to pass the laws necessary to provide workers' compensation insurance coverage for state employees	a	356,611 (60%)	237,563 (40%)
LRCA	Proposition 6	Administration; Law enforcement	Establish a board of pardons and paroles, making gubernatorial pardons contingent on board recommendations, except in treason cases	a	422,224 (72%)	167,916 (28%)

Vermont

See also: Vermont 1936 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Question 1	Forests and parks	Vermont Green Mountain Parkway Act	d Effective date of April 1, 1941

Washington

See also: Washington 1936 ballot measures

November 3, 1936

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	HJR 10	Energy	Authorize the state's production and distribution of electric energy and bond issuance for energy and energy districts.		173,930 (38%)	278,543 (62%)
ITP	Initiative 101	Civil service	Establish a civil service system for all employees in the state, counties, cities, schools, public libraries, parks and ports.		208,904 (41%)	300,274 (59%)
ITP	Initiative 114	Property; Taxes	Limit property tax levy for state, county, city, school district and road districts to forty mills and tax levy for public universities to two mills.	a	417,641 (78%)	120,478 (22%)
ITP	Initiative 115	Pension	Establish a state pension department, eligibility requirements, and pension amounts, and authorize tax revenue to raise funds.		152,551 (30%)	354,162 (70%)
ITP	Initiative 119	Labor; Public works	Create Production for Use Districts to employ the unemployed to produce and distribute commodities.		97,329 (21%)	370,140 (79%)
LRSS	Referendum 4	Budgets	Establish a State Flood Control Fund through the issuance of bonds and tax levies and authorization of indebtedness.		114,055 (25%)	334,035 (75%)
LRCA	SJR 20	State legislatures; Government salaries	Amend compensation of legislators to five dollars per day for expenses and five dollars per day for services.		124,639 (28%)	313,660 (72%)
LRCA	SJR 7	Taxes	Provide state uniform tax policies, authorize the legislature to provide exemptions and graduated net income tax but not county tax.		93,598 (22%)	328,675 (78%)

Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin 1936 ballot measures

November 3, 1936

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	Exclude notaries public and certain railroad and public utility employees from a ban on public officials receiving free passes and other privileges	a	365,971 (50%)	361,799 (50%)

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