1938 ballot measures

1938 State Ballot Measures
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By state

Arizona

See also: Arizona 1938 ballot measures

November 8, 1938

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Measure Nos. 102-103	State legislatures	Prohibit the appointment of a state legislator to public office during their term	a	37,438 (57%)	28,478 (43%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 104-105	Property; Taxes	Provide for the tax exemption of a person's bona fide home for a value of up to $5,000		39,589 (47%)	43,771 (53%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 304-305	Administration	Provide for the mandate that all non-elected state officers be appointed by the governor for a term coterminous with the governor’s term		33,016 (49%)	34,752 (51%)

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 24	Judiciary	Allows probate courts to be presided over by a judge of the chancery court	a
LRCA	Amendment 25	Gov't Finances	Provides for the construction of county hospitals, courthouses and jails	a
LRCA	Amendment 26	Elections	Eliminates the poll tax	d
CICA	Amendment 27	Labor	Allows legislature to determine amount of worker's compensation should be paid for injury or death at work	a
CICA	Amendment 28	Bonds	Authorizes refunding of highway bonds	d
CICA	Amendment 29	Taxes	Exempts new industries from property tax	a
CICA	Amendment 30	Admin of Gov't	Establishes a State Board of Education	d
CICA	Amendment 31	Judiciary	Allows Supreme Court to regulate the practice of law	a
CICA	Amendment 32	Admin of Gov't	Provides a method for filling vacancies	a
LRSS	Act 8	Public works	Provide for payment of bridge and municipal improvements	d
CISS	Act 1	Alcohol	Limit manufacture and sale of alcohol near churches and schools	d

California

See also: California 1938 ballot propositions

November 8, 1938

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
VR	Proposition 10	Allow bidding on 11 parcels of state-owned tide and overflowed land at Huntington Beach for oil drilling from piers, islands or groins.		491,973 (23%)	1,666,251 (77%)
LRCA	Proposition 11	Divide California into 5 equalization districts and declare that the State Board of Equalization be made up of one member from each district.		540,578 (28%)	1,371,153 (72%)
LRCA	Proposition 12	Prohibit taxes, license fees, and other charges for any property controlled by the San Francisco Bay Exposition corporation for the Golden Gate International Exposition of 1939.	a	1,067,573 (53%)	943,533 (47%)
VR	Proposition 13	Allow governmental subdivisions to use revenue bonds to pay for the construction or acquisition of public utilities.		516,591 (26%)	1,465,841 (74%)
LRCA	Proposition 14	Establish procedures regarding when a judge should be removed from the Supreme Court.	a	1,782,350 (84%)	346,701 (16%)
LRCA	Proposition 15	Increase the number of members on the Judicial Council from 15 and allow the Council to make rules regarding all judges in the state.		806,742 (45%)	972,526 (55%)
LRCA	Proposition 16	Declare that retired judges continue as a judicial officer but may only exercise judicial power when assigned.		822,982 (43%)	1,105,183 (57%)
LRCA	Proposition 17	Require that once an initiative has been presented to the Secretary of State such measure be voted on in the next general election or special election.	a	985,255 (54%)	832,359 (46%)
LRCA	Proposition 18	Require money controlled by any state agency be held in a trust by the State Treasurer and allow the State Treasurer to distribute the funds in such trust.		826,901 (45%)	998,421 (55%)
LRCA	Proposition 19	Allow surplus money from the Veterans’ Farm and Home Preservation Act of 1921 fund be distributed amongst veterans.		405,552 (21%)	1,493,574 (79%)
CISS	Proposition 1	Define lawful and unlawful picketing, boycotting, and display of banners and recognize the right of employees to strike and bargain collectively,		1,067,229 (42%)	1,476,379 (58%)
CICA	Proposition 20	Exempt homes valued up to $1,000 from taxation, repeal the sales tax, and phase out taxes on improvements and personal property.		372,386 (17%)	1,836,585 (83%)
LRCA	Proposition 21	Extend the tax exemption to furnishings and personal property of religious buildings and buildings and property used to provide aid to orphans.		760,482 (36%)	1,323,176 (64%)
LRCA	Proposition 22	Require that charter amendments be submitted to the local legislative body and require that voters vote on such amendments within 60 days of filing.		702,387 (39%)	1,086,405 (61%)
LRCA	Proposition 23	Allow for $10 per day per member of both houses of the legislature for legislative help.		451,880 (25%)	1,378,262 (75%)
VR	Proposition 24	Allow bidding on 11 parcels of state-owned tide and overflowed land at Huntington Beach for drilling and require a minimum of 5 wells per parcel.		309,795 (15%)	1,744,801 (85%)
CICA	Proposition 25	Create the State Retirement Life Payments Administrator and require the state issue retirement compensation warrants and stamps.		1,143,670 (45%)	1,398,999 (55%)
CISS	Proposition 2	Establish regulations for animal pounds.		721,126 (31%)	1,581,258 (69%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Require motor vehicle and gas tax money, vehicle license fees, and vehicle license tax money be used for street and highway purposes.	a	1,505,043 (66%)	766,063 (34%)
CICA	Proposition 4	Create the Highway and Traffic Safety Commission, eliminate the current State Highway Commission, and transfer the California Highway Patrol to the control of the Highway and Traffic Safety Commission.		904,491 (40%)	1,358,351 (60%)
CISS	Proposition 5	Authorize the State Fish and Game Commission to issue permits for delivering fish, mollusks, or crustaceans beyond state waters.	a	1,309,007 (62%)	795,023 (38%)
LRCA	Proposition 6	Tax insurance companies at 2.6% the amount of gross premiums minus return premiums.	a	1,424,076 (70%)	609,135 (30%)
LRCA	Proposition 7	Give the legislature the power to administer relief for those suffering from hardship.	a	1,166,589 (58%)	834,332 (42%)
LRCA	Proposition 8	Give the legislature the power to apportion funds from the State Treasury for municipal purposes and allow the legislature to gift things of value to municipal corporations.		479,500 (26%)	1,395,523 (74%)
LRCA	Proposition 9	Remove the provision exempting $1,000 worth of property from taxation for veterans released from active duty because of a disability.		839,379 (39%)	1,288,517 (61%)

Colorado

See also: Colorado 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Measure 1	Health Care	Gives licensed health practitioners the power to regulate their own professions and certain rights in tax supported health institutions	d
CICA	Measure 2	Pension	Repeals the $45.00 per month old age pension amendment and empowers the General Assembly to provide for pensions	d
CISS	Measure 3	Business	Repeals the chain store tax	d

Florida

See also: Florida 1938 ballot measures

November 8, 1938

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Homestead Tax Exemption Amendment	Provide for a homestead property tax exemption	a	119,628 (91%)	11,442 (9%)
LRCA	Laws Regarding Municipalities Amendment	Require state laws regarding municipalities be uniform and require publication of proposed changes to state laws regarding municipalities	a	99,996 (91%)	10,204 (9%)
LRCA	National Guard Amendment	Establish a Florida National Guard	a	98,616 (86%)	16,365 (14%)
LRCA	Raising of Revenue for the State Amendment	Require the state to raise funds to provide for education and to pay existing indebtedness	a	110,104 (88%)	15,106 (12%)

Georgia

See also: Georgia 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Bonds	Increases the bonded indebtedness of the city of Adel	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Bonds	Allows the city of Baxley to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Bonds	Allows the Berrien County Beaverdam School District to incur bonded indebtedness	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Bonds	Allows the city of Blue Ridge to create bonded debt	a
LRCA	Amendment 5	Taxes	Allows the Brantley County Board of Education to levy an additional school tax	a
LRCA	Amendment 6	Taxes	Establishes fire prevention districts in Cobb County and provides for a tax levy to support the districts	a
LRCA	Amendment 7	Bonds	Allows the city of Dublin to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 8	Bonds	Allows the city of Eastman to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 9	Gov't Finances	Authorizes Fannin County to make temporary loans	a
LRCA	Amendment 10	Taxes	Provides counties the ability to levy taxes for the conservation of forests and natural resources	a
LRCA	Amendment 11	Taxes	Allows Floyd County to levy a tax to benefit high schools	a
LRCA	Amendment 12	Bonds	Allows the city of Gainesville to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 13	Bonds	Allows the city of Homerville to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 14	Bonds	Allows the city of Homerville to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 15	Taxes	Allows the general assembly to delegate county authority to levy taxes	a
LRCA	Amendment 16	Bonds	Allows the city of Jefferson to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 17	Bonds	Allows the Twigg County Jeffersonville School District to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 18	Gov't Finances	Authorizes the city of Macon to make temporary loans	a
LRCA	Amendment 19	Bonds	Allows the Ware County Pineview Jamestown School District to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 20	Bonds	Allows the city of Savannah to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 21	Bonds	Allows the town of Sparks to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 22	Bonds	Allows the city of Vidalia to issue refunding bonds	a
LRCA	Amendment 23	Bonds	Allows the town of Willacoochee to issue refunding bonds	a

Idaho

See also: Idaho 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CISS	INIT 1	Hunt & Fish	Creates the Fish and Game Commission	a

Illinois

See also: Illinois 1938 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Illinois Banking Amendment	Banking	Shall rules regarding banks and banking be modified to reduce stockholder liability?	d
AQ	National Draft	War & Peace	Shall the Illinois representatives in Congress vote against a national draft?	a

Maine

See also: Maine 1938 ballot measures

September 12

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposed Amendment to the Constitution	Suffrage	Lengthens time required to establish residency for voting purposes	a

Maryland

See also: Maryland 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Lottery	Permits the General Assembly to authorize a state lottery	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Judiciary	Adds another judge to the 2nd judicial circuit	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Taxes	Authorizes the general assembly to enact a state income tax	d
VR	Amendment 4	Marriage & family	Requires a 48 hour waiting period between the application for a marriage license and the ceremony	a

Massachusetts

See also: Massachusetts 1938 ballot measures

November 8, 1938

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
IndICA	Question 1	Provide for biennial legislative sessions and a biennial budget	a	748,030 (64%)	417,134 (36%)
IndISS	Question 2	Provide free public taxicab stands in cities and towns that accept the terms	a	664,762 (52%)	614,487 (48%)

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1938 ballot measures

November 8, 1938

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Proposal No. 1	Establish four-year terms for the county clerk, county prosecuting attorney, county sheriff, county treasurer, and county register of deeds		414,832 (32%)	872,057 (68%)
CICA	Proposal No. 2	Establish the non-partisan appointment and nomination process for supreme court justices and establish the term of supreme court justices as eight years		504,904 (40%)	745,312 (60%)
CICA	Proposal No. 3	Require gas and license plate taxes be used for roads	a	813,289 (61%)	529,859 (39%)
VR	Proposal No. 4	Create the State Department of Public Assistance to manage welfare and relief matters		497,569 (46%)	572,756 (54%)

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Property	Authorizes the legislature to exchange state public lands for federal lands	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Gov't Acc	Changes requirements for publishing charter amendments	d

Missouri

See also: Missouri 1938 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Issue 1	Salaries	Increases state legislative salaries	d
LRCA	Issue 2	Term Limits	State Treasurer is eligible for re-election "as his own successor"	d
LRCA	Issue 3	Taxes	Authorizes count courts to levy a special tax for support of county hospitals	d
LRCA	Issue 4	Pension	Authorizes pensions for persons over 65 years of age	a
VR	Issue 5	Taxes	Creates a $0.03 tax on gasoline	d
CICA	Issue 6	Transportation	Creates motor fuel tax and the State Highway Commission	d
CICA	Issue 7	Legislature	Creates numerous changes in state legislative procedures	d
CICA	Issue 8	Taxes	Levies taxes for the state school system	d
CICA	Issue 9	Term Limits	Allows sheriffs and coroners to succeed themselves	d

Montana

See also: Montana 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Term limits	Determines terms of office for county officers	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Education	Provides for the investment of the public school permanent fund	a
VR	IR-40	Alcohol	Regulates, licenses and authorizes the sale of liquor at retail establishments	a
CISS	I-41	Transportation	Authorizes the issuance of debentures for the state highway fund	a

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Amendment 1	Gambling	Licenses slot machines	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Banking	Fixes individual liability of stockholders in banking institutions	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	State exec	Reduces the number of elective state executive officers	d
LRCA	Amendment 4	Admin of gov't	Provides that the superintendent of public instruction be a member of the Board of Educational Lands and Funds	d
LRCA	Amendment 5	Admin of gov't	Changes the membership of the Board of Pardons	d
LRCA	Amendment 6	State exec	Authorizes the recall of state executive officers	d

Nevada

See also: Nevada 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CISS	Question 2	Hunting	Bounty on predatory animals	d

New Hampshire

See also: New Hampshire 1938 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CCR	Question 1	Elections	Shall absentee voting be permitted?	d
CCR	Question 2	Taxes	Shall motor vehicle revenues be used solely for highway purposes?	a
CCR	Question 3	Con Language	Shall the legislature define the word pauper as it is used in the constitution?	d
CCR	Question 4	Taxes	Shall the legislature be permitted to levy certain taxes?	d

New York

See also: New York 1938 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 1	Con Convention	Relates to an amendment submitted to the Constitution by the Constitutional Convention	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 2	Admin of Gov't	Relates to increasing the terms of state senators from two to four years	d
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 3	Transportation	Eliminates railroad grade crossings	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 4	Housing	Authorizes a state debt for low-rent housing and slum clearance	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 5	Judiciary	Relates to the amendment of a judiciary article	d
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 6	Labor	Relates to the rights of labor and fixing wages on public works projects	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 7	Direct Democracy	Prohibits voting by any system of proportional representation	d
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 8	Welfare	Permits the use of state money and credit for social welfare	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 9	Transportation	Relates to the exclusion of $315 million from the debt limit of NYC for the unification of transit facilities	a

North Carolina

See also: North Carolina 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Term limits	Increases terms of office for sheriffs and coroners	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Admin of gov't	Establishes a Department of Justice	a

North Dakota

See also: North Dakota 1938 ballot measures

June 28

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	County Government Management Referendum	Local Gov't	Deals with a manager plan of county government	d
LRCA	County Officers Election Terms Referendum	Local Gov't	Deals with the election terms for county officials	d
VR	Dancing and Liquor Sales Referendum	Alcohol	Prohibits dancing where liquor is sold	a
LRCA	School & Public Land Sales Referendum	Admin of Gov't	Regulates the sale of school and public lands	a
CICA	Legislators and State Employment Initiative	Legislature	Prohibits members of the state legislature from accepting state employment during their terms of office	a
CICA	Tax Commissioner Election Initiative	Elections	Establishes election of the Tax Commissioner in 1940 on the no-party ballot	a
CICA	Public Funds in State Treasury Initiative	Bonds	Clarifies which public funds are to be deposited in the state Treasury	a
CICA	Board of Higher Education Initiative	Education	Creates a Board of Higher Education	a
CISS	Abolishing Regulatory Department Initiative	Admin of Gov't	Abolishes the Regulatory Department	a
CISS	Civil Service Initiative	Civil Service	Creates a state civil service for state employees	d
CISS	County Bond Rules Initiative	Bonds	Creates rules governing transactions in county securities	d
CISS	Legal Interest Rates Initiative	Business	Reduces the legal rate of interest	a
CISS	Municipal Appointments Initiative	Local Gov't	Creates commission to appoint city and village officials	d

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CISS	Repeal Liquor Control Initiative	Alcohol	Repeals of the Liquor Control Act of November 1936	d
CISS	Old Age Pensions Initiative	Welfare	Provides minimum pension under state old age assistance	a
VR	Volume-Based License Fees for Creameries Referendum	Taxes	Provides for volume-based license fees for creameries	d

Ohio

See also: Ohio 1938 ballot measures

November 8, 1938

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Judicial Appointment Initiative	Provide for the original appointment of judges to the supreme court and establishing a method for voters to adopt or rescind appointment procedures for lower courts		621,011 (33%)	1,237,443 (67%)

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	State Question 205	Utilities	Allows rural utility districts to incur debt for the purpose of making improvements.	d
VR	State Question 216	Gambling	Upholds existing laws about slot, vending and pin machines	d
VR	State Question 236	Taxes	Upholds laws concerning the allocation of taxes on oleomargarine	d
VR	State Question 238	Natural resources	Upholds laws concerning state oil inspectors	d
LRCA	State Question 242	Labor	Authorizes state institutions and school districts to provide retirement and death or disability benefits to employees	d
LRCA	State Question 243	Legislature	Sets the size and salary for the legislature	d

Oregon

See also: Oregon 1938 ballot measures

November 8, 1938

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Measure Nos. 300-301	State legislatures	Extend the period for the governor to review and approve or veto bills from five to twenty days.	a	233,384 (71%)	93,752 (29%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 302-303	Banking	Repeal the bank stockholders double liability, making each stockholder individually liable to depositors.		133,525 (45%)	165,797 (55%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 304-305	State legislatures; Government salaries	Set state legislators' daily compensation at no more than $8 for up to 50 days during regular sessions and 10 cents per mile traveled to and from meeting place.		149,356 (47%)	169,131 (53%)
LRSS	Measure Nos. 306-307	Healthcare; Marriage and family	Require medical examinations and certification of all marriage license applicants.	a	277,099 (81%)	66,484 (19%)
VR	Measure Nos. 308-309	Gambling; Law enforcement	Prohibit slot machines and require sheriffs to seize any such machine and, upon recognition by a court, destroy the machine.	a	204,561 (62%)	126,580 (38%)
VR	Measure Nos. 310-311	Gambling	Ban all games of chance and provide punishments for violations.	a	197,912 (61%)	129,043 (39%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 312-313	Federal constitutional	Call for a constitutional convention to consider an amendment to the U.S. Constitution implementing the Townsend Plan.	a	183,781 (55%)	149,711 (45%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 314-315	Taxes; Welfare	Implement a two percent transaction tax to create a fund for monthly payments to unemployed individuals over the age of 65.		112,172 (34%)	219,557 (66%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 316-317	Labor	Define “labor dispute” as a controversy between employer and employees and restrict revenues of collective bargaining organizations.	a	197,771 (57%)	148,460 (43%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 318-319	Water	Declare the preservation of rivers, streams, lakes and watersheds for public health and wildlife and create the state sanitary authority.	a	247,685 (77%)	75,295 (23%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 322-323	Alcohol; Business	Prohibit the sale of alcoholic liquor by entities other than the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.		118,282 (35%)	222,221 (65%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 324-325	Gambling	Legalize certain lotteries and other forms of gambling and authorize the state to exclusively license them.		141,792 (44%)	180,329 (56%)

South Dakota

See also: South Dakota 1938 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Legislature Membership	Legislature	Increases the membership of the legislature	d
VR	Unemployment Compensation Commission	Admin of gov't	Abolishes the Unemployment Compensation Commission	d

Texas

See also: Texas 1938 ballot measures

November 8, 1938

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 1	Administration	Eliminate outdated language from state official oaths, mandating a pledge to "preserve, protect, and defend" federal and state laws and constitutions	a	89,899 (56%)	71,753 (44%)

Washington

See also: Washington 1938 ballot measures

November 8, 1938

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
ITP	Initiative 126	Education; Elections	Provide for the establishment of nonpartisan nominations and elections for school superintendents.	a	293,202 (66%)	153,142 (34%)
ITP	Initiative 129	Property; Taxes	Provide for a limit of 40 mills on the aggregate annual tax levy on real and personal property, with a limit of 2 mills on the levy by the state.	a	340,296 (69%)	149,534 (31%)
ITP	Initiative 130	Labor	Require a majority vote by employees to start a strike and the submission of written demands to employers, and provide penalties for violators.		268,848 (48%)	295,431 (52%)
LRCA	SJR 5	Taxes	Provide that the constitution does not prevent a graduated net income tax law.		141,375 (33%)	285,946 (67%)

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