1961 ballot measures

1961 State Ballot Measures
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By state

Maine

See also: Maine 1961 ballot measures

October 10

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
BI	Referendum Question No. 1	Transportation	Issues $6 million in bonds for the construction of state highways	a
BI	Referendum Question No. 2	Housing	Issues $2.6 million bonds for construction of self-liquidating student housing at teachers colleges	a
LRCA	Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1	Pension	Limits uses of funds in State Retirement System to retirement purposes	aot
LRCA	Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 2	Bonds	Allows voters to issue municipal bonds for construction and industrial purposes	aot

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1961 ballot measures

April 3, 1961

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Aid for Development Amendment	Allow the state to provide financial aid for industrial, manufacturing, and municipal development projects		541,826 (49%)	568,476 (51%)
CCQ	Constitutional Convention Question	Call a constitutional convention to revise the state constitution	a	596,433 (51%)	573,012 (49%)

New Jersey

See also: New Jersey 1961 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	Bond issues	Allows for $40 million in bonds for state institutions for health and welfare.	a
LRCA	Question 2	Bond issues	Allows for $60 million in bonds to acquire land for recreation and conservation.	a
LRCA	Question 3	Administration of government	Ensures the continuation of government following an attack.	a
LRSS	Question 4	Gambling	Licenses amusement games at agricultural fairs.	a

New York

See also: New York 1961 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 1	Judiciary	Repeals Article 6 of the state Constitution and replaces it with an new Article 6	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 2	Admin of Gov't	Limits the number of state civil departments	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 3	Gov't Finances	Authorizes the purchase and lease of railroad commuter cars	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 4	Gov't Finances	Authorizes the loan of state money to non-profit corporations for industrial and manufacturing plants to provide employment	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 5	Gov't Finances	Authorizes a state debt in the event of a economic recession	d
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 6	Gov't Finances	Authorizes the state liability of the construction of building at institutions of higher education	d
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 7	Forests	Authorizes the use of forest preserve land in Hamilton county for highway relocation	d

North Carolina

See also: North Carolina 1961 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
BI	Referendum 1	Bonds	Issues bonds for construction of buildings in the capitol area	d
BI	Referendum 2	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on correctional schools	d
BI	Referendum 3	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on educational institutions	d
BI	Referendum 4	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on community colleges	d
BI	Referendum 5	Bonds	Issues bonds for constructing a building to house the state library	d
BI	Referendum 6	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on state port facilities	d
BI	Referendum 7	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on state mental institutions	d
BI	Referendum 8	Bonds	Issues bonds for construction of local hospitals	d
BI	Referendum 9	Bonds	Issues bonds for conservation of natural resources	d
BI	Referendum 10	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on agricultural research stations	d

Ohio

See also: Ohio 1961 ballot measures

November 7, 1961

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Continuity of Government in Emergencies Amendment	Provide for means of a continuity of governmental operation in emergencies caused by enemy attack	a	1,394,429 (73%)	516,992 (27%)
LRCA	Methods for Filling General Assembly Vacancies Amendment	Provide for a different method of filling vacancies in the General Assembly	a	1,251,105 (66%)	650,064 (34%)
LRCA	Militia Age of Service and Use in Disasters Amendment	Extend the age limits for serving in the state militia to 17-67 and provide that the governor can call forth the militia during a disaster	a	947,130 (50%)	944,705 (50%)
LRCA	Senate Advisement and Consent for Gubernatorial Appointments Amendment	Allow the Ohio State Senate to advise and consent to any appointments made by the Ohio Governor.[	a	1,168,831 (65%)	642,512 (35%)

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1961 ballot measures

September 12

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	State Question 401	Law enforcement	Establishes the rights of an accused in criminal prosecutions	a
LRCA	State Question 407	Redistricting	Provides a formula and method for legislative apportionment	d

Pennsylvania

See also: Pennsylvania 1961 ballot measures

Type	Name	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	State government finance	Provides that refunds of taxes and fees can be paid out of a fund without appropriation	a
LRCA	Question 2	State executive official measures and Term limits	Provides that the state's governor can succeed themselves (serve a second consecutive term)	d
LRCA	Question 3	State executive official measures	Provides that the Secretary of Internal Affairs assumes office in January	a
LRCA	Question 4	Taxes and Veterans	Concerns a tax exemption for certain disabled veterans	a
LRCA	Question 5	Local term limits	Provides that a county treasurer can succeed themselves (serve a second consecutive term)	d

Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin 1961 ballot measures

April 4, 1961

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	Set a debt limit at 10 percent of equalized property value for integrated aid school districts	a	409,963 (65%)	224,783 (35%)
LRCA	Question 2	Remove the limit for successive terms of sheriffs		283,495 (42%)	388,238 (58%)
LRCA	Question 3	Grant the legislature power to keep the government functioning in case of enemy attack	a	498,869 (79%)	132,728 (21%)
LRCA	Question 4	Allow for an increase in compensation for public officers other than members of the legislature whose terms are four years or more		297,066 (49%)	307,575 (51%)
LRCA	Question 5	Remove the need for a jury verdict of necessity for municipal eminent domain and instead grant the power to the legislature to dictate by law	a	348,406 (57%)	259,566 (43%)
LRCA	Question 6	Separate private and personal property from other merchant property for tax purposes	a	381,881 (63%)	220,434 (37%)

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