1997 ballot measures
| 1997 State Ballot Measures | |
|---|---|
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| |
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| Part 1: Overview | |
| Current measures | |
| Measure Monthly | |
Forty-four statewide ballot measures were on the ballot in 1997 in eight states.
Number of measures
1997 was a year with a very close-to-average number of measures on the ballot for an odd-numbered election year. Going back to 1989, the average number of measures on the ballot in an odd-numbered year is 45.
| Year | States | Measures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9 | 39 |
| 2019 | 8 | 36 |
| 2017 | 9 | 27 |
| 2015 | 9 | 28 |
| 2013 | 6 | 31 |
| 2011 | 9 | 34 |
| 2009 | 7 | 32 |
| 2007 | 10 | 45 |
| 2005 | 13 | 47 |
| 2003 | 15 | 68 |
| 2001 | 9 | 39 |
| 1999 | 16 | 72 |
| 1997 | 8 | 44 |
| 1995 | 11 | 61 |
| 1993 | 15 | 62 |
| 1991 | 9 | 48 |
| 1989 | 13 | 77 |
| 1987 | 13 | 78 |
| Averages: | 11 | 48 |
By state
Colorado
See also: Colorado 1997 ballot measures
November 4, 1997
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Increase the taxes on motor fuel and the fees for vehicle registration to fund transportation improvement projects. |
|
109,663 (16%) |
585,055 (84%) |
Maine
See also: Maine 1997 ballot measures
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABR | Question 1 | Forests & Parks | Makes the Compact for Maine's Forests into law |  |
| BI | Question 2 | Water | Issues $7 million in bonds, matching $15 million in federal bonds, for water pollution control facilities |  |
| BI | Question 3 | Bonds | Issues $10 million in bonds for the Adaptive Equipment Loan Program Fund | |
| BI | Question 4 | Transportation | Issues $56.85 million in bonds for transportation improvements | |
| LRCA | Question 5 | Suffrage | Repeals provision that prevents persons under guardianship because of mental illnesses from voting | |
| LRSS | Question 6 | Transportation | Expands southern end of Maine Turnpike | |
New Jersey
See also: New Jersey 1997 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BI | Public Question 1 | Bonds | $20 million in bonds for the demolition and disposal of unsafe buildings | |
| LRSS | Public Question 2 | Water | Stormwater management and sewer overflow abatement | |
| LRSS | Public Question 3 | Water | Changes to the Water Supply Bond Act of 1981 | |
New York
See also: New York 1997 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABR | Question 1 | Constitution | Shall New York hold a constitutional convention? | |
| LRCA | Proposal 1 | Judicial reform | Increase monetary jurisdiction of New York City Civil Court | |
| LRCA | Proposal 2 | Admin of gov't | Civil service exam credits for veterans | |
| LRSS | Proposal 3 | Bonds | $2.4 billion in bonds for public schools | |
Ohio
See also: Ohio 1997 ballot measures
November 4, 1997
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amend Worker's Compensation Law Referendum | Amend Workers' Compensation laws and regulations |
|
1,305,040 (43%) |
1,730,502 (57%) |
|
| Bail Restrictions for Felony Charges Amendment | Authorize a court to deny bail to a person charged with a felony offense |
|
2,168,949 (73%) |
803,658 (27%) |
Oregon
See also: Oregon 1997 ballot measures
May 20, 1997
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 49 | Labor; Prisons | Restrict prison inmates from initiating lawsuits about work assignments and allow interstate shipment of prison-made products. |
|
699,813 (91%) |
70,940 (9%) |
|
| Measure 50 | Property; Taxes | Replace the tax limitations in Measure 47 with a reduced maximum assessed property value for the 1997-1998 tax year. |
|
429,943 (56%) |
341,781 (44%) |
November 4, 1997
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure 51 | Assisted death | Repeal Measure 16 (1994), which allowed persons suffering from a terminal disease to obtain a physician’s prescription for drugs to end his or her life |
|
445,830 (40%) |
666,275 (60%) |
|
| Measure 52 | Education; Bonds | Authorize legislation establishing a state lottery bond program to finance public school projects. |
|
805,742 (73%) |
293,425 (27%) |
Pennsylvania
See also: Pennsylvania 1997 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Question 1 | Taxes | Changes to local homestead property tax exemption |
|
| LRCA | Question 2 | State Exec | Require a unanimous recommendation of the board of pardons before the governor can pardon or commute the sentence of an individual sentenced in a criminal case to death or life imprisonment |
|
| LRCA | Question 3 | Voting | Allows for a statute permitting absentee voting by qualified electors who at the time of an election may be absent from the municipality where they reside |
|
Texas
See also: Texas 1997 ballot measures
August 9, 1997
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Taxes | Increase the residence homestead school property tax exemption to $15,000 and provided for the transfer of the tax limitation to another qualified homestead for persons over the age of 65. |
|
693,522 (94%) |
45,619 (6%) |
November 4, 1997
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 10 | Budgets | Limit spending from the victims of crime compensation funds to victim-related compensation, services, or assistance. |
|
763,646 (69%) |
345,563 (31%) |
|
| Proposition 11 | Budgets | Limit the amount of state debt payable from the general revenue fund. |
|
742,798 (68%) |
350,317 (32%) |
|
| Proposition 12 | State judiciary | Establish a deadline for supreme court action on a motion for a rehearing. |
|
858,513 (77%) |
253,254 (23%) |
|
| Proposition 13 | Budgets | Establish the Texas Tomorrow Fund for prepaid higher education tuition as a constitutionally protected trust fund. |
|
811,873 (72%) |
314,516 (28%) |
|
| Proposition 14 | Administration; Law enforcement | Allow the legislature to set qualifications for constables. |
|
869,156 (78%) |
244,472 (22%) |
|
| Proposition 1 | State judiciary; Local government | Allow municipal court judges to concurrently hold multiple civil offices. |
|
423,793 (37%) |
731,044 (63%) |
|
| Proposition 2 | Taxes | Set limits on increases in the appraised value of residence homesteads for property tax purposes. |
|
852,031 (76%) |
273,957 (24%) |
|
| Proposition 3 | Taxes; Water | Provided exemptions or relief from ad valorem taxes on property with water conservation initiatives. |
|
681,060 (62%) |
420,923 (38%) |
|
| Proposition 4 | Constitutional language | Remove duplicate numbering and certain obsolete provisions in the Texas Constitution. |
|
865,397 (79%) |
232,350 (21%) |
|
| Proposition 5 | State judiciary | Allow the supreme court to conduct business anywhere in the state. |
|
665,617 (59%) |
458,791 (41%) |
|
| Proposition 6 | Budgets | Allow the Texas growth fund to invest in businesses without requiring them to disclose investments in South Africa or Namibia. |
|
562,535 (50%) |
564,070 (50%) |
|
| Proposition 7 | Water; Bonds | Authorize the Texas Water Development Board to transfer bond authorizations between water supply, water quality, and flood control categories for optimal fund use. |
|
707,498 (64%) |
398,795 (36%) |
|
| Proposition 8 | Banking; Housing | Expand the types of home equity liens a lender could place against a homestead. |
|
698,870 (60%) |
474,443 (40%) |
|
| Proposition 9 | Taxes | Authorize an ad valorem tax rate of five cents per $100 valuation in rural fire districts in Harris County. |
|
558,400 (53%) |
492,666 (47%) |
Washington
See also: Washington 1997 ballot measures
June 17
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRSS | Referendum 48 | Athletics | Authorizes a public stadium authority to build and operate a sports stadium financed by tax revenues and private contributions, specifically the Qwest Field | |
November 4
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITP | Initiative 673 | Health Care | Can health insurance plans be regulated as to provision of services by designated health care providers | |
| ITP | Initiative 676 | Firearms | Criminalizes the transfer of handguns not equipped with a trigger-lock and mandates the licensing of firearms | |
| ITP | Initiative 677 | Constitutional Rights | Prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, employment agencies and labor organizations | |
| ITP | Initiative 678 | Health Care | Allows dental hygienists who have obtained special licensing to perform without the supervision of a licensed dentist. | |
| ITP | Initiative 685 | Marijuana | Decriminalizes medical marijuana and proscribes treatment, education and community service for non-violent drug users | |
| LRSS | Referendum 47 | Taxes | Allows assessors to adjust property valuation where value increased due to the real estate market | |
| LRCA | HJR 4208 | Taxes | Permits voter-approved school district tax levies to run for four years | |
| LRCA | HJR 4209 | Gov't Finances | Permits local governments to make loans for improvements upon stormwater or sewer services | |
External links
- Citizen's guide to the November 4, 1997 ballot questions in Maine
- Tabulation of the vote for the November 4, 1997 Maine ballot questions
- 1997 New York State election results
- Ohio 1997 ballot measures
- May 20, 1997 Oregon ballot measure guide
- November 4, 1997 Oregon ballot measure guide
- 1997 State of Washington ballot measure election results
