1981 ballot measures
| 1981 State Ballot Measures | |
|---|---|
1982 »
« 1980
| |
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| Part 1: Overview | |
| Current measures | |
| Measure Monthly | |
By state
Kentucky
See also: Kentucky 1981 ballot measures
May 26
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Amendment 2 | Taxes, Property | Proposes that property owners which are disabled can be exempt from taxation on the property up to $6500. |
November 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Amendment 1 | Term Limits | Proposes that public officials cannot serve another term until 4 years have expired after their two successive terms. |
Maine
See also: Maine 1981 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndISS | Maine Energy Commission Question | Utilities | Creates a Maine Energy Commission | |
| BI | Referendum Question No. 1 | Development | Issues $33.3 million in bonds for agricultural and economic development | |
| BI | Referendum Question No. 2 | Transportation | Issues $12.3 million for bridge and highway improvements | |
| BI | Referendum Question No. 3 | Energy | Issues $2 million for energy conservation improvements to state-owned buildings | |
| BI | Referendum Question No. 4 | Forests & Parks | Issues $1.5 million for the development of state parks facilities | |
| BI | Referendum Question No. 5 | Local Gov't | Issues $1 million in bonds to assist municipalities with solid waste for resource conservation | |
| BI | Referendum Question No. 6 | Media | Issues $600,000 in bonds to replace equipment at the Maine Public Broadcasting Network | |
| LRCA | Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1 | Direct Democracy | Places one-year validity limit on initiative petition signatures | |
| LRCA | Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 2 | Legislatures | Requires candidates for house to reside in the district they represent | |
| LRCA | Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 3 | Bonds | Decreases the bonding limit of the Maine School Building Authority to $6 million |
Michigan
See also: Michigan 1981 ballot measures
May 19, 1981
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal A | Reduce certain taxes, raise the sales tax with additional funds going to local governments and schools, and direct lottery profits to the school aid fund |
|
560,924 (28%) |
1,451,305 (72%) |
New Jersey
See also: New Jersey 1981 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BI | Question 1 | Bond issues | Allows for $350 million in bonds for improvements to water supply systems. | |
| BI | Question 2 | Bond issues | Allows for $100 million in bonds for the cleanup of hazardous waste. | |
| BI | Question 3 | Bond issues | Allows for $50 million in bonds for farmland preservation grants. | |
| BI | Question 4 | Bond issues | Removes the 6 percent interest rate ceiling on previous water conservation bonds. | |
| LRCA | Question 5 | Taxes | Allows for the use of gambling revenues to fund the expansion of health and transportation services for senior and disabled citizens. | |
| LRCA | Question 6 | State executive officials | Requires the Governor to consider all bills at least 10 days before the end of a legislative term, extends the consideration period to 45 days and provides for a special legislative session to reconsider bills vetoed by the governor. | |
| LRCA | Question 7 | Property | Allows the state to claim land flowed over by a high tide in the preceding 40 years as riparian land, and bars claims to such land flowed over more than 40 years prior if not presented within one year. | |
| LRSS | Question 8 | Gambling | Allows a state commissioner to determine entry fees and prize values of licensed amusement games. |
New York
See also: New York 1981 ballot measures
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BI | Proposal 1 | Bond issues | Creates a state debt for improving correctional facilities | |
| LRCA | Amendment 1 | Bond issues | Permits the legislature to increase the amount the state may guarantee for bonds issued by a public corporation |
Ohio
See also: Ohio 1981 ballot measures
November 3, 1981
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment of Reapportionment and Redistricting Commission Initiative | Establish new methods for establishing general assembly and congressional districts |
|
1,093,485 (42%) |
1,513,502 (58%) |
|
| Private Worker's Compensation Insurance Initiative | Authorize the sale of workers compensation insurance coverage by private insurance companies |
|
572,227 (21%) |
2,164,395 (79%) |
Pennsylvania
See also: Pennsylvania 1981 ballot measures
| Type | Name | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BI | Question 1 | Bonds | Authorizes $300 million in bonds to repair and improve water systems | |
| BI | Question 2 | Bonds | Authorizes $15 million in bonds for volunteer emergency services | |
| LRCA | Question 3 | Redistricting | Establishes a legislative reapportionment commission after each decennial census | |
| LRCA | Question 4 | Pension | Authorizes the legislature to extend increased pension benefits to the spouse of the pensioner | |
| LRCA | Question 5 | Taxes | Requires that aviation fuel excise tax proceeds may only be used for purposes related to air navigation |
Rhode Island
See also: Rhode Island 1981 ballot measures
November 3:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LBM | Proposal 1 | Bond issues | Authorizes $25 million in bonds for mass transit and highways. |
Texas
See also: Texas 1981 ballot measures
November 3, 1981
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Local government | Authorize localities to offer tax incentives and issue bonds for investment and redevelopment of designated areas |
|
473,087 (58%) |
339,020 (42%) |
|
| Proposition 2 | Property | Grant legal title to individuals who mistakenly purchased and paid taxes on land designated for the public free school fund through a patent from the general land office |
|
632,438 (79%) |
170,666 (21%) |
|
| Proposition 3 | Budgets | Permit the legislature to grant a state finance management committee the power to manage the spending of certain funds |
|
293,478 (38%) |
473,886 (62%) |
|
| Proposition 4 | City bonds; Water | Authorize water infrastructure development through surplus state revenue, higher interest rates on unused state bonds, and a bond retirement program |
|
339,816 (43%) |
458,721 (57%) |
|
| Proposition 5 | Food and agriculture; Taxes | Exempt livestock and poultry from taxation |
|
534,078 (67%) |
261,315 (33%) |
|
| Proposition 6 | Taxes | Allow localities to provide property taxation relief to residential homesteads |
|
553,960 (67%) |
278,306 (33%) |
|
| Proposition 7 | Veterans; Bonds | Authorize sale of an additional $250 million in bonds for veteran's land fund, raising maximum interest rate from 6 to 10 percent |
|
511,371 (65%) |
278,306 (35%) |
Washington
See also: Washington 1981 ballot measures
November 3, 1981
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HJR 7 | City bonds; Bonds | Authorize state and local governments to issue industrial development bond to be repaid by such developments and not by public funds. |
|
450,580 (56%) |
357,944 (44%) |
|
| Initiative 394 | Energy; Bonds; Elections | Require that the state must obtain approval from voters before selling bonds to finance a major public energy project. |
|
532,178 (58%) |
384,419 (42%) |
|
| Initiative 402 | Taxes | Provide for the abolition of inheritance and gift taxes and substitute with taxes on net estate transfers. |
|
610,507 (67%) |
297,445 (33%) |
|
| SJR 107 | State judiciary | Remove constitutional limitations on the numbers and powers of superior court commissioners. |
|
385,796 (47%) |
439,542 (53%) |
|
| SJR 133 | Direct democracy | Make changes to the signature submission and verification timelines for Initiatives to the Legislature |
|
581,724 (74%) |
199,516 (26%) |
Wisconsin
See also: Wisconsin 1981 ballot measures
April 7, 1981
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Require primary elections if there is more than one political party nomination for partisan office and more than two candidates for a nonpartisan office in a recall election |
|
366,635 (59%) |
259,820 (41%) |
|
| Question 2 | Allow sewage districts and counties to issue bonds of up to 50 years in length |
|
386,792 (61%) |
250,866 (39%) |
|
| Question 3 | Authorize judges to consider certain circumstances when imposing and setting cash bail |
|
505,092 (73%) |
185,405 (27%) |
|
| Question 4 | Remove a provision about a special act of the legislature creating corporations |
|
418,997 (69%) |
186,898 (31%) |
|
| Question 5 | Remove a provision requiring a two-thirds majority to pass banking laws |
|
336,142 (54%) |
290,035 (46%) |
If you know of a statewide measure that is not listed here or if you notice an error, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.