1931 Ballot Measures
From Ballotpedia 
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1931.
In the United States, a ballot measure is a law, issue, or question that appears on a statewide or local ballot for voters of that jurisdiction to decide.
- HBM Factbooks
- List of ballot measures by state
- Other years
Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks[edit]
The inventory of statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks, which document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and voters on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life. Click here to access the state historical ballot measure factbooks.
List of ballot measures by state[edit]
Alabama
See also: Alabama 1931 ballot measures
November 10
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Taxes | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution: Article XXI, Section 219. The amendment proposed that legislature assess, levy, and collect a tax on inheritances and for the levying of estate taxes not to exceed to the aggregate amounts which may be credited against or deducted from any similar tax upon inheritances or taxes on estates assessed or levied by the U.S. on the same subject. |
| 57,094 (82%) | 12,837 (18%) |
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution: Article XX-B, Sections 1-10. The amendment proposed that the state is authorized to engage in the construction, improvement, repair and maintenance of public roads, highways and bridges and, to fund such projects, the state is authorized to sell or issue interest-bearing negotiable state bonds. The bonds were not to exceed value in the amount of $25 million and were not to yield an interest of more than six percent per annum. The ballot measure also included the following stipulations: * Construction or improvements made to public roads, highways and bridges must also include those connecting county seats and circuit courts within counties, if more than one circuit court should exist within a county. *Proceeds from said bonds would not be used for the maintenance or discharge of contract debts, liability or obligations existing prior to the adoption of the amendment. * A total of $18,425,000 would be set aside from the proceeds of the bonds to be apportioned in amounts of $275,000 to each county that is obligated to construct and hard surface all public roads and bridges. The remainder of the funds would be used to construct and surface existing or new highways and constructing or repairing bridges. * All proceeds from the bonds shall remain separate from all other funds. * Distributors, retail dealers or storers of gasoline shall pay a one-time excise tax for the selling, distributing or withdrawing from storage gas, except those entities that sell gasoline in interstate commerce. The excise tax would be levied at one cent and would create a sinking fund for the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds, which would be exempt from taxes forever. |  | 31,034 (32%) | 64,613 (68%) |
Maine
See also: Maine 1931 ballot measures
November 9
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Government Administration Referendum | Administrative organization | Change the structure and name of the Sea and Shore Fisheries Commission to the new Department of Sea and Shore Fisheries |
| 41,077 (57%) | 30,368 (43%) |
September 14
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Membership Amendment | State legislative elections; Redistricting policy | Change the apportionment of senators in the Maine State Senate |
| 9,709 (52%) | 8,972 (48%) |
Michigan
See also: Michigan 1931 ballot measures
April 6
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Death Penalty Referendum | Death penalty; Criminal sentencing; Criminal trials | Define murder in the first degree and establish the death penalty as the penalty for such crime | | 269,538 (43%) | 352,594 (57%) | |
| Funding for Landing Field Improvements Amendment | Airport infrastructure | Allow the state to fund the improvement of landing fields | | 263,508 (41%) | 375,935 (59%) | |
| Outstanding Bonded Indebtedness Amendment | Bond issue requirements | Allow the state to borrow money and issue bonds to pay outstanding bonded indebtedness | | 262,394 (41%) | 374,754 (59%) |
Montana
See also: Montana 1931 ballot measures
May 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-35 | Transportation; Bond issues |
| 60,075 (74%) | 21,256 (26%) |
New York
See also: New York 1931 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Redistricting policy | Abolish the state census and begin the use of the federal census as a basis for formation of senatorial and assembly districts |
| 924,228 (73%) | 335,206 (27%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Parks, land, and natural area conservation | Provide for increasing annual amounts for the purchase and reforestation of lands outside of Adirondack and Catskill Parks |
| 778,192 (58%) | 554,550 (42%) | |
| Amendment 4 | State legislative authority; State judiciary structure | Permit the legislature to divide the second judicial district and create a new district | | 504,737 (47%) | 578,445 (53%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Public assistance programs; Administrative organization | Change the the title of the state department of charities to the state department of social welfare |
| 812,545 (69%) | 365,804 (31%) | |
| Amendment 6 | Property taxes | Authorize Westchester county to adopt a system of assessment for taxation purposes | | 497,616 (47%) | 552,559 (53%) | |
| Proposed Amendment No. 2 | State legislative authority | Permit legislators to receive civil appointments during their legislative terms | | 424,522 (38%) | 700,177 (62%) |
Ohio
See also: Ohio 1931 ballot measures
November 3
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonds for Welfare Institutions Amendment | Bond issues; Public assistance programs | Authorize up to $7,500,000 in bonds for welfare institutions. | | 487,459 (39%) | 766,057 (61%) |
Oklahoma
See also: Oklahoma 1931 ballot measures
December 18
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Question 167 | Taxes | Replace existing tax laws with a new annual net income tax on individuals and entities based on property and business in Oklahoma. | | 208,144 (47%) | 235,918 (53%) | |
| State Question 169 | Business regulations; Property | Require corporate-owned lands outside permitted uses or held under mortgage for over 10 years to escheat to the state. | | 202,353 (46%) | 240,028 (54%) | |
| State Question 172 | Education; Administration of government | Create a nine-member State Board of Education, establish a Textbook Committee, and provide free textbooks for grades 1–8. | | 196,579 (44%) | 245,743 (56%) | |
| State Question 173 | Administration of government | Create a Budget Officer appointed by the Governor to prepare biennial budgets, allowing the Legislature to decrease but requiring the Governor's consent or a three-fourths majority to increase. | | 194,274 (44%) | 245,794 (56%) |
Wisconsin
See also: Wisconsin 1931 ballot measures
April 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | County and municipal governance; Transportation | Have automobile licenses issued by counties | | 183,716 (33%) | 368,674 (67%) |
Other years[edit]
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
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