1931 ballot measures

1931 state ballot measures

« 1930

1932 »

State ballot measures

By state |  By year

Local ballot measures

By state |  By year

Analyses

State |  Local

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

Read more

* List of ballot measures by state

Read more

* Other years

Read more

## Contents

* 1 Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks
* 2 List of ballot measures by state
* 3 Other years
* 4 See also
* 5 Footnotes

## Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks[edit]

See also: Historical Ballot Measures (HBM) Factbooks

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

|
|
|
|
|
|

LRCA

| Amendment 1| Estate 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

|
|
|
|
|
|

LRCA

| 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.| d|

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

|
|
|
|
|
|

LRCA

| 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| d|

269,538 (43%)

352,594 (57%)

LRCA

| Funding for Landing Field Improvements Amendment| Airport infrastructure| Allow the state to fund the improvement of landing fields| d|

263,508 (41%)

375,935 (59%)

LRCA

| Outstanding Bonded Indebtedness Amendment| Bond issue requirements| Allow the state to borrow money and issue bonds to pay outstanding bonded indebtedness| d|

262,394 (41%)

374,754 (59%)

### Montana

See also: Montana 1931 ballot measures

May 5

Type| Title| Subject| Description| Result| Yes Votes| No Votes

|
|
|
|
|
|

LRSS

| Referendum No. 35| Transportation; Bond issues| Issue $6 million bonds to help with constructing Montana's highway systems|

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

|
|
|
|
|
|

LRCA

| 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%)

LRCA

| 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%)

LRCA

| Amendment 4| State legislative authority; State judiciary structure| Permit the legislature to divide the second judicial district and create a new district| d|

504,737 (47%)

578,445 (53%)

LRCA

| 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%)

LRCA

| Amendment 6| Property taxes| Authorize Westchester county to adopt a system of assessment for taxation purposes| d|

497,616 (47%)

552,559 (53%)

LRCA

| Proposed Amendment No. 2| State legislative authority| Permit legislators to receive civil appointments during their legislative terms| d|

424,522 (38%)

700,177 (62%)

### Ohio

See also: Ohio 1931 ballot measures

November 3

Type| Title| Subject| Description| Result| Yes Votes| No Votes

|
|
|
|
|
|

LRCA

| Bonds for Welfare Institutions Amendment| Bond issues; Public assistance programs| Authorize up to $7,500,000 in bonds for welfare institutions.| d|

487,459 (39%)

766,057 (61%)

### Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1931 ballot measures

December 18

Type| Title| Subject| Description| Result| Yes Votes| No Votes

|
|
|
|
|
|

CISS

| 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.| d|

208,144 (47%)

235,918 (53%)

CICA

| 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.| d|

202,353 (46%)

240,028 (54%)

CISS

| 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.| d|

196,579 (44%)

245,743 (56%)

CICA

| 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.| d|

194,274 (44%)

245,794 (56%)

### Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin 1931 ballot measures

April 7

Type| Title| Subject| Description| Result| Yes Votes| No Votes

|
|
|
|
|
|

LRAQ

| Question 1| County and municipal governance; Transportation| Have automobile licenses issued by counties| d|

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.

State ballot measures by yearDecade|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2020s|  |  | 2027| 2026| 2025| 2024| 2023| 2022| 2021| 2020
2010s| 2019| 2018| 2017| 2016| 2015| 2014| 2013| 2012| 2011| 2010
2000s| 2009| 2008| 2007| 2006| 2005| 2004| 2003| 2002| 2001| 2000
1990s| 1999| 1998| 1997| 1996| 1995| 1994| 1993| 1992| 1991| 1990
1980s| 1989| 1988| 1987| 1986| 1985| 1984| 1983| 1982| 1981| 1980
1970s| 1979| 1978| 1977| 1976| 1975| 1974| 1973| 1972| 1971| 1970
1960s| 1969| 1968| 1967| 1966| 1965| 1964| 1963| 1962| 1961| 1960
1950s| 1959| 1958| 1957| 1956| 1955| 1954| 1953| 1952| 1951| 1950
1940s| 1949| 1948| 1947| 1946| 1945| 1944| 1943| 1942| 1941| 1940
1930s| 1939| 1938| 1937| 1936| 1935| 1934| 1933| 1932| 1931| 1930
1920s| 1929| 1928| 1927| 1926| 1925| 1924| 1923| 1922| 1921| 1920
1910s| 1919| 1918| 1917| 1916| 1915| 1914| 1913| 1912| 1911| 1910
1900s| 1909| 1908| 1907| 1906| 1905| 1904| 1903| 1902| 1901| 1900
1890s| 1899| 1898| 1897| 1896| 1895| 1894| 1893| 1892| 1891| 1890
1880s| 1889| 1888| 1887| 1886| 1885| 1884| 1883| 1882| 1881| 1880
1870s| 1879| 1878| 1877| 1876| 1875| 1874| 1873| 1872| 1871| 1870
1860s| 1869| 1868| 1867| 1866| 1865| 1864| 1863| 1862| 1861| 1860
1850s| 1859| 1858| 1857| 1856| 1855| 1854| 1853| 1852| 1851| 1850

## See also[edit]

Ballot Measure Overview

Ballot Measures

Ballotpedia

Measures

* • State ballot measures
* • Local ballot measures
* • Analyses

Topics

* • State ballot measure topics
* • Local ballot measure topics

Law

* • Laws governing ballot measures
* • Changes to laws governing ballot measures
* • Types of ballot measures
* • Ballot measure policy topics

History

* • Historical Ballot Measures (HBM) Factbooks
* • History of ballot measures by topic

Campaigns

* • Campaign finance
* • Polls
* • Media editorials

## Footnotes[edit]

State ballot measures

State

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

Year

2028 • 2027 • 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • 1998 • 1997 • 1996 • 1995 • 1994 • 1993 • 1992 • 1991 • 1990 • 1989 • 1988 • 1987 • 1986 • 1985 • 1984 • 1983 • 1982 • 1981 • 1980 • 1979 • 1978 • 1977 • 1976 • 1975 • 1974 • 1973 • 1972 • 1971 • 1970 • 1969 • 1968 • 1967 • 1966 • 1965 • 1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1956 • 1955 • 1954 • 1953 • 1952 • 1951 • 1950 • 1949 • 1948 • 1947 • 1946 • 1945 • 1944 • 1943 • 1942 • 1941 • 1940 • 1939 • 1938 • 1937 • 1936 • 1935 • 1934 • 1933 • 1932 • 1931 • 1930 • 1929 • 1928 • 1927 • 1926 • 1925 • 1924 • 1923 • 1922 • 1921 • 1920 • 1919 • 1918 • 1917 • 1916 • 1915 • 1914 • 1913 • 1912 • 1911 • 1910 • 1909 • 1908 • 1907 • 1906 • 1905 • 1904 • 1903 • 1902 • 1901 • 1900 • 1899 • 1898 • 1897 • 1896 • 1895 • 1894 • 1893 • 1892 • 1891 • 1890 • 1889 • 1888 • 1887 • 1886 • 1885 • 1884 • 1883 • 1882 • 1881 • 1880 • 1879 • 1878 • 1877 • 1876 • 1875 • 1874 • 1873 • 1872 • 1871 • 1870 • 1869 • 1868 • 1867 • 1866 • 1865 • 1864 • 1863 • 1862 • 1861 • 1860 • 1859 • 1858 • 1857 • 1856 • 1855 • 1854 • 1853 • 1852 • 1851 • 1850