Local ballot measure statistics, 2012

2012 Local Ballot Measures

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Election stats • Measures • Topics

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(Part 1 & Part 2)

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## Contents

* 1 County wide measures
* 1.1 County Property Taxes
* 1.2 County Bond
* 1.3 County Bond Money
* 1.4 County Sales Tax
* 2 City Measures
* 2.1 City Property Tax
* 2.2 City Sales Tax
* 2.3 City Utility Tax
* 2.4 City Bond
* 2.5 City Bond Money
* 2.6 Hotel Tax
* 2.7 District Property Tax
* 2.8 Election and Voting
* 2.9 Marijuana
* 2.10 Charter Amendment
* 2.11 Annexation
* 3 Ballot Totals
* 4 See also
* 4.1 Analysis
* 4.2 Articles
* 5 Notes

This page includes a select group of ballot measures that were reported in the eleven states followed closely by the writer and the approval rates of each type of measure. School measures and statistics for 2012 school bond measures can be found on the "School approval rates page". Statistics below only reflect those measures which were reported on Ballotpedia. Read more about our coverage here.

## County wide measures[edit]

In 2012 the majority of county proposed measures were property tax related with a total of 183 county tax levy measures being asked in eight states.

### County Property Taxes[edit]

See also: List of 2012 county property tax measures

The state of Michigan had the most county property tax measures with a total of 95. Of those, 80% were approved by voters. Ohio had the second highest amount of property tax measures at 73 proposed and 63 approved; an approval rate of 86.3%. Illinois had the lowest approval rate, 33.33%, but just three county property tax measure were proposed, one of which was approved. Florida, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin had approval rates of 100% because they had very few county property tax measures and all were approved. Missouri had an approval rate of exactly 50% with only two county property tax measures proposed in the year.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

Florida  | 2  | 0  | 100%
Illinois  | 1  | 2  | 33.33%
Michigan  | 76  | 19  | 80%
Missouri  | 1  | 1  | 50%
Ohio  | 63  | 10  | 86.3%
Oregon  | 5  | 0  | 100%
Washington  | 2  | 0  | 100%
Wisconsin  | 1  | 0  | 100%
Totals: | 151 | 32 | 82.51%

### County Bond[edit]

See also: List of 2012 county bond measures

There were just 11 county bond measures proposed in six states. Missouri and Washington had the most measures proposed with 5 and 2 respectively in the two states. But Florida saw the most money requested in county bonds with one defeated bond measure asking for $130 million.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

Florida  | 0  | 1  | 0%
Illinois  | 0  | 1  | 0%
Missouri  | 5  | 0  | 100%
Ohio  | 0  | 1  | 0%

Oregon  | 0  | 1  | 0%
Washington  | 2  | 0  | 100%
Totals: | 7 | 4 | 63.64%%

### County Bond Money[edit]

See also: List of county bond measures in 2012

Florida had the most county bond money requested with one bond measure asking for $130 million, but it was defeated. Voters in Missouri approved the most county bond money at $106.92 million in the 5 measures proposed.

The table below shows the amount of money in millions authorized and rejected in county bond measures in each state and the approval percentage with regard to the amount of money. Percentage of money approved above 70% Percentage of money approved below 50%

State  | $ Approved  | $ Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

Florida  | $0 M  | $130 M  | 0%
Illinois  | $0 M  | $2.8 M  | 0%
Missouri  | $106.92 M  | $0 M  | 100%
Ohio  | $0 M  | $5.5 M  | 0%

Oregon  | $0 M  | $14 M  | 0%
Washington  | $18.5 M  | $0 M  | 100%
Totals: | $125.42 million | $152.3 million | 45.16%

### County Sales Tax[edit]

See also: List of 2012 county sales tax measures

Out of the seven states with county sales taxes on the ballots, a majority of county sales taxes were approved, 68.18% approval overall. Missouri had the most proposed measures with 15 overall and approval at a rate of 80%. Illinois had the lowest approval, with six measures proposed and only two approved. Colorado and Washington both had approval rates of 50%.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

California  | 7  | 3  | 70%
Colorado  | 1  | 1  | 50%
Florida  | 4  | 1  | 80%
Illinois  | 2  | 4  | 33.33%
Missouri  | 12  | 23  | 80%
Ohio  | 2  | 0  | 100%
Washington  | 2  | 2  | 50%
Totals: | 30 | 14 | 68.18%

## City Measures[edit]

The majority of city issues dealt with proposed property taxes.

### City Property Tax[edit]

See also: List of 2012 city property tax measures

Michigan had the most city property taxes overall with a total of 411 measures, 359 of those were approved for an approval rate of 87.35%. Ohio was the state with the next highest number of measures, 286 total with 107 of those getting approved, 72.77% approval. Illinois along with Wisconsin both had approval rates below 50 percent, at 32.14% and 33.33% respectively. Washington had the highest percentage of measures approved at 93.1%, with 29 measures total and 27 approved.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

Colorado  | 2  | 3  | 40%
Florida  | 6  | 1  | 85.71%
Illinois  | 9  | 19  | 32.14%
Michigan  | 359  | 52  | 87.35%
Missouri  | 9  | 3  | 75%
Ohio  | 286  | 107  | 72.77%
Oregon  | 13  | 2  | 86.67%
Washington  | 27  | 2  | 93.1%
Wisconsin  | 1  | 2  | 33.33%
Totals: | 712 | 191 | 78.85%

### City Sales Tax[edit]

See also: List of 2012 city sales tax measures

Only six states reported had city sales tax measures issued on their ballots over the year. California and Missouri tied for states that had the most city sales tax measures proposed, both having 33 overall. But California voters approved 30, for an approval rate of 90.91%, while Missouri only had an approval rate of 66.67%, approving 22 measures. Arizona had the least amount of measures with just one measure, which was defeated.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

Arizona  | 0  | 1  | 0%
California  | 30  | 3  | 90.91%
Colorado  | 3  | 1  | 75%
Illinois  | 4  | 4  | 86%
Missouri  | 22  | 11  | 66.67%
Washington  | 7  | 2  | 77.78%
Totals: | 66 | 22 | 75%

### City Utility Tax[edit]

See also: List of 2012 city utility tax measures

Just five states had city utility measures and 29 questions were asked overall. California had the most utility tax measures with 18 on the ballots. Two states, Michigan and Oregon, had only one measure each. Illinois had the lowest approval rate for utility tax measures at only 22.22%, approving 2 of its 7 measures.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

California  | 15  | 3  | 83.33%
Illinois  | 2  | 7  | 22.22%
Michigan  | 1  | 0  | 100%
Missouri  | 10  | 1  | 90.91%
Oregon  | 1  | 0  | 100%
Totals: | 29 | 11 | 72.5%

### City Bond[edit]

See also: List of 2012 city bond measures

Ten states of the eleven followed had city bond measures on their ballots during the year. The most proposed bond measures were seen in Missouri. It had 20 total, 16 of which were approved, an approval rate of 79%. Michigan voters did not approve any of the 6 measures on the ballots, giving Michigan a 0% approval rate for this type of measure.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

Arizona  | 4  | 0  | 100%
California  | 2  | 4  | 33.33%
Colorado  | 1  | 4  | 20%
Florida  | 1  | 2  | 33.33%
Illinois  | 7  | 6  | 53.85%
Michigan  | 0  | 6  | 0%
Missouri  | 16  | 4  | 80%
Ohio  | 2  | 1  | 66.67%
Oregon  | 2  | 0  | 100%
Washington  | 6  | 1  | 85.71%
Totals: | 41 | 28 | 59.42%

### City Bond Money[edit]

See also: List of city bond measures divided by state

The most city bond money was asked for and approved in Missouri, where $545,565,000 was asked for and $540,565,000 was approved, giving Missouri the highest percentage of bond money approved, at over 99%. Notably, in California, although only 2 out of 6 city bond measures were approved, those 2 measures totaled $225 million, which is 88.2% of the money requested.

The table below shows the amount of money in millions authorized and rejected in city bond measures in each state and the approval percentage with regard to the amount of money. Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | $ Approved  | $ Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

Arizona  | $189 M  | 0  | 100%
California  | $225 M  | $30.1 M  | 88.2%
Colorado  | $1.6 M  | $123.1 M  | 1.28%
Florida  | $2.9 M  | $22 M  | 11.65%
Illinois[1] | $42.83 M  | $108.4 M  | 28.32%
Michigan  | $0 M  | $100.77 M  | 0%
Missouri[2] | $540.565 M  | $5 M  | 99.08%
Ohio  | $5.14 M  | $1 M  | 83.71%
Oregon  | $45.57 M  | $0 M  | 100%
Washington  | $332.74276 M  | $59 M  | 84.94%
Totals: | $1,385.34776 million  | $449.37 million | 75.51%

### Hotel Tax[edit]

See also: List of 2012 hotel tax measures

Just four states had hotel taxes on their ballots, three of which had 100% approval rates and the other, California, saw 80.77% of its local hotel tax measures approved.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

California  | 21  | 5  | 80.77%
Florida  | 1  | 0  | 100%
Missouri  | 2  | 0  | 100%
Washington  | 1  | 0  | 100%
Totals: | 25 | 5 | 83.33%

### District Property Tax[edit]

See also: List of 2012 district property tax measures

Eight states had district property tax measures on their ballots during the year, the most appearing on the ballots of Washington, which had 76 measures, 49 being approved with a total approval of 64.47%. Only Florida had an approval rate below 50%; 4 measures were asked an only 2 were approved, an approval rate of just 33.33%.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

Colorado  | 13  | 2  | 86.67%
Florida  | 2  | 4  | 33.33%
Illinois  | 18  | 4  | 81.82%
Michigan  | 15  | 6  | 71.43%
Missouri  | 26  | 4  | 86.67%
Ohio  | 43  | 6  | 87.76%
Oregon  | 14  | 5  | 73.68%
Washington  | 49  | 27  | 64.47%
Totals: | 180 | 58 | 75.63%

### Election and Voting[edit]

See also: List of 2012 election and voting measures

Eight states had election and voting law measures on their ballots and the combined approval rate for all of those measures was 69.89%. California had the most measures with 48 overall, 29 being approved. Washington and Wisconsin had the lowest approval rates, as 50% of their proposed measures were approved.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

California  | 29  | 19  | 60.42%
Colorado  | 7  | 1  | 87.5%
Illinois  | 14  | 4  | 77.78%
Michigan  | 1  | 0  | 100%
Missouri  | 2  | 1  | 66.67%
Ohio  | 10  | 1  | 90.91%
Washington  | 1  | 1  | 50%
Wisconsin  | 1  | 1  | 50%
Totals: | 65 | 28 | 69.89%

### Marijuana[edit]

See also: List of 2012 marijuana measures

There were three states which had marijuana questions on their ballots and exactly half of these measures were approved. California showed the most proposed questions on the ballots; 9 were asked, but only 1 got approved, which is an approval rate of 11.11%. The other two states had all their proposed measures approved by residents, with Michigan having the most approved measures. Some of these measures added restriction and attempted to prevent additional marijuana use, while some removed existing restrictions and allowed for additional marijuana use. For more details, see Ballotpedia's individual articles on each measure sorted by state here.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

California  | 1  | 8  | 11.11%
Colorado  | 2  | 0  | 100%
Michigan  | 5  | 0  | 100%
Totals: | 8 | 8 | 50%

### Charter Amendment[edit]

See also: List of 2012 charter amendments

Ten states had charter amendment measures on their ballots, Ohio had the most measures with 102 total, 86 of those were approved leading to an approval rate of 84.31%. Wisconsin had the lowest approval rate as just 1 measure was asked and it was defeated.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

California  | 3  | 4  | 42.85%
Colorado  | 13  | 3  | 81.25%
Florida  | 30  | 10  | 75%
Illinois  | 3  | 3  | 50%
Michigan  | 21  | 7  | 75%
Missouri  | 23  | 7  | 76.67%
Ohio  | 86  | 15  | 84.31%
Oregon  | 32  | 10  | 76.19%
Washington  | 2  | 0  | 100%
Wisconsin  | 0  | 1  | 0%
Totals: | 231 | 61 | 77.74%

### Annexation[edit]

See also: List of 2012 annexation measures

Eight states had annexation issues on their ballots, Oregon had the most measures, 51 total and, of those, 44 were approved by voters. In Michigan just 2 measures were asked and 1 was approved. Florida also had a 50% approval for this type of measure, 4 measures were asked and 2 were approved.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved  | Defeated  | % approved

|
|
|

California  | 8  | 3  | 72.73%
Colorado  | 9  | 1  | 90%
Florida  | 2  | 2  | 50%
Illinois  | 7  | 2  | 77.78%
Michigan  | 1  | 1  | 50%
Missouri  | 5  | 3  | 62.5%
Oregon  | 44  | 7  | 86.27%
Washington  | 15  | 5  | 75%
Totals: | 91 | 24 | 79.13%

## Ballot Totals[edit]

See also: Local ballot measure elections in 2012

Ohio has, by far, the most measures with a total of 1,471 and approval of those at 71.11%. Washington had the highest percentage of approval, 87.71%, with 407 total measures asked throughout the year. Arizona had the lowest approval rate for the year, 57.89%, with a total of 19 measures having been asked on the various ballots throughout the year.

This total count includes school measures in the eleven states followed on the site by the writer. For more information regarding the school related measures see Ballotpedia's school bond and tax report.

Winning percentage above 70% Winning percentage below 50%

State  | Approved 2012 (2011)  | Defeated 2012 (2011)  | % approved 2012 (2011)

|
|
|

Arizona  | 11  | 8  | 57.89%
California  | 383  | 168  | 69.5%
Colorado  | 105  | 29  | 78.36%
Florida  | 134  | 44  | 75.28%
Illinois  | 365  | 223  | 62.07%
Michigan  | 696  | 285  | 70.95%
Missouri  | 158  | 52  | 75.24%
Ohio  | 1,046  | 425  | 71.11%
Oregon  | 134  | 48  | 73.63%
Washington  | 357  | 50  | 87.71%
Wisconsin  | 52  | 27  | 65.82%
Totals: | 3,441(2,707) | 1,209(1,071) | 74% (71.7%)

## See also[edit]

* Local ballot measure statistics, 2011
* Local ballot measure elections in 2012
* Local measures by state
* 2012 ballot measure calendar
* School bond and tax elections in 2012
* 2012 statewide ballot measures

### Analysis[edit]

* County election website evaluations
* Costs of administering local elections
* Approval rates of local school bond and tax questions in 2012, January-July
* Approval rates of local school bond and tax questions in 2012, August-December

### Articles[edit]

* 2012 featured almost 1,000 more local measures and a higher approval rate
* 2012 destroys 2011's school bond money record, concerns mount
* Over 2,300 measures featured on local ballots in November
* School bonds fared lower approval ratings with nearly $8 billion voted on in 2011

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ Note: This is not a complete report of the bond money in Illinois. The amount of the bond measure could not be found for two of the approved measures and one of the defeated measures.
2. ↑ Note: This is not a complete report of the bond money in Missouri. The amount of the bond measure could not be found for one of the defeated measures and one of the approved measures.

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