1940 ballot measures

1940 State; Ballot Measures
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By state[edit]

Arizona

See also: Arizona 1940 ballot measures

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Measure Nos. 100-101	Property and Taxes	Provide for the tax exemption of a person's bona fide home for a value of up to $5,000		51,739 (46%)	60,668 (54%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 102-103	Property	Provide for the establishment of rules governing the sale and leasing of state lands	a	45,228 (54%)	39,068 (46%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 104-105	Business reg	Provide for defining the requirements for firms to be classified as public service corporations		20,981 (26%)	60,531 (74%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 106-107	Property and Taxes	Provide for the limitation of taxes on real and tangible personal property	a	46,696 (52%)	42,748 (48%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 108-109	Taxes	Provide for the definition of the statuses, rights, privileges, benefits, immunities, and exemptions of tax levying public improvement districts	a	61,795 (65%)	32,646 (35%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 110-111	Taxes and Transportation	Provide for a method of assessing and levying taxes and the imposition of a license tax on registered vehicles in lieu of ad valorem property taxes	a	53,124 (58%)	37,856 (42%)
VR	Measure Nos. 300-301	Business reg and Healthcare	Provide for the regulation of the advertisement of dentistry		33,516 (33%)	67,404 (67%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 302-303	Gambling	Provide for the legalization of gambling and gambling devices		43,502 (38%)	70,154 (62%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 306-307	Education	Provide for the equalization of educational opportunities of the children of the state	a	58,149 (59%)	41,215 (41%)

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 30	Elections	Repeals the double primary	d
LRCA	Amendment 31	Gov't Finances	Pledges that the state will not reduce revenues from motor vehicle registrations in order to pay refunding bonds	d
LRCA	Amendment 32	Taxes	Allows certain personal property tax exemptions	d
CICA	Amendment 33	Local Gov't	Proposes an amendment for city libraries	a
CICA	Amendment 34	Pension	Proposes an amendment for police and fireman pensions	a
CICA	Amendment 35	Hunting & fishing	Establishes a Game and Fish Commission	d
CICA	Amendment 36	Pension	Proposes an amendment for old age pension plans	d
LRSS	Act 4	Bonds	Authorizes issuance of general refunding bonds	d
LRSS	Act 314	State judiciary	Requires that court actions must be brought in the county it occurs	a
LRSS	Act 319	Labor and unions	Proposes an initiative for workmen's compensation	a
CISS	Act 1	Labor	Provides payment for employers for compensation of injured employees	d

California

See also: California 1940 ballot propositions

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 1	Release all liens, mortgages, and other encumbrances taken by counties as security for aid granted to aged persons.	a	1,508,547 (62%)	922,109 (38%)
LRCA	Proposition 2	Release all liens, mortgages, and other encumbrances of those covered under the Old Age Security Act or Old Age Security.	a	1,519,963 (64%)	853,243 (36%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Declare that the legislature shall provide for the establishment, governance, and superintendence of institutions for all felons	a	994,101 (50%)	991,722 (50%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	Allow the legislature to regulate the manner of election results for governor and lieutenant governor	a	1,198,015 (64%)	673,794 (36%)
CISS	Proposition 5	Start Daylight Saving Time on the last Sunday in April and end it on the last Sunday in September.		785,634 (30%)	1,834,564 (70%)
LRCA	Proposition 6	Allow the legislature to create ways for the superior court to review decisions made by administrative officers, boards, and commissions.		907,761 (50%)	921,832 (50%)
LRCA	Proposition 7	Make adjustments and reforms to the jurisdiction of courts.		723,330 (40%)	1,082,647 (60%)
LRCA	Proposition 8	Create the Fish and Game Commission	a	1,287,473 (64%)	735,589 (36%)
LRCA	Proposition 9	Exempt all vessels from local taxes except yachts of more than 50 tons until January 1955.		530,673 (26%)	1,480,475 (74%)
LRCA	Proposition 10	Require that public improvements that are paid partially or fully special assessment taxes be subject to a variety of provisions.	a	1,138,237 (63%)	680,353 (37%)
LRCA	Proposition 11	Allow the state to have stocks in mutual water companies when such ownership is required to secure a water supply.	a	1,151,911 (59%)	810,549 (41%)
LRCA	Proposition 12	Allow either house of the legislature to create a committee to research facts and make recommendations.	a	929,527 (52%)	855,845 (48%)
LRCA	Proposition 13	Allow the legislature to execute leases and sales of state park lands that contain oil or gas and require funds generated go to a general fund.		315,408 (15%)	1,776,128 (85%)
LRCA	Proposition 14	Allow the legislature to apportion to political subdivisions from money derived from Chapter 362 and Chapter 330 Statutes.		759,683 (41%)	1,110,087 (59%)
LRCA	Proposition 15	Limit the money the city treasurer is able to transfer to meet obligations of city or city and county,		709,385 (38%)	1,153,446 (62%)
LRCA	Proposition 16	Provide for annual 60 day sessions of the legislature, require the budget be prepared annually, and limit the increase of general fund appropriations.		556,469 (30%)	1,268,684 (70%)
LRCA	Proposition 17	Allow the legislature to authorize the political subdivisions to purchase personal liability insurance against all officers, agents, and employees.		807,199 (41%)	1,138,039 (59%)

Colorado

See also: Colorado 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Issue 1	Taxes	Imposes an ad valorem tax on all intangible property in the state	d
CISS	Issue 2	Gambling	Establishes a racing commission, legalized horse and dog racing and allocates revenues from such races to the counties	d
CICA	Issue 3	Environment	Establishes a Game and Fish Commission and limits game and fish revenues to the conservation of the state’s wildlife resources	d
CICA	Issue 4	Taxes	Levies an income tax and requires that revenue derived from the income tax replace property taxes	d
CICA	Issue 5	Pension	Provides for a pension of $30 per month to residents of the state over 65 years old	d

Florida

See also: Florida 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Prohibits state ad valorem taxes on real or personal property except intangible personal property	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Prisons	Allows for the creation of a Parole Commission	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Gambling	Allows for the equal allocation and distribution of taxes collected on parimutual gambling	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Judiciary	Creates a 7th Supreme Court Justice, allows court to act in divisions, and designates the Chief Justice as chief administrative officer	a
LRCA	Amendment 5	Local Gov't	Allows for the creation of County Commissioner’s districts in each county	d
LRCA	Amendment 6	Taxes	Provides for a tax exemption for widows of up to $500	a

Idaho

See also: Idaho 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	HJR 3	Taxes	Restricts use of revenues from gas tax and motor vehicle registration fees	a
LRCA	SJR 5	Gov't Finances	Restricts the use of endowment funds	a
LRCA	SJR 7	Admin of Gov't	Gives the legislature the power to prescribe methods of disbursement of moneys	a
CISS	INIT 1	Alcohol	Gives counties the option to decide whether or not liquor can be sold	d
CISS	INIT 2	Alcohol	Limits liquor advertising, sets minimum purchase amounts, and prohibits sale of liquor at bars	d

Illinois

See also: Illinois 1940 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Banking Law Amendment	Banking	Shall the banking law be amended?	a

Maine

See also: Maine 1940 ballot measures

September 9

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Question No. 5	Elections	Changes nominating process in the city of Biddeford's elections	a
VR	Question No. 6	Law Enforcement	Creates Biddeford Police Commission	a

Maryland

See also: Maryland 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Judiciary	Provides for the appointment of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Judiciary	Establishes Peoples Courts	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Taxes	Removes the exemption of salaries of judges and other public officers from income tax	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Judiciary	Sets residential qualifications for Associate Judges of the Third Judicial Circuit	d
LRCA	Amendment 5	State exec	Prohibits the governor from succeeding himself for a term directly following the term for which he was elected	d
LRCA	Amendment 6	Judiciary	Adds a judge to the seventh judicial circuit	a
LRCA	Amendment 7	Legislature	Limits session of the General Assembly to 90 days	d
VR	Amendment 8	Agriculture	Provides for the creation of the Commission of Fisheries	d
VR	Amendment 9	Labor	Provides for appointment of members and terms of office for the State Industrial Accident Commission	a

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1940 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposal 1	Taxes	Shall the constitution be amended to authorize the electors of school districts to exceed the 15 mill limitation for building purposes?	d
CICA	Proposal 2	Civil Service	Shall the constitution be amended to establish a new system of civil service for state employment?	a
LRSS	Proposal 3	Transportation	Provides that no municipal corporation or any agency or instrumentality shall operate as a common or contract motor carrier for hire on the state's public highways without first obtaining a certificate or permit from the Michigan Public Service Commission.	d
LRSS	Proposal 4	Business Reg	Regulates dentistry practices and dental surgery.	a

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Gov't Acc	Changes requirements for publishing charter amendments	d

Missouri

See also: Missouri 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Issue 1	Salaries	Fixes general assembly compensation at $125 per month	d
LRCA	Issue 2	Legislature	Calls for revision of state statutes every 10 years starting in 1949	d
CICA	Issue 3	Judiciary	Establishes a nonpartisan system for appointing and electing judges	a
CICA	Issue 4	Direct Democracy	Requires number of signatures on initiative petitions to be based on vote for Governor of Missouri	d
CICA	Issue 5	Hunting & Fishing	Repeals the Wildlife and Forestry Code	d
CICA	Issue 6	Transportation	Fixes motor vehicle license fees at present rate	d
CICA	Issue 7	Transportation	Abolishes municipal gas taxes and provides revenue for rural roads	d

Montana

See also: Montana 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	R-42	Education	Enacts a mill levy for the University of Montana	a
LRSS	R-43	Bonds	Issues a bond for the state hospital for the insane	a
CISS	I-44	Bond issues	Issues bonds for state colleges	d

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Admin of gov't	Provides that the superintendent of public instruction be a member of the Board of Educational Lands and Funds	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Local gov't	Provides for an optional form of county government	d

North Dakota

See also: North Dakota 1940 ballot measures

June 25

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	County Government Referendum	Local Gov't	Changes state legislature power in organization and administration of counties and county governments	a
LRCA	Direct Democracy Referendum	Direct Democracy	Requires 15,000 signatures for both initiated and referred measures	d
LRCA	Recall Referendum	Recall	Changes recall petitioning and ballot procedures	d
CICA	Public Service Commission Initiative	Admin of Gov't	Changes the name of state Board of Railroad Commissioners to Public Service Commission	a
CICA	Highway Tax Initiative	Taxes	Allocates highway user taxes to defray cost of construction and maintenance of highways	a
CISS	Educational Funding Initiative	Education	Reduces the state's per people payment to schools and increases the emergency funds for schools in distress	a
CISS	School Funding Initiative 2	Education	Reduces the state's per people payment to schools regardless of need and increasing the emergency funds for schools in distress	d
CISS	Sales Tax for Schools Initiative	Taxes	Earmarking sales tax revenues--7/12ths for the school equalization fund and 5/12ths for the state welfare fund	a
CISS	School Funding Initiative	Education	Increasing the funds for financially distressed schools	a
CISS	Board of Finance Initiative	Admin of Gov't	Creates a state Board of Finance and Administration to handle all trust funds	d

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CISS	Property Tax Classifications Initiative	Taxes	Creates three classes of property for tax purposes	d
CISS	Tax Abatement Initiative	Taxes	Allows the abatement of past, present and future taxes based on excessive valuation	d
CICA	Graduated Land Tax Initiative	Taxes	Creates a graduated land tax with a homestead exception of $5,000 for legal owner-resident farmers	d

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	State Question 215	Taxes	Authorizes a graduated land tax	d
CISS	State Question 241	Healthcare	Redefines the duties and qualifications for membership of the state Board of Medical Examiners	d
CISS	State Question 253	Taxes	Redistributes revenues from various gas- and vehicle-related taxes and fees	d
LRCA	State Question 281	State exec	Sets eligibility requirements to hold state executive offices	d
LRCA	State Question 282	Business reg	Prohibits public service corporations from having control over another corporation with a parallel or competing line	d
CICA	State Question 289	Alcohol	Ends alcohol prohibition, and replaces it with tools for the government to manage and regulate alcohol manufacture, importation, and sale	d

Oregon

See also: Oregon 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Measure 1	Term Limits	Removes term limits for the Secretary of State and Treasurer	d
LRCA	Measure 2	Taxes	Institutionalizes a given tax levy after voters approved such a levy for three successive years prior	d
LRCA	Measure 3	Banking	Repeals constitutional provisions regarding the double liability of stockholders of state banks to the depositors of said banks	d
LRCA	Measure 4	Gov't Salaries	Fixes legislatures’ pay at $8 per day, refunds legislatures 10 cents per every mile travelled to and from the capital and gives presiding offers an additional one-half daily pay	d
VR	Measure 5	Elections	Moves the primary nominating elections from May to September	d
VR	Measure 6	Alcohol	Requires licenses to sell alcohol to consumers	d
CISS	Measure 7	Alcohol	Repeals a law allowing only the liquor control commission to sell alcoholic beverages and thereby allows private entities to import, manufacture and sell alcoholic beverages	d
CICA	Measure 8	Gambling	Legalizes games of skill, provides for the licensing of such and disburses license revenues to public fairs, expositions and old-age public assistance	d
CISS	Measure 9	Food & Agri	Repeals the Oregon Milk Control Law, which provides supervision and regulation of the milk industry	d

South Dakota

See also: South Dakota 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Taxes for Highways	Taxes	Provides that motor vehicle and gasoline taxes go to highways	a
LRCA	Legislative Vacancies	Legislature	Allows governor to fill legislative vacancies	d
LRCA	Investment of Permanent School Funds	Gov't Finances	Reduces the interest required for investment of permanent school funds	d
VR	Unemployment Compensation Commission	Admin of gov't	Abolishes the Unemployment Compensation Commission	d

Texas

See also: Texas 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposition 1	Legislature	Allows the legislature to appeal certain cases directly to the supreme court	a
LRCA	Proposition 2	State exec	Provides that notaries public be appointed by the secretary of state	a
LRCA	Proposition 3	Term limits	Prohibits two-year term limits from applying to appointive civil service offices	a
LRCA	Proposition 4	Local gov't	Allows voters of Red River County to approve taxes or bonds to fund the general fund	d

Washington

See also: Washington 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
ITP	Initiative 139	Utilities	Requires voter approval for the issuance of bonds, securities, or other financial obligations to public utility districts	d
ITP	Initiative 141	Welfare	Provides a $40 monthly grant to those over 65 years of age	a
LRSS	Referendum 5	Taxes	Limits the aggregate annual rate of levy on real and personal property for state, county, city or town, school district and road district purposes to forty mills and limited the tax levy for public universities to two mills	a
LRCA	SJR 1	Term Limits	Repeals the limitations against county officers holding more than two successive terms	d
LRCA	SJR 8	Business	Provided that stockholders of banks organized under the laws of Washington be relieved from personal liability to the same extent as stockholders in national banks	a
LRCA	HJR 13	Gov't Salaries	Allows voters or the legislature to increase, decrease, or fix the salaries of state officers	d

Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin 1940 ballot measures

April 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
AQ	Question 1	Education	Advisory whether to repeal a Wisconsin Statute known as the teacher tenure law	a

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1940 State Ballot Measures
1941 » « 1939

Part 1: Overview
Measures by state
Measures by topic
Measures by year
Current measures
2023 measures
2023 Scorecard
2023 Tuesday Count
Measure Monthly