Local ballot measure reports

This page highlights reports by Ballotpedia staff about local measures. Below you will find links to special reports about elections, local pension reform, notable political topics such as marijuana, fracking, GMOs, minimum wage, LGBT issues, development, public pensions, law enforcement and more, school bond and tax evaluations, statistics, lists of local measures categorized by political topic and other reports about local ballot measures.

This page is automatically updated each time a new report is published.

Due to complexities in gathering information about local ballot measures and time constraints Ballotpedia, primarily focuses on comprehensively covering all local California ballot measures and ballot measures about notable, hot-topic issues.

Notable local measures[edit]

Besides comprehensively covering all local California ballot measures, the Local Ballot Measures project is covering the following notable, hot-topic issues seen on local ballots across the nation:

• Fracking
• GMOs
• LGBT, Marriage and Domestic Partner issues
• Marijuana
• Minimum wage
• Public pensions
• Sports arena subsidies
• Public construction projects
• Secession
• Police brutality, labor laws and others

Below are the special reports published by Ballotpedia on these local issues:

2016[edit]

• November city and county election data review: Fresh faces from mayoral races, Nov 11, 2016
• Ballot Law Update: Changes to Michigan's initiative process could decide the fate of pot and anti-fracking initiatives, May 02, 2016
• Ballot Law Update: Idaho lawmakers challenge local control, while a judge in Arkansas upholds it, Mar 08, 2016
• Ballot Law Update: State lawmakers respond to local politics from last year, Feb 05, 2016

2015[edit]

• Review of ballot measure law changes in 2015: Four states remove local authority over contentious issues, Dec 30, 2015
• Ballotpedia's 2015 local ballot measure recap, Dec 18, 2015
• Local ballot measures in California: 2015 in review, Dec 05, 2015
• Every vote counts: close local measure races on November 3, Nov 16, 2015
• November 3 Election Review: Local ballot measures, the basics of direct democracy, Nov 06, 2015
• San Francisco's "Airbnb Initiative" fails, Houstonians reject HERO ordinance, voters in Tacoma, Wash., choose $12 minimum wage over $15-per-hour initiative, Nov 04, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Housing proves key issue in San Francisco, Sep 01, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Initiatives certified in Maine and Washington, Aug 04, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Signatures submitted for marijuana in Ohio; state legislature strikes back, Jul 07, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Texas legislators send measures on taxes, hunting to November ballot, Jun 02, 2015
• Tuesday's photo finishes for local measure races in California prove every vote counts, May 06, 2015
• Voters in East Lansing, Michigan, decisively approve marijuana decriminalization, May 06, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Extensive tax plan for roads and more on today’s ballot in Michigan, May 05, 2015
• Race for LGBT ordinance in Springfield, Missouri, ends with votes in favor of repeal a nose ahead, Apr 08, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Changes to supreme court on today’s ballot in Wisconsin, Apr 07, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Contentious amendment certified as first ballot measure on Georgia 2016 ballot, Mar 31, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Amendments related to governing schools emerge in South Dakota and Georgia, Mar 24, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: First marijuana measure certified for a 2016 statewide ballot, Mar 17, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: States beginning to solidify 2016 ballots, Mar 10, 2015
• Local Measure Results - March 3, 2015: LA elections, fracking, development and more, Mar 09, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: “Clean Elections” initiative on path to 2015 ballot in Maine, Feb 24, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Diverse coalition backs “solar choice” initiative in Florida, Feb 17, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Local celebrities rumored to be involved in OH marijuana farms, Feb 10, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: LA may get NFL team, Washington stricter initiative laws, Feb 03, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: First statewide measure of 2015 to be voted on in Wisconsin, Jan 27, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Mississippi voters to see dueling measures for the first time, Jan 20, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Florida poised for round two of medical marijuana battle, Jan 13, 2015
• The Tuesday Count: Voters will decide on higher sales tax to fund roadwork in Michigan, Jan 06, 2015

2014[edit]

• Pension Hotspots: 2014 Year in Review, Dec 23, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Dust continues to settle after 2014 election, Dec 16, 2014
• Local California ballot measures year-end summary (2014), Dec 11, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Familiar activists working on 2015, 2016 measures, Dec 09, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Arkansas 2016 ballot beginning to take shape, Dec 02, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: San Jose and San Bernardino, California, Nov 28, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: More marijuana, minimum wage measures expected in upcoming elections, Nov 25, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Hot-button issues resurfacing on future ballots, Nov 18, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Election review, Nov 14, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Post-election highlights, Nov 11, 2014
• Local measure results rundown: Fracking, Marijuana, Minimum wage and GMOs, Nov 05, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Election day 2014, Nov 04, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Brown spending more on CA’s Props 1 and 2 than on his own reelection, Oct 28, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Polls show faltering support for medical cannabis initiative in Florida, Oct 21, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Michigan's wolf hunting referendums would have short-term effect on law, Oct 14, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: SCOTUS to determine fate of independent redistricting commission, Oct 07, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Marijuana legalization advocates target 2016, Sep 30, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Phoenix, Arizona, and San Diego County, California, Sep 26, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: New York's not-so-independent redistricting commission amendment, Sep 23, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: California will remain one state as “Six Californias” fails signature count, Sep 16, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Final citizen’s initiatives certified for 2014, Sep 09, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Voters in Arkansas have chance to forbid dry alcohol jurisdictions, Sep 02, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Ventura County pension initiative ruled illegal, Aug 29, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Issues of “consumer choice” make the ballot in Colorado and North Dakota, Aug 26, 2014
• August 19, 2014 election results: Outcome of Alaska ballot measure election still up in the air, Aug 21, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Minimum wage on the ballot in Alaska, Nebraska and possibly Arkansas, Aug 19, 2014
• Judge rules Ventura County pension reform impossible without approval from state, scrapping contentious initiative, Aug 13, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: California’s “Overturn Citizens United” Proposition 49 booted off the ballot by Supreme Court, Aug 12, 2014
• August 5, 2014 election results: Missouri right-to-farm narrowly approved, gun rights amendment succeeded and Michigan PPT to be phased out, Aug 06, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Primary elections foreshadow those in November, Aug 06, 2014
• August 5, 2014 ballot measure elections, Aug 05, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Marijuana a prevalent issue on state and local ballots, Jul 29, 2014
• Court overturns fracking ban in Longmont, Colorado, with potentially significant implications for other cities, Jul 25, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Trend of unfavorable ballot summaries for pension reform measures continues, Jul 25, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: From Citizens United v. FEC to parental custody battles, diverse issues certified for November ballot, Jul 23, 2014
• Voters may cast ballots on splitting California into six states in 2016, Jul 16, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Alabama measure to be decided in $3 million election, Jul 16, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: 2014 shaping up to be a remarkably light year for initiatives, Jul 09, 2014
• Local California ballot measures recap, January - June (2014), Jul 07, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Fourth and final citizen referred measure certified for 2014 California ballot, Jul 01, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Ventura County pension reformers see first offensive from unions, Jun 27, 2014
• After a year of lawsuits and delays, Loveland, CO, voters reject a two-year fracking suspension, Jun 25, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Minimum wage, equal rights measures certified for November ballots, Jun 24, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: Minimum wage battle heating up at state and local levels, Jun 17, 2014
• California's 9th Circuit Court strikes down law mandating identity of ballot measure proponents on front of petition, Jun 16, 2014
• June 10, 2014 election results: Voters alter initiative process in North Dakota, Jun 11, 2014
• The Tuesday Count: North Dakota ballot measure election held during June primary, Jun 11, 2014
• June 3, 2014 election results: California veteran bonds and open government measures approved, 51st state results mixed and San Franciscans vote for input on waterfront projects, Jun 04, 2014
• June 3, 2014 ballot measure elections, Jun 03, 2014
• Southern Oregon residents decisively vote to banish GMOs from Jackson and Josephine counties, May 21, 2014
• May 6, 2014 election results: Ohio bonds approved, Youngstown, OH, fracking ban rejected for a third time and California voters approve school taxes but reject healthcare tax, May 07, 2014
• May 6, 2014 ballot measure elections, May 06, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Ventura County petitioners turn in signatures, supremely confident their measure will qualify for the ballot, Apr 25, 2014
• King County voters reject Prop. 1 Metro funding, choosing lower taxes despite looming bus service cuts, Apr 23, 2014
• Local voters in California approve three measures and defeat two, Long Beach medical marijuana tax passes easily, Apr 09, 2014
• Voters in Springfield, Missouri, renew sales tax to support old pension fund, Apr 09, 2014
• Local voters in Wisconsin support marijuana legalization and a $50 million dollar performing arts development, Apr 02, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Pacific Grove, CA, Ventura County, CA, and Phoenix, AZ, Mar 28, 2014
• First fracking measure of the year fizzles out, voters say no to Johnson County anti-fracking advisory question, Mar 19, 2014
• D.C. Board of Elections approves marijuana legalization initiative, petition drive to kickoff in April, Mar 12, 2014
• Phoenix pension reform proponents turn in 54,000 signatures to ensure their initiative goes on the ballot, Mar 12, 2014
• Judge blocks Sacramento STOP Initiative from ballot, construction crews expected to break ground on new arena in the fall, Mar 05, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Piedmont, CA, Chattanooga, TN and Sonoma County, CA, Feb 28, 2014
• Berkeley joins San Francisco, potentially putting a sugary beverage tax on the November ballot, Feb 18, 2014
• Piedmont voters give overwhelming approval to pension debt refinance, Feb 05, 2014
• Superbowl report featuring sports arenas on the ballot: fans v. foes, Feb 01, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Phoenix, AZ, and Ventura County, CA, Jan 31, 2014

Ballotpedia's Local Ballot Measures project is managed by Josh Altic. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail Josh at josh.altic@ballotpedia.org.

Pension Hotspots report[edit]

The Pension Hotspots Report was a monthly publication about local pension reform efforts released on the last Friday of each month. This report highlighted local measures concerning local pensions and other pension related news. Note: This report was retired after 2014.

2014[edit]

• Pension Hotspots: 2014 Year in Review, Dec 23, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: San Jose and San Bernardino, California, Nov 28, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Election review, Nov 14, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Phoenix, Arizona, and San Diego County, California, Sep 26, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Ventura County pension initiative ruled illegal, Aug 29, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Trend of unfavorable ballot summaries for pension reform measures continues, Jul 25, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Ventura County pension reformers see first offensive from unions, Jun 27, 2014
• Pension Hotspots:Porterville City, CA, and Orange County, CA, Jun 01, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Ventura County petitioners turn in signatures, supremely confident their measure will qualify for the ballot, Apr 25, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Pacific Grove, CA, Ventura County, CA, and Phoenix, AZ, Mar 28, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Piedmont, CA, Chattanooga, TN and Sonoma County, CA, Feb 28, 2014
• Pension Hotspots: Phoenix, AZ, and Ventura County, CA, Jan 31, 2014

2013[edit]

• 2013 Local Pension Measure Roundup, Dec 26, 2013
• Pension Hotspots: Cincinnati, OH, San Francisco, CA, and Hialeah, FL, Nov 29, 2013
• Pension Hotspots: Pre-election review, Oct 25, 2013
• Pension reform: San Jose and San Diego voters weigh in, Oct 15, 2013
• Pension Hotspots: Phoenix, Tucson and Jacksonville, Sep 27, 2013
• Pension Hotspots: State Check-up, Aug 30, 2013
• Pension Hotspots: Cincy, Detroit and Baltimore, Jul 26, 2013
• Pension Hotspots: Tucson, AZ, and Pacific Grove, CA, Jun 28, 2013

The Tuesday Count[edit]

The Tuesday Count features developments related to state ballot measures and news regarding select local measures, recall and ballot law.

See the Tuesday Count for a list of all published reports.

Local elections (by year)[edit]

• Local ballot measure elections in 2024
• Local ballot measure elections in 2023
• Local ballot measure elections in 2022
• Local ballot measure elections in 2021
• Local ballot measure elections in 2020
• Local ballot measure elections in 2019
• Local ballot measure elections in 2018
• Local ballot measure elections in 2017
• Local ballot measure elections in 2016
• Local ballot measure elections in 2015
• Local ballot measure elections in 2014
• Local ballot measure elections in 2013
• Local ballot measure elections in 2012
• Local ballot measure elections in 2011
• Local ballot measure elections in 2010
• Local ballot measure elections in 2009
• Local ballot measure elections in 2008
• Local ballot measure elections in 2007
• Local ballot measure elections in 2006
• Local ballot measure elections in 2005
• Local ballot measure elections in 2004
• Local ballot measure elections in 2002
• Local ballot measure coverage scope by year

School bond & tax evaluation (by year)[edit]

Main article: Approval rates of local school bond and tax elections

Note: This report was retired after 2013.

• Approval rates of local school bond and tax questions in 2013, January-June
• Approval rates of local school bond and tax questions in 2012, January-June
• Approval rates of local school bond and tax questions in 2011, July-December
• Approval rates of local school bond and tax questions in 2011, January-June
• Approval rates of local school bond and tax questions in 2010, January-June
• Approval rates of local school bond and tax elections in 2010, July-December
• Approval rates of local school bond and tax elections (2012)
• Approval rates of local school bond and tax elections (2011)
• Approval rates of local school bond and tax elections (2010)
• Approval rates of local school bond and tax elections

Local statistics (by year)[edit]

Note: This report was retired after 2012

• Local ballot measure statistics, 2012
• Local ballot measure statistics, 2011
• Local ballot measure statistics, 2010

Political topics (by year)[edit]

• Political topics addressed in local ballot measure elections in 2017
• Political topics addressed in local ballot measure elections in 2016
• Political topics addressed in local ballot measure elections in 2015
• Political topics addressed in local ballot measure elections in 2014
• Political topics addressed in local ballot measure elections in 2013
• Political topics addressed in local ballot measure elections in 2012
• Political topics addressed in local ballot measure elections in 2011
• Local ballot measures in 2010 about Term Limits
• Local ballot measures in 2010 about Taxes
• Local ballot measures in 2010 about Marijuana
• Local ballot measures in 2010 about Land Use and Zoning
• Local ballot measures in 2010 about Elections
• Local ballot measures in 2010 about Budgets
• Local ballot measures in 2010 about Bonds
• Local ballot measures in 2010 about Annexation
• Local ballot measures in 2010 about Alcohol
• Local ballot measures in 2010 about Administration
• Political topics addressed in local ballot measure elections in 2010
• Political topics addressed in local ballot measure elections in 2009

Other studies & analysis[edit]

• Pension reform: San Jose and San Diego voters weigh in
• County election website evaluations (March 2012)
  • Arizona • California • Colorado • Florida • Illinois • Michigan • Missouri • Ohio • Oregon • Washington • Wisconsin
• Costs of administering local elections
• Availability of local ballot measure information at the state level

Local news by state[edit]

For local ballot measure news, click a state on the map featured below:

See also[edit]

• Local Ballot Measures

v • e Local ballot measures By state A • Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • C • California • Colorado • Connecticut • D • Delaware • F • Florida • G • Georgia • H • Hawaii • I • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • K • Kansas • Kentucky • L • Louisiana • M • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • N • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • O • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • P • Pennsylvania • R • Rhode Island • S • South Carolina • South Dakota • T • Tennessee • Texas • U • Utah • V • Vermont • Virginia • W • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming By year 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2002 By topic Race and ethnicity • Fracking • Law enforcement • Marijuana • Minimum wage • Public pensions • LGBT issues • Development • Law enforcement • More