2021 ballot measures

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A total of 39 statewide ballot measures were certified for the 2021 ballot in nine states. Twenty-six measures were approved, and 13 were defeated.

  • 24 measures were on the November 2 ballot. 14 were approved, and 10 were defeated.
  • 4 measures were on the November 13 ballot in Louisiana. One was approved, and three were defeated.
  • 4 measures were on the ballot on May 18 in Pennsylvania. They were approved.
  • 7 bond measures were on the ballot on March 2 in Rhode Island. They were approved.


This page contains the following:

Other content and analysis of 2021 ballot measures:

  • Click here for Nov. 2 election results.
  • Click here for 2021 ballot measure campaign finance data and analysis.
  • Click here for Ballotpedia's top 15 most notable ballot measures on Nov. 2.

Types of measures

Type of ballot measure 2021 2019 2017 2015 2013 2011 2009 Average[1]
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments 23 19 16 16 17 21 20 18
Initiatives 4 1 4 5 3 10 6 5
Veto referendums 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 1
Legislatively referred state statutes 1 2 0 1 6 1 3 2
Legislatively referred bond questions 8 1 3 2 0 0 0 1
Automatic ballot referrals 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Commission-referred ballot measures 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Advisory questions 3 12 3 4 5 0 0 4
Total 39 36 27 28 31 34 32 31

By date

March 2

  1. Rhode Island Question 1, Higher Education Bond Measure (March 2021) Approveda
  2. Rhode Island Question 4, Transportation Bond Measure (March 2021) Approveda
  3. Rhode Island Question 5, Early Childhood Care and Education Capital Fund Bond Measure (March 2021) Approveda
  4. Rhode Island Question 6, Cultural Arts and State Preservation Grant Programs Bond Measure (March 2021) Approveda
  5. Rhode Island Question 7, Improvements to Industrial Facilities Infrastructure Bond Measure (March 2021) Approveda

May 18

  1. Pennsylvania Question 1, Legislative Resolution to Extend or Terminate Emergency Declaration Amendment (May 2021) Approveda
  2. Pennsylvania Question 2, Emergency Declarations Amendment (May 2021) Approveda
  3. Pennsylvania Question 3, Equal Rights Regardless of Race or Ethnicity Amendment (May 2021) Approveda
  4. Pennsylvania Question 4, Municipal Fire and EMS Services Loans Measure (May 2021) Approveda

November 2

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November 13

  1. Louisiana Amendment 4, Increase Limit on Funding Reductions and Redirections During Budget Deficits Measure (2021) Defeatedd
  2. Louisiana Amendment 2, Reduction of the Maximum Individual Income Tax Rate Measure (2021) Approveda
  3. Louisiana Amendment 1, Creation of the State and Local Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Commission Measure (2021) Defeatedd

By state

Colorado

See also: Colorado 2021 ballot measures
Type Title/number Subject Description Result
CICA/SS Amendment 78 State and local government budgets, spending and finance Transfers the power to appropriate custodial funds (state revenue not generated through taxes) from the state treasurer to the state legislature
Defeatedd
CISS Proposition 119 Taxes, Education, and Marijuana Creates an out-of-school education program and a board to govern it and increases the marijuana retail sales tax by 5% to partially fund the program
Defeatedd
CISS Proposition 120 Taxes Reduces the residential and non-residential property tax rates; authorizes the state to retain and spend $25 million in revenue above the state's TABOR spending cap, which it would otherwise be required to refund to taxpayers
Defeatedd


Louisiana

See also: Louisiana 2021 ballot measures

November 13:

Type Title Subject Description Result
LRCA Amendment 1 Taxes Amends the Louisiana Constitution to create the State and Local Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Commission
Defeated
LRCA Amendment 2 Taxes Amends the Louisiana Constitution to decrease the maximum rate of individual income tax from 6% to 4.75%
Approved
LRCA Amendment 3 Taxes Allows Louisiana levee districts created after 2006 to levy an annual property tax of up to five mills ($5 per $1,000 of assessed value) without voter approval if those districts approve the 2021 constitutional amendment (continues voter approval requirement for property taxes levied in districts that do not approve the amendment)
Defeated
LRCA Amendment 4 State budget Increases the amount of funds (from 5% to 10%) that can be redirected to a purpose other than what was originally provided for by law or as stated in the constitution during a projected budget deficit
Defeated


Maine

See also: Maine 2021 ballot measures
Type Title Subject Description Result
IndISS Question 1 Energy Prohibits the construction of electric transmission lines in the Upper Kennebec Region and requires a two-thirds vote of each state legislative chamber to approve electric transmission line projects defined as high-impact
Approveda
BI Question 2 Bonds Issues $100 million in bonds for transportation infrastructure
Approveda
LRCA Question 3 Constitutional Rights Creates a state constitutional right to a produce, harvest, and consume food
Approveda


New Jersey

See also: New Jersey 2021 ballot measures
Type Title Subject Description Result
LRCA Public Question 1 Gambling Allows wagering on postseason college sport competitions held in N.J. and competitions in which a N.J.-based college team participates
Defeatedd
LRCA Public Question 2 Gambling Allows organizations to use raffle money to raise money for their own organization
Approveda

New York

See also: New York 2021 ballot measures
Type Title Subject Description Result
LRCA Proposal 1 Redistricting Makes changes to the redistricting process in New York
Defeatedd
LRCA Proposal 2 Environment Creates a state constitutional right to clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment
Approveda
LRCA Proposal 3 Elections Authorizes the legislature to pass a law for same-day voter registration
Defeatedd
LRCA Proposal 4 Elections Authorizes the legislature to pass a law for no-excuse absentee voting
Defeatedd
LRCA Proposal 5 Judiciary Increases the NYC Civil Court's jurisdiction from civil cases involving $25,000 to $50,000
Approveda

Pennsylvania

See also: Pennsylvania 2021 ballot measures

May 18, 2021:

Type Name Subject Description Result
LRCA Question 1 Legislature Empowers the legislature to extend or terminate a emergency declaration by resolution Approveda
LRCA Question 2 Executive Addresses the governor's emergency powers, including requiring legislative approval to continue beyond 21 days Approveda
LRCA Question 3 Constitutional Prohibits denial or abridgement of rights on account of an individual's race or ethnicity Approveda
LRSS Question 4 Budgets Expands the state's loan program to volunteer fire companies to municipal fire companies and EMS service nonprofits Approveda

Rhode Island

See also: Rhode Island 2021 ballot measures

March 2:

Type Name Subject Description Result
BI Question 1 Bond issues Issues $107.3 million in bonds for the University of Rhode Island Fine Arts Center, the Rhode Island College Clarke Science Building, and the Community College of Rhode Island Approveda
BI Question 2 Bond issues Issues $74 million in bonds for state beaches, parks, recreational facilities, and water projects Approveda
BI Question 3 Bond issues Issues $65 million in bonds for building and renovating housing projects Approveda
BI Question 4 Bond issues Issues $71.7 million in bonds for transportation infrastructure Approveda
BI Question 5 Bond issues Issues $15 million in bonds for the Early Childhood Care and Education Capital Fund Approveda
BI Question 6 Bond issues Issues $7 million in bonds for the Cultural Arts and the Economy Grant Program and the State Preservation Grants Program Approveda
BI Question 7 Bond issues Issues $60 million in bonds to fund improvements to industrial facilities infrastructure Approveda

Texas

See also: Texas 2021 ballot measures
Type Title Subject Description Result
LRCA Proposition 1 Gambling Authorizes professional sports team charitable organizations to conduct raffles at rodeo venues
Approveda
LRCA Proposition 2 Bond issues Authorizes a county to issue bonds to fund infrastructure and transportation projects in undeveloped and blighted areas
Approveda
LRCA Proposition 3 Religion Amends the Texas Constitution to prohibit the state or any political subdivision from enacting a law, rule, order, or proclamation that limits religious services or organizations
Approveda
LRCA Proposition 4 State judiciary Changes the eligibility requirements for the following judicial offices: a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge
Approveda
LRCA Proposition 5 State judiciary Authorizes the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct to accept and investigate complaints and reports against candidates running for state judicial office
Approveda
LRCA Proposition 6 Healthcare and Constitutional rights Amends the Texas Constitution to state that residents of nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, or state-supported living centers have a right to designate an essential caregiver that may not be prohibited from visiting the resident
Approveda
LRCA Proposition 7 Taxes Amends the Texas Constitution to allow the legislature to extend a homestead tax limit for surviving spouses of disabled individuals as long as the spouse is 55 years old and resides at the home
Approveda
LRCA Proposition 8 Taxes and Veterans Amends the Texas Constitution to allow the legislature to apply a homestead tax exemption for surviving spouses of members of the military to those fatally injured in the line of duty
Approveda


Washington

See also: Washington 2021 ballot measures
Type Title Subject Description Ruling
AQ Advisory Vote 36 Taxes Advises the legislature to either maintain or repeal a tax on phone lines to fund behavioral health and suicide prevention services passed in House Bill 1477
Defeatedd
AQ Advisory Vote 37 Taxes Advises the legislature to either maintain or repeal a capital gains tax increase to fund education and child services passed in Senate Bill 5096
Defeatedd
AQ Advisory Vote 38 Taxes Advises the legislature to either maintain or repeal a tax on captive insurers passed in Senate Bill 5315
Defeatedd


Historical context

Ballot measures in odd-numbered years

The charts below show the number of measures appearing on state ballots in odd years from 1987 to 2019.

From 1987 through 2017, there was an average of 50 statewide measures in an average of 11 states on the ballot in odd-numbered years. From 2007 to 2017, the average dropped to 33 measures in 8 states. The 27 measures in 2017 set a seven-decade record for the lowest number of statewide ballot measure certifications. The last year in which there were fewer than 27 statewide measures was 1947. In 2019, there were 36 statewide measures in eight states.

Year States Measures
2021 9 39
2019 8 36
2017 9 27
2015 9 28
2013 6 31
2011 9 34
2009 7 32
2007 10 45
2005 13 47
2003 15 68
2001 9 39
1999 16 72
1997 8 44
1995 11 61
1993 15 62
1991 9 48
1989 13 77
1987 13 78
Averages: 11 48


States with odd-numbered year measures

Four of the 26 states with a process for citizen-initiated measures allow for ballot initiatives or veto referendums on ballots for elections in any odd-numbered years: Colorado, Maine, Ohio, and Washington. Legislatively referred measures can also go on the ballot in these states in 2021. Other states that frequently feature statewide measures referred to the ballot by the legislature in odd-numbered years include Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

In 2019, 36 statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in eight states. In 2017, there were 27 total statewide measures certified for the ballot. In 2015, there were 28 total statewide measures certified for the ballot.

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Local ballot measures

To see Ballotpedia's coverage of local ballot measure elections in 2021, click here.

See also

Footnotes

  1. These numbers are the averages from 2009 through 2019.