1948 ballot measures

1948 State Ballot Measures
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Alabama

See also: Alabama 1948 ballot measures

January 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Legislature	Proposes the circumstances when special sessions may be convened	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Taxes	Proposes to authorize the levying and collecting of a county tax	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Taxes	Proposes to authorize the levying and collecting of a petrol tax	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Taxes	Proposes to authorize a special school district tax	a
LRCA	Amendment 5	Taxes	Proposes to authorize a special school district tax	a

Arizona

See also: Arizona 1948 ballot measures

November 2, 1948

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Measure Nos. 100-101	State leg	Require a two-thirds vote of the legislature to call for and sign a petition to convene a special session	a	77,941 (68%)	37,392 (32%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 102-103	State judiciary	Provide for the consolidation of all county superior courts into one court	a	80,120 (68%)	37,839 (32%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 104-105	Local gov't	Permit cities to employ non-residents as city managers	a	73,363 (60%)	48,052 (40%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 300-301	Labor and unions	Prohibit the denial of employment due to non-membership in a labor union	a	86,866 (59%)	60,295 (41%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 302-303	Labor and unions and Law enforcement	Provide for establishing a system of merit and the fixed number of highway patrol men	a	91,323 (73%)	33,317 (27%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 304-305	Healthcare and Labor and unions	Provide for the limitation of Workmen's Compensation to $1,000 per month	a	102,340 (81%)	23,856 (19%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 306-307	Admin of gov't	Provide for the establishment of a Civil Service Board to classify all positions in the state civil service	a	78,907 (67%)	39,470 (33%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 308-309	Labor and unions and Pension	Provide for the establishment of a public employee retirement fund	a	86,989 (70%)	38,111 (30%)

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 39	Elections	Permits the legislature to enact a law providing a method for registration of voters	a
LRCA	Amendment 40	Taxes	Removes the 18 mill school tax limit	a
CICA	Amendment 41	Taxes	Abolishes the state property tax	d
CISS	Act 1	Education	Proposes an initiative about school district reorganization	a
CISS	Act 2	Alcohol	Amends liquor laws regarding local option elections	d
CISS	Act 3	Elections	Provides for direct political party response in general elections	a
CISS	Act 4	Labor	Amends workmen's compensation	a

California

See also: California 1948 ballot propositions

November 2, 1948

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 10	Require all initiative constitutional amendments and statutes be about one subject as opposed to multiple.	a	1,973,761 (67%)	963,387 (33%)
LRCA	Proposition 11	Allow city charters and amendments to be voted on at a special election or the next general election and allow charters to establish boroughs.		1,036,181 (37%)	1,775,894 (63%)
CICA	Proposition 12	Allow cities and counties to restrict the sale of alcohol and require the city or county where an alcohol sale license is issued.		1,085,941 (29%)	2,598,815 (71%)
CICA	Proposition 13	Require that counties shall be represented in the Senate proportionally to population and require the 1949 legislature to reapportion Senate districts.		1,069,899 (32%)	2,250,937 (68%)
BI	Proposition 14	Create the State Housing Agency and allow for bonds up to $100,000,000 for funding loans to public housing authorities.		1,042,089 (31%)	2,372,646 (69%)
CISS	Proposition 15	Prohibit the use of purse nets and round haul nets for fishing in ocean and tide waters south of Point San Simeon in San Luis Obispo County.		1,153,353 (35%)	2,125,079 (65%)
CISS	Proposition 16	Allow the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners to regulate schooling for chiropractors and allow the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners to set the license renewal fee	a	2,102,769 (67%)	1,055,086 (33%)
LRCA	Proposition 17	Exempt certain positions from state civil service and prohibit reviving statutes relating to optional exemption from state civil service.		957,800 (32%)	2,040,251 (68%)
LRCA	Proposition 18	Require the state to reimburse all counties, cities and counties, cities, and districts for losses in tax revenue caused by tax exemptions for veterans, religious organizations, hospitals, and charitable institutions.		1,377,292 (45%)	1,687,069 (55%)
LRCA	Proposition 19	Establish that Fish and Game commissioners stay in their office once their term expires until their successor takes office.	a	2,275,600 (74%)	779,447 (26%)
LRCA	Proposition 1	Establish that the property tax exemption for veterans be based on the assessed value.		1,733,034 (49%)	1,790,851 (51%)
CICA	Proposition 2	Allow cities and counties to regulate the sale of alcohol and establish regulations on alcohol licensing.		1,122,274 (31%)	2,521,139 (69%)
CISS	Proposition 3	Allow the Public Utilities Commission to set the number of brakemen to be used on trains.	a	1,767,587 (51%)	1,703,303 (49%)
CICA	Proposition 4	Increase aid for aged people , increase aid for blind people, change eligibility requirements for such aid, and place such aid programs under state control.	a	1,837,805 (51%)	1,800,513 (49%)
LRCA	Proposition 5	Allow legislative wages to be set by law and allow the legislature to set mileage reimbursement rate (not to exceed $0.05 per mile).		1,398,663 (43%)	1,882,466 (57%)
CISS	Proposition 6	Prohibit the use of nets, traps, set lines, or other appliances for commercial fishing in the San Francisco Bay and connecting waters.		1,303,003 (38%)	2,118,967 (62%)
LRCA	Proposition 7	Change voter residency eligibility requirements.	a	2,196,159 (69%)	1,000,823 (31%)
LRCA	Proposition 8	Establish that Superior Court vacancies during a general election year shall be filled at the next general election.	a	2,393,617 (80%)	596,780 (20%)
LRCA	Proposition 9	Establish that the successor to the governor in the case of a vacancy shall finish the rest of the term of the governor	a	2,379,835 (78%)	689,554 (22%)

Colorado

See also: Colorado 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Measure 1	Admin of Gov't	Provides for the reorganization of the State Department of Education	a
LRSS	Measure 2	Gambling	Provides for authorization, regulation and licensing of horse and other animal racing with parimutuel gambling	a
CICA	Measure 3	Alcohol	Permits political subdivisions to adopt local option laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol	d
CICA	Measure 4	Pension	Increases the monthly guaranteed minimum allocation for an old age pension to $55	d

Connecticut

See also: Connecticut 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	Judiciary	Concerns the terms of office for probate judges	a
LRCA	Question 2	Elections, State Exec	Concerns election procedure and terms of office for state executive officials	a
LRCA	Question 3	Elections	Concerns the forfeiture of electoral privileges upon conviction	a
LRCA	Question 4	Judiciary	Concerns judicial nomination and appointment procedures	a
Advisory	Question 5	Fed Con, War & Peace	Concerns the strengthening of the United Nations charter	a

Florida

See also: Florida 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Provides that all excise taxes on gas and motor fuel products be used for public highway, street and airport purposes	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Bond issues	Relates to the issuance of bonds for educational purposes	d
LRCA	Amendment 3	Redistricting	Creates two new senatorial districts within the state for Monroe, Washington, and Calhoun Counties	d
LRCA	Amendment 4	State legislatures measures	Relates to the eligibility and compensation of members of the legislature	a
LRCA	Amendment 5	Constitutional language	Relates to legislatively referred constitutional amendments	a
LRCA	Amendment 6	State judiciary	Provides that retired judges shall be qualified to continue to perform all of the functions of their respective offices when called upon	a
LRCA	Amendment 7	Taxes	Relates to the assessment and collection of all taxes in the county of Saint Lucie	a
LRCA	Amendment 8	Taxes	Relates to the assessment and collection of all taxes in the county of Broward	a
LRCA	Amendment 9	Taxes	Relates to the assessment and collection of all taxes in the county of Volusia	a
LRCA	Amendment 10	Taxes	Relates to the assessment and collection of all taxes in the county of Pinellas	a
LRCA	Amendment 11	State judiciary	Relates to the election of the judge of the court of record in and for Escambia County	a

Georgia

See also: Georgia 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1			a
LRCA	Amendment 2			a
LRCA	Amendment 3			a
LRCA	Amendment 4			a
LRCA	Amendment 5			a
LRCA	Amendment 6			a
LRCA	Amendment 7			a
LRCA	Amendment 8			a
LRCA	Amendment 9			a
LRCA	Amendment 10			a
LRCA	Amendment 11			a
LRCA	Amendment 12			a
LRCA	Amendment 13			a
LRCA	Amendment 14			a
LRCA	Amendment 15			a
LRCA	Amendment 16			a
LRCA	Amendment 17			a

Idaho

See also: Idaho 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	SJR 5	Elections	Sets guidelines for election of county officers	a
LRCA	SJR 6	State Exec	Determines qualifications for state officers	a

Iowa

See also: Iowa 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Referendum 1	Veterans	Relates to soldier bonuses	a

Maine

See also: Maine 1948 ballot measures

September 13

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 1	Direct Democracy	Changes signature requirement for referendum petitions to 10 percent of the vote for governor cast in last gubernatorial election	a
LRCA	Proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 2	Legislature	Allows reimbursement of travel expenses to and from the legislature once each week	a
IndISS	Barlow Bill	Labor and Unions	Protects "the right to work" while also prohibiting secondary boycotts, sympathetic strikes and jurisdictional strikes	d
IndISS	Tabb Bill	Labor and Unions	Protects right of member and non-members of labor organizations to the opportunity to work	d
IndISS	Against Both Labor Union Bills	Labor and Unions	Refuses both Barlow and Tabb Bills	a

Maryland

See also: Maryland 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Admin of gov't	Relates to the eligibility of persons to hold public office	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Eminent domain	Relates to land acquisition by the mayor of Baltimore	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Legislature	Authorizes the legislature to change the boundaries of Baltimore and the Counties	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Term limits	Provides that a governor cannot succeed himself after two consecutive terms	a
LRCA	Amendment 5	Legislature	Relates to annual sessions of the general assembly	a
LRCA	Amendment 6	Eminent domain	Authorizes the taking of land for use in off-street parking facilities	a
LRCA	Amendment 7	Legislature	Relates to the consent of the general assembly to certain gifts and bequests for religious purposes	a
VR	Amendment 8	Term limits	Relates to the term of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles	d

Massachusetts

See also: Massachusetts 1948 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	Constitution	Provides that “the freedom of speech shall not be abridged”	a
LRCA	Question 2	Gov't Finance	Utilizes certain revenues for high purposes	a
LRCA	Question 3	Elections	Provides for the special election of constitutional offices in case of failures to elect them or death prior to them assuming office	a
IndISS	Question 4	Business	Regulates the advertisement of birth control	d
IndISS	Question 5	Labor	Regards the membership in labor organizations as a precondition of receiving employment	d
IndISS	Question 6	Labor	Requires the annual election of union officers	d
IndISS	Question 7	Labor	Require a majority vote by union members to call for a strike	d
LRCA	Question 8	Fed Con	Mandates that no person shall be elected president more than twice	a

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1948 ballot measures

November 2, 1948

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CCQ	Constitutional Convention Question	Call a constitutional convention to revise the state constitution	a	855,451 (52%)	799,198 (48%)
LRCA	Proposal No. 1	Establish the order of succession for the office of governor in case of a vacancy in the office of governor	a	1,055,632 (68%)	495,214 (32%)
LRCA	Proposal No. 2	Repeal Section 23, Article 10, relating to the return of sales tax revenues, from the state constitution		343,217 (19%)	1,446,016 (81%)
LRCA	Proposal No. 3	Establish that the salaries of certain state officials be set by law	a	935,441 (64%)	531,950 (36%)
LRCA	Proposal No. 4	Establish the method for determining compensation and expenses for members of the legislature	a	911,473 (61%)	587,691 (39%)
CICA	Proposal No. 5	Allow for the increase of the mill limitation and lower the vote requirement for mill limitation changes to a majority vote	a	962,800 (57%)	732,677 (43%)
VR	Proposal No. 6	Establish procedures for foreign agencies acting within Michigan and establish penalties for violations of such procedures	a	890,435 (60%)	585,469 (40%)

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Provides for apportionment of an excise tax on petroleum products	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Admin of gov't	Authorizes submission of two or more amendments without a vote	d
LRCA	Amendment 3	ConCon	Authorizes the legislature to call for a constitutional convention	d
LRCA	Amendment 4	Veterans	Authorizes the state to pay a veterans' bonus	a

Missouri

See also: Missouri 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Issue 1	Taxes	Raises the state fuel tax by 1.5% and eliminated municipal fuel taxes	d
LRCA	Issue 2	Pension	Creates a pension for public employees in cities larger than 40,000 people	a
LRCA	Issue 3	Veterans	Creates a $400 bonus for World War II veterans	d

Montana

See also: Montana 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Provides for the remission of delinquent personal property taxes	a
LRSS	R-51	Taxes	Enacts a levy to benefit the University of Montana	a
LRSS	R-52	Bonds	Issues bonds to benefit the University of Montana	a

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Imposes a tax on reservations of mineral rights	d
CISS	Initiative 1	Veterans	Relates to soldier bonuses	d

New Hampshire

See also: New Hampshire 1948 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CCR	Question 1	Legislature	Shall the General Court be able to adjourn for five days?	a
CCR	Question 2	Con Convention	Shall the voters be asked if they desire a constitutional convention every eighth year?	d
CCR	Question 3	Taxes	Shall the legislature be permitted to levy certain taxes as presented in the amendment?	d
CCR	Question 4	Taxes	Shall the legislature be allowed to tax public utilities generating electric energy?	d
CCR	Question 5	Taxes	Shall the legislature have authority to apply special taxes to manufacturers and merchants?	d
CCR	Question 6	Legislature	Shall the residents of each town be proportionally represented in the House of Representatives?	d

New Jersey

See also: New Jersey 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
BI	Question 1	Bond issues on the ballot	Allows for $50 million in bonds for state buildings for welfare and education.	d
BI	Question 2	Bond issues on the ballot	Allows for $15 million in bonds for a high-speed transit system in southern New Jersey.	d

North Carolina

See also: North Carolina 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Gov't salaries	Fixes salaries for legislators	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Gov't Finances	Allows the state and municipalities to contract debt	d
LRCA	Amendment 3	Taxes	Increases the limitation of property tax rates	d
LRCA	Amendment 4	Elections	Requires that a majority of voters approve any debt and taxes prior to implementation	a

North Dakota

See also: North Dakota 1948 ballot measures

June 29

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Levies taxes to fund state institutional buildings	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Veterans	Allows bond sale to fund adjusted compensation to veterans of World War II	a
VR	Referendum 1	Labor	Makes it unlawful to picket a plant if a strike has been called without an election and a vote for the strike by 51 percent	a
VR	Referendum 2	Labor	Requires that persons not be denied work on account of membership status in any labor union or labor organization	a
CISS	Initiative 1	Education	Prohibits public school teachers from wearing religious garb	a
CISS	Initiative 2	Transportation	Prohibits parking meters in political subdivisions	a
CISS	Initiative 3	Alcohol	Repeals law prohibiting sale of alcoholic beverages where commodities other than tobacco and soft drinks are sold	d

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Municipal Liquor Referendum	Alcohol	Permits municipal liquor stores	d
LRCA	Legislature Salaries Referendum	Gov't Salaries	Authorizes the legislative assembly to fix the compensation and expenses of the elective officers	d
LRCA	Post War Rehabilitation Referendum	Taxes	Permits a 10 year special two-mill levy to be credited to the post-war rehabilitation reserve fund	d
LRCA	Medical Center Referendum	Taxes	Levies one mill to produce a fund for the North Dakota State Medical Center at the University of North Dakota	a
CISS	Repeal Parking Meter Initiative	Transportation	Legalizes parking meters in political subdivisions	d

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1948 ballot measures

July 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	State Question 327	Taxes	Provides for an ad valorem tax rate increase of up to one mill	a
LRCA	State Question 328	Education	Creates a Board of Regents for Oklahoma Colleges	a
LRCA	State Question 329	Gov't salaries	Provides monthly and per diem compensation for legislators	a

Oregon

See also: Oregon 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Measure 1	Taxes	Allows the establishment of new tax bases after the legal voters therein have authorized the tax levy	d
LRCA	Measure 2	Gov't Finance	Indebtedness for State Forestation	a
LRSS	Measure 3	Law Enforcement	Establishes a camp for delinquent boys that would provide them with “useful occupations, discipline, moral and spiritual instruction, academic and vocational education”	a
VR	Measure 4	Energy	Requires the hydroelectric commission to define the rate of return and amortization in licensing and provides that the state or any municipality can take over any hydroelectric project at fair value	d
CICA	Measure 5	Suffrage	Requires that all voters in school elections to have resided in the school district for the six months immediately preceding such an election and read and write English	a
CISS	Measure 6	Pension	Provides funds to “needy” female citizens, 60 or older, and male citizens, 65 or older, of $50 per month for food, clothing, housing, medical and other needed care	a
CISS	Measure 7	Taxes	Institutes income tax exemptions of $750 for a single person and $1,500 for a married couple and requires that every person who’s income exceeds $4,000 to file income taxes	a
CISS	Measure 8	Alcohol	Authorizes the issuance of dispensing licenses to hotels, restaurants, clubs and common carriers, permits mixing, serving and selling of alcoholic beverages and requires annual license fees and a liquor tax	d
CICA	Measure 9	Veterans	Authorizes the World War II Veterans’ State Aid Fund to pay a cash bonus of $15 per month for service and an additional $10 per month of service on foreign soil to honorably discharged veterans	d
CISS	Measure 10	Hunting	Bans the use of fixed appliances, such as traps, seines and pound nets, for catching salmon and trout in the Columbia River watershed	a
VR	Measure 11	Taxes	Levies a tax amounting to $6,430,069.10 to meet appropriations and expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1949	d

South Dakota

See also: South Dakota 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Veterans' Bonus	Veterans	Grants World War II veterans' bonus	a
LRCA	Legislative Reapportionment	Redistricting	Provides for legislative reapportionment	a
LRCA	Legislative Vacancies	Legislature	Allows governor to fill legislative vacancies	a
LRCA	New Lease Options	Property	Allows lessees of public lands an option on a new lease	a
LRCA	Tax on Public Shooting Areas	Taxes	Allows local unites on tax on public shooting areas	a
VR	Liquor Labeling	Alcohol	Prescribes age of liquor and size of container	d
IndISS	Sale of Liquor with Food	Alcohol	Prohibits sale of liquor where food is sold	d

Texas

See also: Texas 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposition 1	Labor	Provides workman's compensation insurance for county employees	a
LRCA	Proposition 2	Redistricting	Creates the Legislative Redistricting Board	a
LRCA	Proposition 3	Marriage & family	Allows spouses to convert community property into separate property	a
LRCA	Proposition 4	State exec	Provides for gubernatorial succession	a
LRCA	Proposition 5	Taxes	Exempts $3,000 of taxable value of homesteads from taxes	a
LRCA	Proposition 6	Gov't salaries	Provides law enforcement officers with compensation on a salary basis	a
LRCA	Proposition 7	Taxes	Provides that no ad valorem taxes be levied beginning in 1951	a
LRCA	Proposition 8	Judiciary	Provides for terms and compensation of retired judges	a

Washington

See also: Washington 1948 ballot measures

November 2, 1948

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	HJR 13	Local gov't	Permit the formation of combined city and county charters with a minimum population of 300,000.	a	291,699 (50%)	287,813 (50%)
LRCA	HJR 4	Local gov't and Term limits	Repeal the constitutional provision that limits county officers from holding office for more than two consecutive terms.	a	337,554 (54%)	282,324 (46%)
ITL	Initiative 13	Alcohol	Prohibit alcohol sales by any person other than the State of Washington, repealing all provision on alcohol retail and revoking licenses.		208,337 (26%)	602,141 (74%)
ITP	Initiative 169	Bonds and Veterans	Provide additional compensation for World War II veterans and funding through bond sales.	a	438,518 (57%)	337,410 (43%)
ITP	Initiative 171	Alcohol and Business reg	Provide for the regulation and control of alcohol sales by the drink and the restriction on alcohol licenses.	a	416,227 (53%)	373,418 (47%)
ITP	Initiative 172	Welfare	Provide a minimum standard of living of $60 per month for low-income senior and blind citizens.	a	420,751 (54%)	352,642 (46%)
LRCA	SJR 4	Govt salaries	Permit the legislature to fix the salaries of elected state officials.	a	318,319 (51%)	310,516 (49%)
LRCA	SJR 5	Local gov't	Permit counties to adopt "Home Rule" charters.	a	296,624 (52%)	269,018 (48%)

Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	Eminent domain	Allows municipalities to take private property for public use without the necessary use of a jury	d
AQ	Question 2	Veterans	Approves the legislature to create a 3% retail sales tax to raise $200 million for WWII veterans bonuses	d

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