1959 ballot measures

1959 State Ballot Measures
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By state

Florida

See also: Florida 1959 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Redistricting	Increases size of Legislature to 44 Senators and 103 Representatives	d

Kentucky

See also: Kentucky 1959 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Veteran Sales Tax Referendum	Veterans	Establishes a sales tax to provide a veterans’ bonus	aot
LRCA	Sheriff Succession Referendum	Law Enforcement	Allows sheriffs to succeed themselves	d

Maine

See also: Maine 1959 ballot measures

September 9

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
BI	Referendum Question No. 1	Transportation	Issues $3.9 million in bonds to construct bridge across the Passagassawaukeag River	a
BI	Referendum Question No. 2	Transportation	Issues $13 million in bonds for the construction of state highways	a
BI	Referendum Question No. 3	Housing	Issues up to $10 million in bonds for the construction of housing at the University of Maine	a
BI	Referendum Question No. 4	Transportation	Issues up to $3.95 million in bonds for capital improvements	a

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1959 ballot measures

April 6, 1959

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposal No. 1	Allow the legislature to provide for the continuity of state and local government in times of emergency	a	702,183 (75%)	237,071 (25%)
LRCA	Proposal No. 2	Change the name of the governing body of Michigan State University	a	595,333 (65%)	315,223 (35%)
LRCA	Proposal No. 3	Establish a Board of Governors for Wayne State University	a	593,327 (67%)	295,780 (33%)

New Jersey

See also: New Jersey 1959 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
BI	Question 1	Bond issues on the ballot	Allows for $66.8 million in bonds for higher education.	a
LRSS	Question 2	Gambling	Authorizes and regulates amusement games with merchandise as prizes.	a
BI	Question 3	Bond issues on the ballot	Guarantees $430 million in Turnpike Authority bonds so that Turnpike surplus revenues can be used for transportation improvements.	d

New York

See also: New York 1959 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 1	Admin of Gov't	Establishes a Department of Motor Vehicles	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 2	Forests	Relates to a highway on forest preserve land	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 3	Admin of Gov't	Relates to public officials in office and their refusal to testify concerning past or present actions in office	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 4	Bonds	Permits New York city to issue a bond for school construction outside the bond limit	d
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 5	Direct Democracy	Permits the Legislature to eliminate primary elections when the candidate is unopposed	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 6	Legislature	Empowers the legislature to lease or transfer the state's barge canal system to the federal government	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 7	Pension	Authorizes the increase in pension benefits to members of the police and fire departments	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 8	Taxes	Permits the Legislature to define income for income tax purposes	a
LRCA	Proposed Amendment No. 9	Local Gov't	Authorizes municipalities to provide municipal services	a

North Carolina

See also: North Carolina 1959 ballot measures

October 27

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
BI	Referendum 1	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on educational institutions	a
BI	Referendum 2	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on mental health institutions	a
BI	Referendum 3	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on community colleges	a
BI	Referendum 4	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on hospitals	a
BI	Referendum 5	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on the armory commission	d
BI	Referendum 6	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on correctional institutions	a
BI	Referendum 7	Bonds	Issues bonds for improvements on the blind rehabilitation center	a
BI	Referendum 8	Bonds	Issues bonds for port facilities	a
BI	Referendum 9	Bonds	Issues bonds for the construction and restoration of historical sites	d

Ohio

See also: Ohio 1959 ballot measures

November 3, 1959

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Judges for the Court of Appeals Amendment	Allow the Ohio General Assembly to add judges to the Ohio Court of Appeals when needed.	a	1,028,914 (56%)	809,957 (44%)
LRCA	Sale of Water and Sewage Services Amendment	Remove the limitation on the sale of water and sewage services by municipalities outside their corporate limits.	a	1,085,378 (58%)	775,610 (42%)

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1959 ballot measures

April 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	State Question 386	Alcohol	Repeals state prohibition and creates the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board	a
LRCA	State Question 387	Alcohol	Allows counties to hold elections concerning the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcohol	d

Pennsylvania

See also: Pennsylvania 1959 ballot measures

Type	Name	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	State legislatures measures	Establishes that the legislature shall meet each year on the first Tuesday in January and in even years address fiscal matters	a
LRCA	Question 2	Education and State and local government finance	Prohibits school districts from having debts that exceed 15% of assessed value of taxable property	d
LRCA	Question 3	Elections and campaigns	Allows a qualified voter who moves within the state within 60 days of an election to vote in their old district	a