1997 ballot measures

1997 State Ballot Measures
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Forty-four statewide ballot measures were on the ballot in 1997 in eight states.

Number of measures

1997 was a year with a very close-to-average number of measures on the ballot for an odd-numbered election year. Going back to 1989, the average number of measures on the ballot in an odd-numbered year is 45.

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

By state

Colorado

See also: Colorado 1997 ballot measures

November 4, 1997

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CISS	Amendment 1	Increase the taxes on motor fuel and the fees for vehicle registration to fund transportation improvement projects.		109,663 (16%)	585,055 (84%)

Maine

See also: Maine 1997 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
ABR	Question 1	Forests & Parks	Makes the Compact for Maine's Forests into law	d
BI	Question 2	Water	Issues $7 million in bonds, matching $15 million in federal bonds, for water pollution control facilities	a
BI	Question 3	Bonds	Issues $10 million in bonds for the Adaptive Equipment Loan Program Fund	a
BI	Question 4	Transportation	Issues $56.85 million in bonds for transportation improvements	a
LRCA	Question 5	Suffrage	Repeals provision that prevents persons under guardianship because of mental illnesses from voting	d
LRSS	Question 6	Transportation	Expands southern end of Maine Turnpike	a

New Jersey

See also: New Jersey 1997 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
BI	Public Question 1	Bonds	$20 million in bonds for the demolition and disposal of unsafe buildings	a
LRSS	Public Question 2	Water	Stormwater management and sewer overflow abatement	a
LRSS	Public Question 3	Water	Changes to the Water Supply Bond Act of 1981	a

New York

See also: New York 1997 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
ABR	Question 1	Constitution	Shall New York hold a constitutional convention?	d
LRCA	Proposal 1	Judicial reform	Increase monetary jurisdiction of New York City Civil Court	d
LRCA	Proposal 2	Admin of gov't	Civil service exam credits for veterans	a
LRSS	Proposal 3	Bonds	$2.4 billion in bonds for public schools	d

Ohio

See also: Ohio 1997 ballot measures

November 4, 1997

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
VR	Amend Worker's Compensation Law Referendum	Amend Workers' Compensation laws and regulations		1,305,040 (43%)	1,730,502 (57%)
LRCA	Bail Restrictions for Felony Charges Amendment	Authorize a court to deny bail to a person charged with a felony offense	a	2,168,949 (73%)	803,658 (27%)

Oregon

See also: Oregon 1997 ballot measures

May 20

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Measure 49	Labor	Restricts prison inmates from initiating lawsuits about work assignments an allowed interstate shipment of prison made products	a
LRCA	Measure 50	Taxes	Limits property taxes through restrictions on assessed valuation of property and property tax rates	a

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Measure 51	Assisted Death	Repeals a law allowing terminally ill adults to obtain physician’s prescription for lethal drugs	d
LRSS	Measure 52	Bonds	Authorizes legislation establishing a state lottery bond program to finance public schools	a

Pennsylvania

See also: Pennsylvania 1997 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	Taxes	Changes to local homestead property tax exemption	a
LRCA	Question 2	State Exec	Require a unanimous recommendation of the board of pardons before the governor can pardon or commute the sentence of an individual sentenced in a criminal case to death or life imprisonment	a
LRCA	Question 3	Voting	Allows for a statute permitting absentee voting by qualified electors who at the time of an election may be absent from the municipality where they reside	a

Texas

See also: Texas 1997 ballot measures

August 9

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposition 1	Taxes	Provides school property tax relief by increasing the residence homestead exemption	a

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Proposition 1	Judiciary	Allows municipal court judges to hold more than one office	d
LRCA	Proposition 2	Taxes	Limits increases in residence homesteads for ad valorem taxes	a
LRCA	Proposition 3	Taxes	Exempts property for water conservation initiative from taxes	a
LRCA	Proposition 4	Con language	Eliminates duplicate numbering in Texas constitution	a
LRCA	Proposition 5	Judiciary	Authorizes the Supreme Court to sit anywhere in Texas	a
LRCA	Proposition 6	Gov't Finances	Allows the Texas Growth Fund to continue to invest without disclosure	d
LRCA	Proposition 7	Bonds	Allows the Texas Water Development Board to transfer bonds for water supply	a
LRCA	Proposition 8	Business reg	Expands the types of liens placed on homesteads	a
LRCA	Proposition 9	Texas	Authorizes ad valorem tax rate in rural fire prevention districts	a
LRCA	Proposition 10	Gov't finances	Designates purposes for which the compensation to victims of crime fund can be used	a
LRCA	Proposition 11	Gov't finances	Limits the amount of state debt payable from general revenue fund	a
LRCA	Proposition 12	Judiciary	Establishes deadlines for Supreme Court action on motion for rehearing	a
LRCA	Proposition 13	Gov't finances	Establishes the Texas tomorrow fund as a protected trust fund	a
LRCA	Proposition 14	Admin of gov't	Allows the legislature to prescribe qualifications of constables	a

Washington

See also: Washington 1997 ballot measures

June 17

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Referendum 48	Athletics	Authorizes a public stadium authority to build and operate a sports stadium financed by tax revenues and private contributions, specifically the Qwest Field	a

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
ITP	Initiative 673	Health Care	Can health insurance plans be regulated as to provision of services by designated health care providers	d
ITP	Initiative 676	Firearms	Criminalizes the transfer of handguns not equipped with a trigger-lock and mandates the licensing of firearms	d
ITP	Initiative 677	Constitutional Rights	Prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, employment agencies and labor organizations	d
ITP	Initiative 678	Health Care	Allows dental hygienists who have obtained special licensing to perform without the supervision of a licensed dentist.	d
ITP	Initiative 685	Marijuana	Decriminalizes medical marijuana and proscribes treatment, education and community service for non-violent drug users	d
LRSS	Referendum 47	Taxes	Allows assessors to adjust property valuation where value increased due to the real estate market	a
LRCA	HJR 4208	Taxes	Permits voter-approved school district tax levies to run for four years	a
LRCA	HJR 4209	Gov't Finances	Permits local governments to make loans for improvements upon stormwater or sewer services	a

External links

• Citizen's guide to the November 4, 1997 ballot questions in Maine
• Tabulation of the vote for the November 4, 1997 Maine ballot questions
• 1997 New York State election results
• Ohio 1997 ballot measures
• May 20, 1997 Oregon ballot measure guide
• November 4, 1997 Oregon ballot measure guide
• 1997 State of Washington ballot measure election results