2003 Election Results
November 4. Colorado (results), Maine, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington State (results)
Odd-year elections are historically light on the number of statewide ballot measures to be voted on. This year was no exception with voters deciding on 22 statewide ballot measures in eight states, 14 of which were approved. Voters showed a willingness to adopt fiscal measures if they can see where the money is going and voted down those measures that were nebulous or gave the government a blank check. Complete list of November 2003 statewide ballot measures.
October 7. California (results; recall; ballot propositions)
Voters removed Governor Gray Davis from office becoming only the second Governor in U.S. history to be removed from office via the recall. Overshadowed by the gubernatorial recall campaign, the two statewide ballot measures were defeated. Proposition 53 would have amended the state constitution to dedicate up to 3% of the state's main pool of taxes to modernize roads, bridges and other public structures. Proposition 54 would have stopped the state from collecting and using most racial and ethnic data.
October 4. Louisiana (results; ballot questions)
Voters approved 11 of 15 constitutional amendments.
September 23. New Mexico (results; ballot question)
"Voters have given Gov. Bill Richardson new powers he had sought over public schools, but it remained in doubt whether they also would also agree to increase education funding. In a special election Tuesday that represents Richardson's first real test since coming to power last year, 55 percent of voters favored his plan to revamp the governing system for public schools and 45 percent were opposed. " Associated Press
September 16. Oregon (results and other information)
"Oregon voters on Tuesday night approved the Legislature's attempt to cut public pension debt by taking advantage of low interest rates. Measure 29, among more than a dozen changes lawmakers made this year to reduce the Public Employees Retirement System's costs, captured about 55 percent of the vote -- and the attention of fewer than half of registered voters. Legislators had to ask voters to approve the general obligation bonds because using them requires a change in the Oregon Constitution. The bonds offer lower interest rates than the current PERS financing." The Oregonian
September 13. Texas (results; amendments )
Voters approved all 22 of proposed constitutional
amendments including controversial Proposition 12 that gave the
Legislature constitutional authority to set limits on damages in medical
malpractice and other lawsuits. "Voters amended the state constitution Saturday
by a narrow margin to permit new limits on lawsuit damages, ending an expensive
and heated campaign that pitted doctors against trial lawyers. Nearly
complete but unofficial returns early today showed the vote was closer and
turnout was higher than many had predicted. Proposition 12 passed 51 percent to
49 percent. The 12 percent voter turnout topped the 9 percent projected by the
secretary of state." Houston Chronicle
September 9. Alabama (results and other information)
"Alabama's conservative Republican governor yesterday met resounding defeat in his highly publicized crusade for a $1.2 billion tax increase -- eight times the biggest previous increase in state history -- to resolve an unprecedented fiscal crisis, shift the tax burden from poor to rich and improve public schools funded at the nation's lowest level per child. With 94 percent of precincts reporting, Alabama voters were rejecting Gov. Bob Riley's ambitious package 67 percent to 33 percent, consistent with recent polls that had shown it likely to fail by 20 or more percentage points, even among low-income people who stood to receive large tax cuts." Washington Post.
Additional Election Information
Center
for Transportation Excellence - 2003 Transportation Ballot Measures