1944 ballot measures

1944 State Ballot Measures
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Alabama

See also: Alabama 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Gov't Finances	Proposes to regulate, alter, or fix fees and salaries for the county	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Taxes	Proposes to exempt veterans of foreign wars from the poll tax	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Elections	Proposes that a county office candidates need a 25 percent vote to run in a general election	d
LRCA	Amendment 4	Law Enforcement	Proposes that the sheriff shall hold office for six years and is culpable for any harm made to a prisoner	d
LRCA	Amendment 5	Gov't Finances	Proposes to regulate, alter, or fix fees and salaries for the county	a
LRCA	Amendment 6	Taxes	Proposes to levy a property tax in the city of Mobile	a

Arizona

See also: Arizona 1944 ballot measures

November 7, 1944

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Measure Nos. 100-101	Welfare	Provide permanently disabled, disabled veterans, widowed, or blind individuals with public welfare benefits		22,698 (23%)	77,693 (77%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 300-301	Welfare	Provide for the establishment of a state system for public old-age assistance benefits		37,287 (44%)	48,228 (56%)

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Amendment 34	Taxes	Proposes an amendment about a county library tax	d
CICA	Amendment 35	Labor	Protects the right to work regardless of affiliation with a labor union	a
CICA	Amendment 36	Hunting & fishing	Proposes an amendment for the game and fish commission	a
CICA	Amendment 37	Elections	Exempts members of the armed forces from a poll tax	a
CICA	Amendment 38	Term limits	Sets four year term limits for the Governor and Lt. Governor	d
CISS	Act 2	Animals	Repeals horse and dog racing	d
CISS	Act 3	Healthcare	Proposes an initiatve about the Hollingsworth state hospital system	d

California

See also: California 1944 ballot propositions

May 16, 1944

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 1	Property; Taxes	Remove the property tax exemption from federal property, except from property exempted under federal law.	a	1,059,398 (69%)	485,959 (31%)

November 7, 1944

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 10	War; Local government; Salaries	Allow the legislature, during times of war, to approve a suspension on the prohibition against increasing the compensation of local officers.	a	1,250,876 (52%)	1,156,956 (48%)
CICA	Proposition 11	Taxes; Welfare	Establish a $60 monthly payment to those above 60 or are permanently disabled and create an income tax to fund such payments.		1,017,924 (33%)	2,089,102 (67%)
CICA	Proposition 12	Labor	Declare that there is a right to employment regardless if one belongs to a labor organization.		1,304,418 (41%)	1,893,589 (59%)
BI	Proposition 1	Veterans; Bonds	Allow for bonds up to $30,000,000 for helping war veterans acquire farms and homes and establish the terms of such bonds.	a	2,385,571 (88%)	333,892 (12%)
LRCA	Proposition 2	Veterans; Taxes	Extend the property tax exemption to veterans who served during times of peace and were honorably released and to veterans who have continued their service.	a	2,244,775 (80%)	557,949 (20%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Executive officials; Salaries	Allow the legislature to set the pay for the Lieutenant Governor, Controller, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Treasurer	a	1,285,238 (52%)	1,163,543 (48%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	Healthcare; Religion; Taxes	Exempt property owned for religious, hospital, or charitable non-profit purposes from taxation	a	1,532,141 (55%)	1,277,160 (45%)
LRCA	Proposition 5	Veterans; Labor	Authorize the legislature to allow the reinstatement of public officers and employees who resign to serve in the armed forces.	a	2,230,692 (86%)	372,722 (14%)
LRCA	Proposition 6	Legislature; Budgets	Establish that the session of the legislature shall not exceed 60 days and require that budget and appropriation bill should cover one year.		935,763 (40%)	1,408,066 (60%)
LRCA	Proposition 7	Legislature; Salaries	Provide that members of the legislature receive the necessary funds to cover their attendance of legislative sessions.	a	1,285,929 (54%)	1,081,759 (46%)
LRCA	Proposition 8	Judiciary; Taxes	Declare that all deeds issued because of tax delinquency or assessments are valid unless declared invalid by a court.		745,771 (33%)	1,539,318 (67%)
CICA	Proposition 9	Education; Budgets	Increase the amount of money given to public elementary schools to 166.66% of the amount of generated by counties.	a	1,753,818 (64%)	996,808 (36%)

Colorado

See also: Colorado 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Measure 1	Constitutional Rights	Permits women to serve on juries	a
CICA	Measure 2	Property	Provides foreigners eligible for citizenship the ability to acquire and dispose of real and personal property	d
CISS	Measure 3	Pension	Appropriates $1.5 million in funds annually for old age pensions in order to pay the full pension to each recipient	a
CICA	Measure 4	Veterans	Provides preference to honorably discharged veterans and their widows in the civil service by giving such persons extra points in civil service exams	a

Florida

See also: Florida 1944 ballot measures

November 7, 1944

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 10	Establish that the County Tax Assessor for Hillsborough County assesses for all tax districts in the county	a	72,376 (59%)	49,707 (41%)
LRCA	Amendment 1	Set tax rates	a	95,632 (67%)	47,904 (33%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Establish new legislative districts and provide for reapportionment of the legislative districts		63,304 (48%)	69,953 (52%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Limit the number of Justice of Peace Districts in any county to five	a	94,312 (67%)	47,248 (33%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	Establish state attorneys, judges of the criminal courts of record and county solicitors as elected positions	a	91,276 (65%)	48,549 (35%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	Establish that the right of a person to work shall not be affected by labor organization membership and provide the right to collective bargaining	a	147,860 (55%)	122,770 (45%)
LRCA	Amendment 6	Establish a uniform system of county and municipal government		69,364 (49%)	72,186 (51%)
LRCA	Amendment 7	Amend provisions relating to the terms of those appointed or elected to fill vacancies	a	89,760 (67%)	44,230 (33%)
LRCA	Amendment 8	Provide for five county commissioners districts in each county	a	84,548 (57%)	64,986 (43%)

Idaho

See also: Idaho 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	HJR 3	State Exec	Abolishes the State Board of Prison Commissioners	d
LRCA	HJR 4	State Exec	Grants the Governor pardoning powers	d
LRCA	SJR 1	Term limits	Sets four year term limits for state officers	a
LRCA	SJR 3	Admin of Gov't	Replaces the State Board of Equalization with a State Tax Commission	a
LRCA	SJR 4	Taxes	Exempts federal government property from taxation	a

Illinois

See also: Illinois 1944 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Illinois County Officer Term Limit Amendment	Term Limits	Shall the county officer term limit provision be removed from the constitution?	d
LRSS	Banking Law Amendment	Banking	Shall the banking law be amended?	a

Maine

See also: Maine 1944 ballot measures

September 11

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Highway Fund Use	Gov't Finance	Limits use of taxes from vehicles and fuel to highway purposes	a

Maryland

See also: Maryland 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Constitutions	Repeals Article 38 of the Declaration of Rights	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Judiciary	Provides for a Court of Appeals of five judges	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Judiciary	Provides for the assignment of judges by the Court of Appeals	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Gov't salaries	Relates to the salaries of State's Attorneys	a
LRCA	Amendment 5	Local gov't	Provides for the creation of the Baltimore Redevelopment Commission	a
LRCA	Amendment 6	Constitutions	Relates to the publication of amendments to the Constitution	a

Massachusetts

See also: Massachusetts 1944 ballot measures

November 7, 1944

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	Revise the initiative and referendum process	a	861,148 (87%)	124,517 (13%)
LRCA	Question 2	Allow the legislature to prescribe conditions for pardons of felonies	a	650,475 (62%)	405,039 (38%)
LRCA	Question 3	Provide for annual sessions of the General Court and an annual budget	a	557,930 (52%)	514,675 (48%)
LRCA	Question 4	Allow those with a permanent disability that prevents them from being able to vote in person to vote absentee	a	893,139 (82%)	197,782 (18%)
VR	Question 5	Permit non-profit organizations to conduct games of chance	a	738,387 (68%)	351,918 (32%)

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1944 ballot measures

November 7, 1944

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposal No. 1	Allow the legislative bodies of villages and cities to establish how much water may be provided to places outside the corporate limits of the village or city	a	860,219 (60%)	568,090 (40%)
LRCA	Proposal No. 2	Allow members of the legislature to run and be elected to other state offices while during their term as legislator, provided that the term for the legislature and the other state office do not overlap		676,142 (48%)	725,858 (52%)
LRCA	Proposal No. 3	Set the compensation of members of the legislature at $5.00 per day during their term of office		614,300 (43%)	803,104 (57%)
CICA	Proposal No. 4	Allow Wayne County to adopt a charter		638,876 (43%)	851,926 (57%)

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Transportation	Authorizes state construction and operation of airports	a

Missouri

See also: Missouri 1944 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Issue 1	Gov't Finances	Permits the legislature to manage public school funds	a
CICA	Issue 2	State legislature	Creates a unicameral legislature	d

Montana

See also: Montana 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Education	Apportions income from public school funds	d
LRCA	Amendment 2	Term limits	Regards term limits of certain county officers	d
CISS	I-48	Business	Authorizes and regulates the practice of osteopathy	d

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CISS	Initiative 1	Alcohol	Prohibits the trafficking of liquor	d
CICA	Amendment 1	Taxes	Prohibits the diversion of the gas tax	d

Nevada

See also: Nevada 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Question 1	State legislatures measures	Proposes amending Section 12 of Article 4 of the Constitution to make mandatory an election to fill vacancies in the Legislature at either the next biennial election or regular election at which county officers are to be elected.	a
CISS	Question 2	Welfare	Regarding pensions for the elderly	a

North Carolina

See also: North Carolina 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Admin of gov't	Makes commissioners officers members of the council of state	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Admin of gov't	Exempts notaries public from the prohibition of public officers holding more than one office at the same time	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Admin of gov't	Changes the board of education amendment	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Gov't salaries	Provides that the general assembly fix the compensation for the lieutenant governor	a
LRCA	Amendment 5	Property	Requires a wife's signature to make the deed of a homestead valid	a

North Dakota

See also: North Dakota 1944 ballot measures

June 27

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Equalization Fund Referendum	Taxes	Relates to a tax for the state equalization fund	d
LRSS	Public Lands Referendum	Admin of Gov't	Relates to regulations for sales of school and public lands	a
CISS	Income Tax Repeal Initiative	Taxes	Repeals state income tax	d

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Legislative Pay Referendum	Gov't Salaries	Increases state legislators pay	d
LRCA	Municipal Liquor Referendum	Alcohol	Allows for municipal liquor stores	d
CISS	Highway Financing Initiative	Bonds	Authorizes issuance of $12,360,000 in bonds for state highway construction and maintenance	a
CISS	Alcohol Sales Initiative	Alcohol	Prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages where commodities other than tobacco and soft drinks are sold	d

Ohio

See also: Ohio 1944 ballot measures

November 7, 1944

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Revision of Judicial Jurisdiction and Procedures Amendment	Revise judicial procedures and jurisdictions and provide means for laws to be passed relative to the qualifications of court of appeals judges	a	1,279,216 (67%)	633,813 (33%)
LRCA	Supreme Court Temporary Judges Amendment (1944)	Allow appeals court judges to temporarily stand in place of absent supreme court judges if they are unable to serve	a	1,429,635 (70%)	611,276 (30%)

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1944 ballot measures

July 11, 1944

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	State Question 309	Administration; Law enforcement	Create a Pardon and Parole Board and require reporting all clemency acts to the Legislature.	a	140,496 (63%)	82,911 (37%)
LRCA	State Question 310	Education; Administration	Create a nine-member Board of Regents for Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, including the State Board of Agriculture President and members appointed by the Governor with Senate approval.	a	117,194 (52%)	108,047 (48%)
LRCA	State Question 311	Education; Administration	Create a seven-member Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma, appointed by the Governor with Senate approval.	a	109,886 (52%)	100,049 (48%)
LRSS	State Question 312	Electoral systems; Elections	Provide for runoff primary elections	a	131,071 (58%)	94,060 (42%)
LRCA	State Question 313	Budgets	Require surplus state general revenue funds to be placed in a sinking fund to pay off state bonded debt.	a	145,039 (69%)	63,816 (31%)

Oregon

See also: Oregon 1944 ballot measures

November 7, 1944

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Measure Nos. 300-301	Banking	Authorize banks to secure depositors through membership in the federal deposit insurance corporation while maintaining double liability.	a	228,744 (66%)	115,745 (34%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 302-303	Local government	Allow counties, with a majority vote, to adopt a county manager and commission form of county government.	a	175,716 (53%)	154,504 (47%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 304-305	Veterans; Taxes	Authorize state debt up to three percent of assessed property value for WWII veteran home loans and levy an additional 2 mill property tax for principal payment and issued bond interest.	a	190,520 (52%)	178,581 (48%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 306-307	Suffrage; Constitutional language	Forfeit voting rights for convictions punishable by imprisonment and replace the term “insane” for “mentally diseased"	a	183,855 (54%)	156,219 (46%)
LRSS	Measure Nos. 308-309	Veterans; Education	Provide educational aid to World War II veterans and authorize a two-tenths of a mill property tax to provide aid funds.	a	238,350 (64%)	135,317 (36%)
LRSS	Measure Nos. 310-311	Taxes	Implement retail sales tax on tangible property and allocate the revenue to support old-age assistance, property tax reduction, and common schools.		96,697 (26%)	269,276 (74%)
VR	Measure Nos. 312-313	Alcohol; Business	Require all intoxicating liquors with over fourteen percent alcohol to be sold exclusively by the liquor control commission.	a	228,853 (56%)	180,158 (44%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 314-315	Education; Taxes	Create a state fund to support public elementary and secondary schools using tax revenues for school support.		177,153 (49%)	186,976 (51%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 316-317	Taxes; Welfare	Levy a three to five percent gross income tax to create a retirement and disability fund.		180,691 (45%)	219,981 (55%)

South Dakota

See also: South Dakota 1944 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Educational Fund Loans	Gov't Finances	Restricts loans on educational funds	d
LRCA	Educational and Charitable Institutions	Education	Reclassifies educational and charitable institutions	a

Texas

See also: Texas 1944 ballot measures

November 7, 1944

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 1	Pension; Local government	Allow cities and towns to provide a system of retirement and disability pensions for city officers and employees	a	258,036 (61%)	162,953 (39%)
LRCA	Proposition 2	Pension; Legislature	Allow the legislature to provide a state retirement and disability pensions for city staff with voluntary municipal participation	a	242,579 (59%)	166,007 (41%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Taxes; Local government	Authorize county commissioners to reallocate city, county, road and bridge, public improvement and juror maximum tax rates for up to $0.80 per $100	a	228,346 (62%)	137,761 (38%)

Virginia

See also: Virginia 1944 ballot measures

November 7, 1944

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Board for the Review of Capital Punishment, Reprieves, and Pardons Amendment	Allow the General Assembly to create a board, to be appointed by the governor, to commute capital punishment and to grant reprieves and pardons	a	176,545 (74%)	61,399 (26%)
LRCA	Public School Funding from the Literary Fund Amendment	Assign funds from the principal of literary fund to public school purposes	a	140,353 (61%)	89,048 (39%)

Washington

See also: Washington 1944 ballot measures

November 7, 1944

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	HJR 1	Property; Taxes	Provide for a constitutional amendment that limits the tax on real and personal property to forty mills.	a	357,488 (67%)	179,273 (33%)
LRCA	HJR 4	Taxes; Transportation	Provide for a constitutional amendment that limits revenue from vehicle-related fees and taxes to be used for highways.	a	358,581 (69%)	160,898 (31%)
ITP	Initiative 157	Welfare	Expand social security and unemployment aid to veterans and government employees and grants to blind and senior citizens.		240,565 (37%)	404,256 (63%)
ITP	Initiative 158	Taxes; Welfare	Establish three percent income tax to fund $60 monthly payments to the elderly, blind, disabled and widowed.		184,405 (30%)	437,502 (70%)
VR	Referendum 25	Utilities	Allow the formation of joint public utility districts		297,919 (44%)	373,051 (56%)

Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin 1944 ballot measures

April 4, 1944

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
AQ	Question 1	Levy a two-tenths of a cent per dollar property tax to aid high schools		131,004 (24%)	410,315 (76%)

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