1940 ballot measures

1940 State Ballot Measures
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By state

Arizona

See also: Arizona 1940 ballot measures

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	Measure Nos. 100-101	Taxes; Property	Provide for the tax exemption of a person's bona fide home for a value of up to $5,000		51,739 (46%)	60,668 (54%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 102-103	Property	Provide for the establishment of rules governing the sale and leasing of state lands	a	45,228 (54%)	39,068 (46%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 104-105	Business	Provide for defining the requirements for firms to be classified as public service corporations		20,981 (26%)	60,531 (74%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 106-107	Taxes; Property	Provide for the limitation of taxes on real and tangible personal property	a	46,696 (52%)	42,748 (48%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 108-109	Taxes	Provide for the definition of the statuses, rights, privileges, benefits, immunities, and exemptions of tax levying public improvement districts	a	61,795 (65%)	32,646 (35%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 110-111	Taxes; Transportation	Provide for a method of assessing and levying taxes and the imposition of a license tax on registered vehicles in lieu of ad valorem property taxes	a	53,124 (58%)	37,856 (42%)
VR	Measure Nos. 300-301	Healthcare; Business	Provide for the regulation of the advertisement of dentistry		33,516 (33%)	67,404 (67%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 302-303	Gambling	Provide for the legalization of gambling and gambling devices		43,502 (38%)	70,154 (62%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 304-305	Budgets; Transportation	Allocate a certain percentage of gasoline tax revenue to cities		37,203 (41%)	53,251 (59%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 306-307	Education	Provide for the equalization of educational opportunities of the children of the state	a	58,149 (59%)	41,215 (41%)

Arkansas

See also: Arkansas 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 30	Elections	Repeals the double primary	d
LRCA	Amendment 31	Gov't Finances	Pledges that the state will not reduce revenues from motor vehicle registrations in order to pay refunding bonds	d
LRCA	Amendment 32	Taxes	Allows certain personal property tax exemptions	d
CICA	Amendment 33	Local Gov't	Proposes an amendment for city libraries	a
CICA	Amendment 34	Pension	Proposes an amendment for police and fireman pensions	a
CICA	Amendment 35	Hunting & fishing	Establishes a Game and Fish Commission	d
CICA	Amendment 36	Pension	Proposes an amendment for old age pension plans	d
LRSS	Act 4	Bonds	Authorizes issuance of general refunding bonds	d
LRSS	Act 314	State judiciary	Requires that court actions must be brought in the county it occurs	a
LRSS	Act 319	Labor and unions	Proposes an initiative for workmen's compensation	a
CISS	Act 1	Labor	Provides payment for employers for compensation of injured employees	d

California

See also: California 1940 ballot propositions

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 10	Require that public improvements that are paid partially or fully special assessment taxes be subject to a variety of provisions.	a	1,138,237 (63%)	680,353 (37%)
LRCA	Proposition 11	Allow the state to have stocks in mutual water companies when such ownership is required to secure a water supply.	a	1,151,911 (59%)	810,549 (41%)
LRCA	Proposition 12	Allow either house of the legislature to create a committee to research facts and make recommendations.	a	929,527 (52%)	855,845 (48%)
LRCA	Proposition 13	Allow the legislature to execute leases and sales of state park lands that contain oil or gas and require funds generated go to a general fund.		315,408 (15%)	1,776,128 (85%)
LRCA	Proposition 14	Allow the legislature to apportion to political subdivisions from money derived from Chapter 362 and Chapter 330 Statutes.		759,683 (41%)	1,110,087 (59%)
LRCA	Proposition 15	Limit the money the city treasurer is able to transfer to meet obligations of city or city and county,		709,385 (38%)	1,153,446 (62%)
LRCA	Proposition 16	Provide for annual 60 day sessions of the legislature, require the budget be prepared annually, and limit the increase of general fund appropriations.		556,469 (30%)	1,268,684 (70%)
LRCA	Proposition 17	Allow the legislature to authorize the political subdivisions to purchase personal liability insurance against all officers, agents, and employees.		807,199 (41%)	1,138,039 (59%)
LRCA	Proposition 1	Release all liens, mortgages, and other encumbrances taken by counties as security for aid granted to aged persons.	a	1,508,547 (62%)	922,109 (38%)
LRCA	Proposition 2	Release all liens, mortgages, and other encumbrances of those covered under the Old Age Security Act or Old Age Security.	a	1,519,963 (64%)	853,243 (36%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Declare that the legislature shall provide for the establishment, governance, and superintendence of institutions for all felons	a	994,101 (50%)	991,722 (50%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	Allow the legislature to regulate the manner of election results for governor and lieutenant governor	a	1,198,015 (64%)	673,794 (36%)
CISS	Proposition 5	Start Daylight Saving Time on the last Sunday in April and end it on the last Sunday in September.		785,634 (30%)	1,834,564 (70%)
LRCA	Proposition 6	Allow the legislature to create ways for the superior court to review decisions made by administrative officers, boards, and commissions.		907,761 (50%)	921,832 (50%)
LRCA	Proposition 7	Make adjustments and reforms to the jurisdiction of courts.		723,330 (40%)	1,082,647 (60%)
LRCA	Proposition 8	Create the Fish and Game Commission	a	1,287,473 (64%)	735,589 (36%)
LRCA	Proposition 9	Exempt all vessels from local taxes except yachts of more than 50 tons until January 1955.		530,673 (26%)	1,480,475 (74%)

Colorado

See also: Colorado 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CICA	Issue 1	Taxes	Imposes an ad valorem tax on all intangible property in the state	d
CISS	Issue 2	Gambling	Establishes a racing commission, legalized horse and dog racing and allocates revenues from such races to the counties	d
CICA	Issue 3	Environment	Establishes a Game and Fish Commission and limits game and fish revenues to the conservation of the state’s wildlife resources	d
CICA	Issue 4	Taxes	Levies an income tax and requires that revenue derived from the income tax replace property taxes	d
CICA	Issue 5	Pension	Provides for a pension of $30 per month to residents of the state over 65 years old	d

Florida

See also: Florida 1940 ballot measures

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	County Commissioner's Districts Amendment	Allow for the creation of County Commissioner’s districts in each county		79,334 (46%)	92,818 (54%)
LRCA	Parole Commission Amendment	Allow for the creation of a Parole Commission	a	97,696 (57%)	72,364 (43%)
LRCA	State Ad Valorem Property Taxes Amendment	Prohibit state ad valorem taxes on real or personal property, except intangible personal property	a	106,622 (58%)	76,050 (42%)
LRCA	State Supreme Court Amendment	Establish a seventh Supreme Court Justice, allow the court to act in divisions, and designate the Chief Justice as chief administrative officer	a	93,340 (54%)	78,071 (46%)
LRCA	Use of Parimutuel Tax Funds Amendment	Allow for the equal allocation and distribution of taxes collected on parimutuel gambling	a	103,177 (60%)	67,528 (40%)
LRCA	Widow Tax Exemption Amendment	Give all widows a $500 taxation exemption	a	161,606 (79%)	42,451 (21%)

Idaho

See also: Idaho 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	HJR 3	Taxes	Restricts use of revenues from gas tax and motor vehicle registration fees	a
LRCA	SJR 5	Gov't Finances	Restricts the use of endowment funds	a
LRCA	SJR 7	Admin of Gov't	Gives the legislature the power to prescribe methods of disbursement of moneys	a
CISS	INIT 1	Alcohol	Gives counties the option to decide whether or not liquor can be sold	d
CISS	INIT 2	Alcohol	Limits liquor advertising, sets minimum purchase amounts, and prohibits sale of liquor at bars	d

Illinois

See also: Illinois 1940 ballot measures

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	Banking Law Amendment	Banking	Shall the banking law be amended?	a

Maine

See also: Maine 1940 ballot measures

September 9

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
VR	Question No. 5	Elections	Changes nominating process in the city of Biddeford's elections	a
VR	Question No. 6	Law Enforcement	Creates Biddeford Police Commission	a

Maryland

See also: Maryland 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Judiciary	Provides for the appointment of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Judiciary	Establishes Peoples Courts	a
LRCA	Amendment 3	Taxes	Removes the exemption of salaries of judges and other public officers from income tax	a
LRCA	Amendment 4	Judiciary	Sets residential qualifications for Associate Judges of the Third Judicial Circuit	d
LRCA	Amendment 5	State exec	Prohibits the governor from succeeding himself for a term directly following the term for which he was elected	d
LRCA	Amendment 6	Judiciary	Adds a judge to the seventh judicial circuit	a
LRCA	Amendment 7	Legislature	Limits session of the General Assembly to 90 days	d
VR	Amendment 8	Agriculture	Provides for the creation of the Commission of Fisheries	d
VR	Amendment 9	Labor	Provides for appointment of members and terms of office for the State Industrial Accident Commission	a

Michigan

See also: Michigan 1940 ballot measures

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposal No. 1	Allow school districts to exceed the 15 mill limitation for building purposes		602,952 (42%)	843,159 (58%)
CICA	Proposal No. 2	Establish a new state system of civil service	a	766,764 (52%)	709,894 (48%)
VR	Proposal No. 3	Require any common or contract motor carrier on public highways to obtain a certificate or permit to do so, with certain exceptions		640,051 (41%)	930,227 (59%)
VR	Proposal No. 4	Establish regulations on dentistry	a	735,053 (59%)	516,597 (41%)

Minnesota

See also: Minnesota 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Gov't Acc	Changes requirements for publishing charter amendments	d

Missouri

See also: Missouri 1940 ballot measures

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Salaries	Authorize the compensation of General Assembly members to $125 per month		418,119 (42%)	574,478 (58%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Legislature	Repeal Section 41, and enact a new section to establish a revision of statutes every 10 years starting in 1949		445,104 (47%)	506,568 (53%)
CICA	Amendment 3	Judiciary	Establish a non-partisan system for the nomination, appointment, and election of judges	a	535,642 (55%)	445,194 (45%)
CICA	Amendment 4	Direct democracy	Establish the required votes in initiative and referendum petitions be based on the total signatures for Governor		456,546 (48%)	492,564 (52%)
CICA	Amendment 5	Environment; Hunting and fishing	Repeal the Wildlife and Forestry Code and all regulations established by Conservation Commission, and instead enact the Fish and Game Laws of the State of Missouri from June 30, 1939		359,628 (34%)	709,421 (66%)
CICA	Amendment 6	Local vehicle registration tax; Transportation	Establish permanent motor vehicle license fees at the current rate to fund road maintenance		258,660 (26%)	737,932 (74%)
CICA	Amendment 7	Taxes; Transportation	Reduce motor vehicle license fees, which fund rural road maintenance, and abolish municipal gasoline taxes		416,322 (40%)	636,928 (60%)

Montana

See also: Montana 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRSS	R-42	Education	Enacts a mill levy for the University of Montana	a
LRSS	R-43	Bonds	Issues a bond for the state hospital for the insane	a
CISS	I-44	Bond issues	Issues bonds for state colleges	d

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Admin of gov't	Provides that the superintendent of public instruction be a member of the Board of Educational Lands and Funds	a
LRCA	Amendment 2	Local gov't	Provides for an optional form of county government	d

Nevada

See also: Nevada 1940 ballot measures

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Question 1	Budgets	Require all motor vehicle fees and fuel taxes be used exclusively for highway construction, maintenance, and administration.	a	28,679 (81%)	6,831 (19%)
LRCA	Question 2	Elections	Require the legislature to canvass election returns and declare election results in accordance with federal law.	a	24,026 (80%)	5,882 (20%)
LRCA	Question 3	Local government	Prohibit the legislature from abolishing a county without approval by both the county's voters and a majority of state voters.	a	22,424 (72%)	8,683 (28%)

North Dakota

See also: North Dakota 1940 ballot measures

June 25

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	County Government Referendum	Local Gov't	Changes state legislature power in organization and administration of counties and county governments	a
LRCA	Direct Democracy Referendum	Direct Democracy	Requires 15,000 signatures for both initiated and referred measures	d
LRCA	Recall Referendum	Recall	Changes recall petitioning and ballot procedures	d
CICA	Public Service Commission Initiative	Admin of Gov't	Changes the name of state Board of Railroad Commissioners to Public Service Commission	a
CICA	Highway Tax Initiative	Taxes	Allocates highway user taxes to defray cost of construction and maintenance of highways	a
CISS	Educational Funding Initiative	Education	Reduces the state's per people payment to schools and increases the emergency funds for schools in distress	a
CISS	School Funding Initiative 2	Education	Reduces the state's per people payment to schools regardless of need and increasing the emergency funds for schools in distress	d
CISS	Sales Tax for Schools Initiative	Taxes	Earmarking sales tax revenues--7/12ths for the school equalization fund and 5/12ths for the state welfare fund	a
CISS	School Funding Initiative	Education	Increasing the funds for financially distressed schools	a
CISS	Board of Finance Initiative	Admin of Gov't	Creates a state Board of Finance and Administration to handle all trust funds	d

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
CISS	Property Tax Classifications Initiative	Taxes	Creates three classes of property for tax purposes	d
CISS	Tax Abatement Initiative	Taxes	Allows the abatement of past, present and future taxes based on excessive valuation	d
CICA	Graduated Land Tax Initiative	Taxes	Creates a graduated land tax with a homestead exception of $5,000 for legal owner-resident farmers	d

Oklahoma

See also: Oklahoma 1940 ballot measures

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CICA	State Question 215	Taxes; Welfare	Authorize a graduated tax on land over 640 acres for old age security, with exemptions, refunds, and enforcement provisions.		408,559 (68%)	196,711 (32%)
CISS	State Question 241	Administration; Healthcare	Abolish alternate members of the State Board of Medical Examiners, ensure no medical school majority, require hearings for license revocation, and allow physicians to employ agents without suspension risk.		294,346 (58%)	212,701 (42%)
CISS	State Question 253	Taxes; Transportation	Reallocate motor vehicle and fuel tax revenues to increase funding for local governments and reduce State Highway Fund allocations.		355,431 (64%)	198,109 (36%)
LRCA	State Question 281	Executive officials	Require candidates for specific statewide offices to be U.S. citizens, at least 31 years old, and qualified Oklahoma electors for the 10 years before their election.		354,433 (68%)	169,926 (32%)
LRCA	State Question 282	Business	Require Corporation Commission approval for public service corporations to consolidate or control competing corporations, excluding railroads, bus, and truck lines.		256,466 (55%)	210,890 (45%)
CICA	State Question 289	Alcohol	Regulate alcohol importation, manufacture, and sale, require licenses and taxes, establish an enforcement department, authorize local fees and county options, and set penalties and employment restrictions.		290,752 (44%)	374,911 (56%)

Oregon

See also: Oregon 1940 ballot measures

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Measure Nos. 300-301	Executive officials; Term limits	Remove term limits for the Secretary of State and Treasurer.		163,942 (43%)	213,797 (57%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 302-303	Taxes	Institutionalize a given tax levy after voters approved such a levy for three successive years prior.		129,699 (41%)	183,488 (59%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 304-305	Banking	Repeal constitutional provisions regarding the double liability of of stockholders of state banks to the depositors of said banks.		157,891 (45%)	191,290 (55%)
LRCA	Measure Nos. 306-307	Salaries	Set legislators' daily session pay at $8, refund them 10 cents every mile traveled to and from the capital, and give presiding offers an additional one-half daily pay.		186,830 (50%)	188,031 (50%)
VR	Measure Nos. 308-309	Elections	Move the primary nominating elections from May to the first Wednesday after the first Monday of September.		156,421 (41%)	221,203 (59%)
VR	Measure Nos. 310-311	Alcohol; Business	Require licenses to sell alcohol to consumers.		158,004 (40%)	235,128 (60%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 312-313	Alcohol; Business	Repeal law allowing only the liquor control commission to sell alcohol, allowing private entities to manufacture and sell alcohol.		90,681 (23%)	309,183 (77%)
CICA	Measure Nos. 314-315	Gambling	Legalize games of skill, provide licensing of such games and disburse license revenues to public fairs, expositions, and old-age public assistance.		150,157 (37%)	258,010 (63%)
CISS	Measure Nos. 316-317	Food and agriculture	Repeal the Oregon Milk Control Law, which provided supervision and regulation of the milk industry.		201,983 (49%)	213,838 (51%)

South Dakota

See also: South Dakota 1940 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Taxes for Highways	Taxes	Provides that motor vehicle and gasoline taxes go to highways	a
LRCA	Legislative Vacancies	Legislature	Allows governor to fill legislative vacancies	d
LRCA	Investment of Permanent School Funds	Gov't Finances	Reduces the interest required for investment of permanent school funds	d
VR	Unemployment Compensation Commission	Admin of gov't	Abolishes the Unemployment Compensation Commission	d

Texas

See also: Texas 1940 ballot measures

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Proposition 1	Legislature; Judiciary	Authorize the legislature to provide for appeals directly to the supreme court in instances involving the constitutionality of laws	a	268,645 (70%)	114,343 (30%)
LRCA	Proposition 2	Executive officials	Appoint notaries public by the secretary of state, not the governor, with qualifications defined by law	a	318,061 (67%)	155,964 (33%)
LRCA	Proposition 3	Civil service; Term limits	Prohibit the two-year term limit set forth in Article 16, section 30 of the constitution from applying to appointive civil service offices	a	222,559 (60%)	147,919 (40%)
LRCA	Proposition 4	County tax; County bonds	Allow county commissioners to levy taxes and issue bonds to refund the indebtedness of the general fund of Red River County		167,204 (45%)	207,053 (55%)

Washington

See also: Washington 1940 ballot measures

November 5, 1940

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	HJR 13	Salaries; Elections	Allow voters or legislature to set constitutional officers' salaries, limit legislators' salaries to $50 monthly, and repeal constitutional salary limits.		183,478 (41%)	259,842 (59%)
ITP	Initiative 139	Budgets	Require voter approval for the issuance of bonds, securities, or other financial obligations to public utility districts.		253,318 (41%)	362,508 (59%)
ITP	Initiative 141	Welfare	Provide a $40 monthly grant to senior citizens over 65 years of age and eligibility guidelines and repeal acts in conflict with this measure.	a	358,009 (58%)	258,819 (42%)
LRSS	Referendum 5	Taxes; Property	Limit the aggregate annual rate of property levy to forty mills and a two mills limit on tax levy for public universities.	a	390,639 (72%)	149,843 (28%)
LRCA	SJR 1	Local government; Term limits	Repeal limits on the number of terms county officers may serve.		208,407 (44%)	267,938 (56%)
LRCA	SJR 8	Business	Authorize the legislature to grant stockholders of Washington-organized banks the same personal liability relief as stockholders of national banks.	a	255,047 (57%)	188,929 (43%)

Wisconsin

See also: Wisconsin 1940 ballot measures

April 2, 1940

Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
AQ	Question 1	Repeal a statue known as the teacher tenure law	a	403,782 (52%)	372,524 (48%)
LRCA	Question 2	Allow cities, villages, and towns to collect and return property tax with methods like installment payments	a	330,971 (71%)	134,808 (29%)

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