A Smorgasbord of Ballot Measures.

• Author: Drage, Jennie
• Position: 2000 election

Voters in 42 states considered a total of 204 ballot measures on Election Day. Those approved ran the gamut from tax and campaign limits to gun control and animal rights.

Voters in 42 states considered a total of 204 ballot measures on Election Day 2000. About 63 percent of these passed. Of the 71 citizen-initiated measures, about 48 percent received voter approval. That's slightly higher than the historical average passage rate of about 40 percent, but lower than the 60 percent rate we saw in 1998. Here's a rundown of how some of the key issues played out across the country.

TAXES

Tax cuts, a favorite subject of the initiative process ever since the passage of california's Proposition 13 in 1978, were not so successful this year. Major proposals in colorado and Oregon failed. colorado's Amendment 21, whose sponsor Douglas Bruce has successfully used the initiative process to cut colorado taxes for a decade, would have cut property, income, utility and vehicle taxes each by $25 per year until the tax was gone. It was killed by 66 percent of the voters. Bill Sizemore has also become known for his use of the initiative to cut taxes in Oregon. His Measure 91 would have allowed an unlimited deduction on state income taxes for federal taxes paid, and Measure 93 would have required voter approval for most tax and fee increases. It died with 45 percent of the voters for it and 55 percent opposed.

Another anti-tax activist, Washington's Tim Eyman, was more successful. His Initiative 722 passed, requiring state and local governments to refund tax and fee increases that were passed in December 1999. It also limits future property tax increases.

Other property tax limits had mixed results, with Alaska voters defeating one, but Arkansas voters approving another. Property tax relief for senior citizens passed in Arizona, colorado and Georgia. Montana and South Dakota voters repealed their states' inheritance taxes. Massachusetts voters decided on three tax measures. They passed an income tax rate reduction and a deduction for charitable contributions, but defeated a tax credit for highway tolls.

EDUCATION

Education was another big subject on the ballot this year. Generally speaking, school choice measures failed, while school funding measures fared better.

Voucher programs were soundly defeated in both california and Michigan, as was Washington's charter school measure. Arizona increased its sales tax by 0.6 percent for education. Colorado voted to...