Measure for measure: a sour economy keeps down the number of ballot initiatives on this year's ballot.

• Author: Bowser, Jennie Drage

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It's the economy.

The lingering effects of the recession might at first appear to have little to do with what ends up on November's ballot. But a limping economy actually has contributed to a relatively small number of ballot measures and to the type of measures that will make it before voters.

The total number of initiatives--measures placed on the ballot by voter petition in the 24 states that allow it--has topped out at 43. You have to go back to 1986--when there were just 38--to find a year with fewer initiatives on the November ballot.

In the context of the last 50 years, 2010 may be a return to normal. Before the '80s, it was typical to see about 40 initiatives on the ballot nationwide.

Don't bank on the numbers staying low, though. A dramatic increase in the 1990s in initiatives is attributable in large part to the discovery that the process could earn many people a living. Drafting initiatives, conducting opinion polls, gathering signatures, and running campaigns have all contributed to a profitable industry. The people who've built their careers on it aren't likely to give it up any time soon.

But voters will face more than just the 43 initiatives on the ballot. Legislatures also are referring 102 measures for citizens to decide.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

Then why so few initiatives this year? That's where the economy figures in. Qualifying a ballot initiative is an expensive proposition, and many campaigns simply couldn't raise the funds to achieve ballot status.

Some initiatives didn't face that problem. Sponsors of California's Proposition 23, which would temporarily suspend the state's greenhouse gas emission limits, spent nearly $3.6 million in the first half of 2010 to qualify for the ballot. And the combined total fundraising for two Washington initiatives to allow private liquor sales was just over $3.1 million as of mid-July.

What sets these measures apart from many that failed to qualify are the deep pockets of the industries supporting them. California's Proposition 23 is funded by the oil industry, primarily Texas-based Valero. In Washington, it's retailer Costco and two liquor wholesalers.

Another reason some say there are fewer initiatives is because of legislation regulating the signature-gathering process. Instances of fraud in gathering signatures led to legislation in some states that makes it impossible to qualify with volunteer circulators, according to advocates of the process.

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