# Ballot Props in your state **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 6, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134 "2012-11-06T20:19:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/1 "2012-11-06T20:19:33Z")
What were the propositions on your ballot this time around? In MA: 1.“Right to repair”-allows drivers to bring their car to any repair man they choose, not just the dealership 2.Legalize euthanasia 3.Legalize Medical Marijuana ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/2 "2012-11-06T20:22:01Z")
I live in MA as well, so I got the same questions. FWIW, I voted yes on all three. As long as I can be sure to get my medical marijuana _BEFORE_ my physician assisted suicide, then I’m good. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/3 "2012-11-06T20:30:24Z")
Are you saying that currently in MA there is a prohibition on choosing where to get your car repaired? In Washington we have: Gay Marriage (yes) Legal Marijuana, sort of. (yes) Charter Schools (sure) Some obscure housekeeping things. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/4 "2012-11-06T20:34:06Z")
**Pro** -I don’t drive so I’m not up on that issue. FTR I voted for euthanasia and medical pot. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/5 "2012-11-06T20:35:43Z")
New Jersey: 1. Give state grants to research universities (meaning Rutgers, Rutgers and Rutgers.) 2. Require Supreme Court and other high-level justices to pay money for health insurance and pension (this would require a constitutional amendment.) 3. Municipal - Require School Board members to be elected rather than appointed. I votes yes on all three, but I thought there were good arguments against #2 and #3. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/6 "2012-11-06T20:40:40Z")
We only had one state-wide ballot question here in Nevada. A YES vote would amend the Nevada Constitution to give the Legislature the power to convene a special session if ⅔ of the Legislators signed a petition saying they should have one. I voted NO. Seeing as how our legislature is only in session every two years for 120 days, and seeing as how Nevadans generally like that fact, I doubt this question will pass. We still have a provision that allows special sessions to be called, but I don’t think most of us think that giving that power to the legislators themselves is such a great idea. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/7 "2012-11-06T20:43:09Z")
Here are Michigan’s Proposal 1: Referendum on the Emergency Manager Law Proposal 2: The ‘Collective Bargaining’ Amendment Proposal 3: ‘25 x 25’ Renewable Energy Standard Proposal 4: The Unionization of Home-Based Caregivers Proposal 5: The Two-Thirds Majority Tax Limitation Proposal 6: The International Bridge/Tunnel Voting Requirement Other than 1 they are a polling to fail. 6 is a ridiculously specific thing. The Rich guy who owns the existing to-Canada bridge and the state are fighting over who gets to build the new one. I thought we had bamboozled Ontario into paying for t anyway ;). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/8 "2012-11-06T20:44:24Z")
Illinois has a ballot prop to amend the state constitution to require a 3/5ths majority from any state or local legislative body (state assembly, school board, whatever) to increase public pension benefits. I felt that it should be handled like any other budgetary matter with a simple majority and voted against it. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/9 "2012-11-06T20:46:06Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Are you saying that currently in MA there is a prohibition on choosing where to get your car repaired? From the sound of it, not quite, but the car manufacturers are allowed to only sell their specialized diagnostic equipment to dealers, or charge higher rates to non-dealers, giving dealers an advantage. Also apparently it forces car manufactures to eventually build the output of their diagnostic computers to a common interface, so any repairer can access it without buying specialized machines for each make. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/10 "2012-11-06T20:46:27Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Are you saying that currently in MA there is a prohibition on choosing where to get your car repaired? The question is not so much about where you can get your car repaired and more about the information needed to repair your car properly. A yes vote says that the automakers would have to share all information and tools required to properly maintain and repair your car with both dealerships and independent repair shops. It’s been a little strange. The “No on 1” contingent began advertising that a Yes vote would be a horrible idea and force all auto repair shops to conform to outdated standard. When it became clear that nobody was buying it they switched tactics. Most recently they’ve run ads saying that Right-to-repair is already covered by pre-existing legislation. So there’s nothing to worry about, you can totally ignore it. This is the first time I can remember where one side ran ads telling people to not even bother to vote on something. My thinking has been - if it’s already covered and it doesn’t matter if I vote yes or no, why are you spending money to get me to give the question a pass? ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/11 "2012-11-06T20:48:29Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Proposal 6: The International Bridge/Tunnel Voting Requirement Oooh. Was this the “don’t allow anyone to compete with the ambassador bridge and prop up the billionaire who owns it” initiative? I remember hearing about that one. ed: Ninjaed by **wolfman** ’s addendum. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/12 "2012-11-06T20:54:33Z")
MO didn’t have too many: Amendments A - Letting the Gov have more say in picking judges instead of the current (aptly named) “Missouri system” B - Tax on cigs C - No Obamacare exchange unless the legislature or voters approve it There was also one about local control for the STLPD but I’m not sure if that was state-wide or not - it’s a messy issue that I just don’t understand very well. The only one I didn’t vote on since I couldn’t begin to parse the pros and cons. It was nice to go a year without gay marriage on the ballot (seems like we’ve been banning it again every two years just in case). ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/13 "2012-11-06T20:54:42Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > ed: Ninjaed by **wolfman** ’s addendum. Hehe sorry, I looked at my post and figured it could use a footnote. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/14 "2012-11-06T20:55:18Z")
Minnesota has just two: 1. Amend the Constitution to define marriage as solely between a man and a woman. 2. Amend the Constitution to require Voter ID. The Star Tribune’s latest polls showed each as just barely failing, but it could easily go either way at this point. (I’m voting no to both.) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/15 "2012-11-06T21:01:10Z")
Thanks to those who clarified the “repair” question. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/16 "2012-11-06T21:03:41Z")
> [@Trion](#): > > It’s been a little strange. The “No on 1” contingent began advertising that a Yes vote would be a horrible idea and force all auto repair shops to conform to outdated standard. When it became clear that nobody was buying it they switched tactics. Most recently they’ve run ads saying that Right-to-repair is already covered by pre-existing legislation. So there’s nothing to worry about, you can totally ignore it. > > This is the first time I can remember where one side ran ads telling people to not even bother to vote on something. My thinking has been - if it’s already covered and it doesn’t matter if I vote yes or no, why are you spending money to get me to give the question a pass? My understanding of the situation is that legislation recently passed that amounts to the same thing, but minor differences include the date of effect. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/17 "2012-11-06T21:05:49Z")
California has 10 ballot propositions. A few of the more interesting ones: 30 is Governor Moonbeam’s temporary tax to fund schools, which was opposed by groups funded behind the curtains by the Koch brothers. 32 if approved will ban corporate and union contributions to political candidates. 34 if approved will end the dealth penalty in favor of life imprisonment. 37 for labeling of genetically engineered foods. 38 is a competing school funding measure to #30. I think most, if not all of these are going to go down in defeat. The only one I felt any emotion about was the death penalty one, which I voted yes. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/18 "2012-11-06T21:06:38Z")
California: Prop 30 - Tax on income over $250k to fund education Prop 31 - Establishes 2-year state budget, shifts money from state to local governments Prop 32 - Restrictions on political donations by unions/corporations (but not Super PACs) Prop 33 - Allows auto insurance companies to increase rates on people not previously insured Prop 34 - Replaces death penalty with life + no parole Prop 35 - Increases sentences for human trafficking Prop 36 - Adjusts “three strikes law” to apply only to violent or serious offenders Prop 37 - Requires labeling of GMO food Prop 38 - Increase taxes to fund education (taxes applied to incomes above $17k) Prop 39 - Requires multistate businesses to pay income taxes to CA based on % of sales in CA Prop 40 - Approval of state senate districts drawn by the independent redistricting commission Here in California, we think that our lawmakers are doing such a bad job that we’ve taken it upon ourselves to do their job for them. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/19 "2012-11-06T21:09:03Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > My understanding of the situation is that legislation recently passed that amounts to the same thing, but minor differences include the date of effect. If I understand correctly, (and this is where it gets a little hinky) a “Yes” vote covers more recent info/tool than the recently passed compromise legislation does. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134/20 "2012-11-06T21:15:06Z")
> [@markdash](#): > > Here in California, we think that our lawmakers are doing such a bad job that we’ve taken it upon ourselves to do their job for them. :rolleyes: Well put. Nothing is getting done in the govt due to voting along party lines and the majorities, so anyone who wants to get something done will run it directly to the voters. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballot-props-in-your-state/640134.md?page=2)