1915 ballot measures
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1915.
In the United States, a ballot measure is a law, issue, or question that appears on a statewide or local ballot for voters of that jurisdiction to decide.
- HBM Factbooks
- List of ballot measures by state
- Other years
Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks
The inventory of statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbooks, which document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. This ongoing research effort will provide an unparalleled resource for researchers, reporters, and voters on how ballot measures have evolved, the issues they've covered, and the role they have played in our civic life. Click here to access the state historical ballot measure factbooks.
List of ballot measures by state
Alabama
See also: Alabama 1915 ballot measures
November 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Taxes | The amendment proposed that the constitution be amended: Article XIX, Section 1, 2 and 3. The amendment proposed counties and school districts would have the power to levy and collect a special county or district tax that would not exceed 30 cents on each $100 worth of taxable property, provided that such a tax proposal would first be put before the voters. |
| 69,341 (59%) | 47,543 (41%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Salaries of government officials | The amendment proposed the system by which Montgomery County officers would be paid, which took effect subsequent to the general election of November 1916. The system was as follows: the probate judge would receive $5,000 per annum and $5,500 per annum for office expenses, such as one clerk at $1,500 per annum or two clerks at $1,000 each per annum; or one clerk at $800 per annum and $1,200 for all other expenses, including extra clerks. The $1,200 was to be paid to the judge in monthly installments and disbursed by him. The tax collector of Montgomery County would receive a salary of $4,000 per annum, a $1,500 allowance for his clerk and $1,000 for extra help. The county tax assessor would receive a salary of $4,000 per annum, $1,500 for a chief clerk, $900 for assistant clerk and $600 per annum for extra help. The Montgomery County sheriff would receive a salary of $4,000 per annum, an allowance of $1,200 per annum for a chief clerk, $1,380 per annum for a chief deputy, $2,200 per annum for two deputies and $1,000 for extra assistance. These amounts were to be paid out of the county treasury. These salaries would not interfere with payouts to the sheriff for extra guards at the county jail or bailiffs for the courts, nor with the provisions for feeding prisoners. Monthly salary payouts for county officers were to be collected on the first Monday of each month. |
| 53,207 (56%) | 42,411 (44%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Banking policy | The amendment proposed to repeal Article 13, Section 250. The amendment proposed would repeal the section regarding the obligation to give preference of payouts, over creditors, to holders of bank notes and depositors, who have not stipulated for interest, in cases of insolvency. |
| 51,996 (54%) | 44,034 (46%) | |
| Amendment 4 | Taxes | The amendment proposed to allow the city of Selma further allowances on tax collection. The amendment proposed that the city of Selma would levy and collect annually an additional tax of two-tenths of one percent upon the value of the property therein as fixed for state taxation for the maintenance of public schools. The city would also levy and collect an additional tax of one-tenth of one percent upon the value of property therein as fixed for state taxation for the improvements and repairs of public school buildings, or to pay off debts owed by the city, provided that all the above taxes are in lieu of all other city taxes for the support of public schools. |
| 50,373 (54%) | 43,494 (46%) | |
| Amendment 5 | Administration of government | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution: Section 48. The amendment proposed that the legislature, beginning with the first session of 1919, convene sessions biennially. |  | 42,946 (46%) | 51,284 (54%) | |
| Amendment 6 | Taxes | The amendment proposed to amend the constitution. The amendment proposed that municipalities, excepting Birmingham, Montgomery, Decatur, New Decatur and all municipalities located within the counties of Geneva, Pickens, Sumter, Baldwin, Dale, Escambia, Monroe, Henry, Houston, Marengo, Wilcox, Talladega, DeKalb Jackson and Marshall, are authorized to levy and collect an annual tax for general purposes not exceeding one-half of one percent of the value of the property within the municipality, provided that the proposed tax is put before the voters and passed with a majority vote. | | 41,686 (48%) | 44,780 (52%) |
California
See also: California 1915 ballot measures
October 26
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Primary election systems | Establish regulations regarding primary elections. | | 112,681 (42%) | 156,967 (58%) | |
| Proposition 10 | Property tax exemptions | Exempt all buildings and property used by religious organizations for social purposes from taxation. | | 94,460 (36%) | 168,171 (64%) | |
| Proposition 11 | Local government officials and elections; Local government organization | Allow county charters to provide for elections, appointment and tenure of county officers. | | 95,571 (38%) | 152,697 (62%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Election administration and governance | Establish the standards for size, form and manner of printing of ballots used at general elections. | | 106,377 (41%) | 151,067 (59%) | |
| Proposition 3 | Recall process; State judicial selection | Establish a 12-year term length for superior judges and declare them subject to recall, impeachment, and removal. | | 47,229 (18%) | 213,067 (82%) | |
| Proposition 4 | State judicial selection | Allow judges appointed to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court, District Court of Appeal, or Superior Court to finish the rest of the position's term. | | 124,610 (50%) | 125,124 (50%) | |
| Proposition 5 | State legislative authority; Agriculture policy | Authorize the legislature to provide a land colonization system and establish a rural credit system to aid agriculture. | | 124,247 (48%) | 132,320 (52%) | |
| Proposition 6 | Banking policy; Local government finance and taxes | Allow state, county or municipal moneys to be deposited in banks under conditions provided by law. | | 92,981 (38%) | 151,845 (62%) | |
| Proposition 7 | Bond issues; Ballot measure supermajority requirements; Initiative and referendum process | Require a two-thirds (66.67%) vote to pass a ballot initiative to create bonded indebtedness | | 121,210 (49%) | 127,160 (51%) | |
| Proposition 8 | Eminent domain policy; Local government organization | Authorize the state, counties or municipalities to condemn neighboring property to be taken for public use and improvement. | | 92,048 (37%) | 155,786 (63%) | |
| Proposition 9 | Tax and revenue administration; State legislative authority | Authorize the legislature to determine taxation and taxation classifications. | | 42,158 (17%) | 205,597 (83%) |
Maryland
See also: Maryland 1915 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Constitutional wording changes; Taxes |
| 33,148 (75%) | 11,030 (25%) | ||
| Amendment 2 | County and municipal governance; Elections and campaigns |
| 33,492 (77%) | 10,093 (23%) | ||
| Amendment 3 | Criminal sentencing; State legislative authority |
| 32,580 (75%) | 10,751 (25%) | ||
| Amendment 4 | Initiative and referendum process | Establishes the veto referendum process |
| 33,284 (77%) | 10,064 (23%) |
Massachusetts
See also: Massachusetts 1915 ballot measures
October 19
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative Authority to Take Land for Housing Amendment | Land use and development policy; State legislative authority; Housing development funding | Amend state constitution to authorize the legislature to take property to relieve congestion and build housing |
| 284,568 (75%) | 95,148 (25%) | |
| Property Income Tax and Exemptions Amendment | Property tax exemptions; Income taxes; Property taxes | Amend the state constitution in relation to income tax and exemptions |
| 269,871 (61%) | 172,015 (39%) | |
| Women's Suffrage Amendment | Women's suffrage; Sex and gender issues | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | | 162,482 (35%) | 295,939 (65%) |
Michigan
See also: Michigan 1915 ballot measures
April 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonds for Drainage Purposes Amendment | Flood infrastructure and management; Bond issue requirements | Allow drainage districts to issue bonds for drainage purposes | | 191,337 (49%) | 198,553 (51%) |
New Jersey
See also: New Jersey 1915 ballot measures
October 19
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Suffrage Amendment | Sex and gender issues; Women's suffrage | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | | 133,282 (42%) | 184,390 (58%) |
New York
See also: New York 1915 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Sex and gender issues; Women's suffrage | Provide for women's suffrage in state constitution | | 553,348 (43%) | 748,332 (57%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Debt limits | Permit the Legislature to alter the rate of interest on state debts incurred | | 430,423 (37%) | 725,784 (63%) | |
| Proposal 1 | State constitution ratification | Authorize a revised new state constitution | | 400,423 (31%) | 910,462 (69%) | |
| Proposal 2 | State legislative authority | Establish revised guidlines related to legislative apportionment | | 371,588 (29%) | 891,337 (71%) | |
| Proposal 3 | Tax and revenue administration | Establish revised guidelines on taxation | | 346,922 (27%) | 924,571 (73%) |
Ohio
See also: Ohio 1915 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Prohibition Initiative | Alcohol laws | Prohibit the sale and manufacture for sale of alcohol | | 484,969 (47%) | 540,377 (53%) | |
| Congressional District Apportionment Referendum | Redistricting policy | Apportion Ohio into congressional districts based on the 13th U.S. census | | 291,927 (47%) | 329,095 (53%) | |
| County Official Term Limits Initiative | County and municipal governance | Fix the terms of all county officers to four years and provide for their quadrennial election. | | 207,435 (26%) | 604,463 (74%) | |
| Exempting Bonds from Taxation Amendment | Bond issues; Taxes | Exempt bonds issued on or after January 1, 1916 from taxation. | | 337,124 (46%) | 401,083 (54%) | |
| License to Transport to Alcohol Referendum | Alcohol laws | Establish a license to transport alcohol | | 242,671 (41%) | 355,207 (59%) | |
| Prohibit Re-Submitting Twice Rejected Constitutional Amendments for Six Years Initiative | Initiative and referendum process; Ballot measure process | Prohibit the submission of any constitutional amendment that has been rejected more than once, unless six years have passed | | 417,384 (46%) | 482,275 (54%) |
Pennsylvania
See also: Pennsylvania 1915 ballot measures
November 2
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Suffrage Amendment | Sex and gender issues; Women's suffrage | Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution | | 385,348 (47%) | 441,034 (53%) |
Texas
See also: Texas 1915 ballot measures
July 24
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | Elections and campaigns | Allow voters to vote in precincts other than the precinct of residence under certain circumstances | | 42,690 (32%) | 90,994 (68%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Salaries of government officials; State judiciary | Expand the state supreme court from three to five justices and raise their annual salary from $4,000 to $5,000 | | 30,957 (24%) | 98,979 (76%) | |
| Proposition 3 | Transportation; Taxes | Increase the road and highway tax from $0.15 to $0.50 per $100 and the tax rate for public improvements from $0.25 to $1 per $100 | | 37,861 (29%) | 93,063 (71%) | |
| Proposition 4 | Education; County and municipal governance | Authorize county commissioners to create a student loan fund | | 27,529 (21%) | 102,627 (79%) | |
| Proposition 5 | Bond issues | Authorize the issuance of bonds for levee, drainage and road improvements | | 32,772 (25%) | 97,546 (75%) | |
| Proposition 6 | Education | Separate the University of the State of Texas and the Agricultural and Mechanical College with equal land division | | 50,398 (38%) | 81,658 (62%) |
Other years
Click on a year in the following table to view that year’s state ballot measures.
See also
- • Campaign finance
- • Endorsements
- • Polls
Footnotes
