1983 ballot measures
This page provides a list of statewide ballot measures that appeared before voters in 1983.
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 1983 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Local government organization | This measure proposed that the Alabama State Docks Department could transfer its property in Lauderdale County to the Florence-Lauderdale City Port Authority, its property in Morgan County to the Decatur-Morgan County Port Authority and its property in Walker County to the Walker County Commission. |
| 116,687 (58%) | 85,797 (42%) |
Alaska
See also: Alaska 1983 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonding Proposition A | Housing assistance programs; Veterans policy; Bond issues | Issue up to $500,000,000 in bonds for purchasing mortgages for residences for qualifying veterans. |
| 24,167 (75%) | 8,243 (25%) |
Louisiana
See also: Louisiana 1983 ballot measures
October 22
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State judicial selection | It proposed that special elections called to fill judicial vacancies be held within 12 months of the vacancy occurring. |
| 658,328 (70%) | 285,011 (30%) | |
| Amendment 2 | Property; Eminent domain policy | This measure proposed the return of expropriated property, including mineral rights, when the property was not going to be used for the purpose of the original expropriation. |
| 604,656 (65%) | 325,832 (35%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Energy | This measure proposed that revenue resulting from oil and gas price deregulation be placed in the Louisiana Investment Fund for Enhancement. |
| 572,244 (63%) | 332,484 (37%) |
Maine
See also: Maine 1983 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Hunting regulations | Repeal the law that allows for an open season on hunting moose |  | 121,125 (39%) | 185,603 (61%) | |
| Question 2 | Bond issues | Issue $720,000 in bonds to fund projects to improve county courthouse accessibility |
| 182,039 (62%) | 112,916 (38%) | |
| Question 3 | Bond issues; Highways and bridges | Issue $24.6 million in bonds over two years to fund bridge and highway improvement projects |
| 218,995 (74%) | 78,019 (26%) | |
| Question 4 | Bond issues; Pollution, waste, and recycling policy; Prison and jail funding | Defund past bonds that were authorized but not issued, and issue $21.094 million in bonds to fund government facilities projects | | 141,706 (49%) | 149,378 (51%) | |
| Question 5 | Ports and harbors; Airport infrastructure; Bond issues | Issue $11.875 million in bonds to fund improvements to ferry services and airports |
| 161,231 (56%) | 127,860 (44%) | |
| Question 6 | Property tax exemptions | Allow the legislature to create a property tax exemption for watercraft without being required to reimburse municipalities for the revenue losses resulting from the property tax exemption | | 133,605 (47%) | 151,499 (53%) | |
| Question 7 | Restricted-use funds | Require a two-thirds vote of the legislature, along with the governor's approval, to use funds in the Mining Excise Tax Trust Fund |
| 179,082 (65%) | 96,370 (35%) | |
| Question 8 | Mineral resources; Property tax exemptions | Alter requirements for property tax exemptions and mining taxes |
| 140,680 (53%) | 125,309 (47%) |
Nevada
See also: Nevada 1983 ballot measures
June 7
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | State judicial selection; State judiciary structure | Establish staggered terms for district judges. | | 26,887 (42%) | 37,198 (58%) | |
| Question 2 | Sales taxes; Tax and revenue administration | Tax sales to governmental contractors and impose a use tax on out-of-state sales that would be taxable if made in Nevada. | | 29,335 (46%) | 34,616 (54%) |
New Jersey
See also: New Jersey 1983 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Question No. 1 | Bond issues | An act authorized $135 million in bonds to acquire and develop land for recreational and conservational purposes as part of the state's Green Acres program. |
| 806,521 (61%) | 519,667 (39%) | |
| Public Question No. 2 | Bond issues | The Shore Protection Act of 1983 authorized $50 million in bonds for state shore preservation projects and grants to county and municipal governments for similar projects. |
| 798,117 (60%) | 532,319 (40%) | |
| Public Question No. 3 | Bond issues | The Water Supply Bond Act of 1981 was amended to allow the state of New Jersey to use bond funds to finance additional state and local water supply projects. |
| 860,897 (66%) | 447,512 (34%) | |
| Public Question No. 4 | Bond issues | An act authorized $135 million in bonds for bridge improvements and rehabilitation. |
| 952,162 (71%) | 387,387 (29%) | |
| Public Question No. 5 | State judiciary | The amendment to Article VII, Section 3, paragraph 3 and Section 4, paragraphs 1 and 3 of the New Jersey Constitution created a family part of the Chancery Division of the New Jersey Superior Court and transferred judges from preexisting juvenile, family and domestic relations courts. |
| 702,898 (56%) | 550,064 (44%) | |
| Public Question No. 6 | State and local government budgets, spending, and finance | The amendment to Article VIII, Section 2, paragraph 3 of the New Jersey Constitution allowed the state legislature to authorize refinancing of state debts without a public vote on the condition that it would result in a debt service savings. |
| 674,290 (54%) | 570,658 (46%) | |
| Public Question No. 7 | Taxes | The amendment allowed a veteran's surviving spouse to receive the veterans' real and personal property tax deduction. |
| 1,089,078 (82%) | 238,540 (18%) | |
| Public Question No. 8 | State executive official measures | The amendment to Article V, Section 1, paragraph 14 of the New Jersey Constitution allowed the Governor seven additional days to consider legislation passed within 10 days of the end of a legislative term. |
| 849,759 (68%) | 404,155 (32%) |
New York
See also: New York 1983 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 2 | Local government finance and taxes; Utility policy | Permit the exclusion of sewage‐facility debt from local constitutional debt limits for obligations contracted between 1962 and 1994. |
| 1,344,794 (52%) | 1,241,760 (48%) | |
| Amendment 3 | Banking policy | Remove constitutional limits on capital stock and trustee interests of savings institutions. |
| 1,617,862 (61%) | 1,035,645 (39%) | |
| Amendment 4 | State judicial authority; State judiciary oversight | Permit retired judges or justices to continue serving by appointment of the courts’ administrative board. | | 1,144,573 (44%) | 1,466,970 (56%) | |
| Amendment 5 | State judicial authority | Permit family court judges to be temporarily assigned to the supreme court in their home judicial department. |
| 1,593,114 (62%) | 990,426 (38%) | |
| Amendment 6 | Public land policy; Parks, land, and natural area conservation | Authorize the exchange of ten acres of state land and buildings for two hundred acres of wild forest land to preserve historic structures. |
| 1,602,228 (63%) | 951,970 (37%) | |
| Amendment 7 | State judicial authority | Increase the New York City Civil Court's jurisdiction over lawsuits involving claims from $10,000 to $25,000 | | 1,314,754 (44%) | 1,645,322 (56%) | |
| Amendment 8 | Land use and development policy | Authorize local governments to carry out public improvements and redevelopment projects. |
| 1,387,876 (56%) | 1,095,199 (44%) | |
| Proposal 1 | Bond issues; Public transportation | Authoruze $1.25 billion in state bonds to renew and improve transportation infrastructure. |
| 1,720,559 (53%) | 1,521,386 (47%) |
Ohio
See also: Ohio 1983 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age for Alcohol Consumption Initiative | Alcohol laws | Raise the minimum age for the consumption of beer to 21 years old | | 1,386,959 (41%) | 1,965,469 (59%) | |
| Repeal 1982 Tax Increases Initiative | Taxes | Repeal all taxes passed since 1982 | | 1,452,061 (44%) | 1,883,270 (56%) | |
| Supermajority Requirement for Tax Increases Initiative | Taxes; State legislative vote requirements | Require a 3/5ths supermajority in the state legislature to increase taxes. | | 1,354,320 (41%) | 1,967,129 (59%) |
Texas
See also: Texas 1983 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 1 | State judiciary structure | Authorize reducing the number of justice of the peace and constable precincts in small counties with populations under 30,000 |
| 570,347 (77%) | 170,910 (23%) | |
| Proposition 10 | Utility policy; Sewage and stormwater | Allow localities to replace sewer laterals on private property if the connected sewer main is replaced, with owners repaying within five years |
| 380,448 (52%) | 345,149 (48%) | |
| Proposition 11 | Law enforcement; Administration of government | Transfer the board of pardons and paroles from constitutional to statutory status and grant it authority to revoke paroles |
| 498,998 (68%) | 235,344 (32%) | |
| Proposition 2 | Property | Replace the previous limitation on urban homesteads based on value with a limitation based on size |
| 434,332 (61%) | 281,819 (39%) | |
| Proposition 3 | Business regulations; Agriculture policy | Allow agricultural producer associations to conduct refundable assessments on product sales for research, marketing, and educational programs |
| 463,357 (64%) | 255,468 (36%) | |
| Proposition 4 | Government continuity policy | Authorize statutory provisions for succession of public offices during enemy attacks or disasters and suspend certain legislative rules in such emergencies |
| 449,631 (62%) | 280,790 (38%) | |
| Proposition 5 | Bond issues | Authorize the use of the permanent school fund to guarantee bonds issued by individual school districts. |
| 457,590 (63%) | 269,037 (37%) | |
| Proposition 6 | Family-related policy; Law enforcement | Allow for the garnishment of wages for the purpose of court ordered child support payments |
| 607,219 (79%) | 157,826 (21%) | |
| Proposition 7 | Veterans policy; Bond issues | Issue $800 million in bonds to finance the veteran's land program and veteran's housing assistance program |
| 533,509 (71%) | 219,342 (29%) | |
| Proposition 8 | Taxes | Exempt veteran organizations and certain fraternal organizations from property taxation | | 346,337 (47%) | 388,197 (53%) | |
| Proposition 9 | State judiciary | Provide for statutory probate court judges to be assigned to other statutory courts with probate jurisdiction and other county courts |
| 485,540 (69%) | 222,275 (31%) |
Washington
See also: Washington 1983 ballot measures
November 8
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJR 103 | Redistricting policy | Provide for the establishment of an independent commission to redistrict the legislature based on equal population after each federal census. |
| 639,981 (61%) | 407,916 (39%) | |
| SJR 105 | Ports and harbors | Provide for an increase of the maximum term for state harbor leases from thirty to fifty-five years | | 383,081 (38%) | 622,840 (62%) | |
| SJR 112 | Local government finance and taxes; Energy conservation and efficiency | Permit local governments to fund energy conversation by any individual, association or corporation. | | 405,820 (40%) | 602,719 (60%) |
Wisconsin
See also: Wisconsin 1983 ballot measures
April 5
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Nuclear energy | Allow the construction of a radioactive waste disposal site in the state | | 78,327 (11%) | 628,414 (89%) |
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
