In 2004, ballot initiatives on gay marriage and abortion brought conservatives to the polls, turning swing states like Ohio to George W. Bush. This year’s presidential race likely won’t be as close, but there are also fewer controversial propositions on states’ 2008 ballots. In fact, the busiest state proposition-wise is California. We surveyed this election’s swing states to learn what initiatives might bring voters to the polls, and assembled a host of links on information about the California propositions.
Colorado
Ballot measure name: Amendment 48
It would: change the definition of “person” in the Colorado constitution to include any fertilized egg, embryo or fetus.
The proposed amendment hasn’t received much support, as a recent Rocky Mountain News/CBS4 poll showed 68 percent of surveyed voters opposed it. Colorado’s governor Bill Ritter, a pro-life Catholic, has spoken out against the ballot measure.
Florida
Ballot measure name: Proposition 2—the Florida Marriage Amendment
It would: Amend the state constitution to “protects marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife …” (So says the ballot language.)
Florida already has statutes that say marriage can only be between a man and a woman. The amendment needs to receive 60 percent of the vote to pass, and so far, no poll has the measure reaching that threshold. New polling by Mason-Dixon shows 55 percent of potential voters support the measure.
Missouri
Ballot measure name: Constitutional Amendment 1
It would: amend the state constitution to make English the official language at all governmental meetings where policy is discussed or decided.
Missouri currently conducts all of its meetings in English, and the state has very few foreign-born residents—only 3.5 percent of the population.