Voters are typically very receptive to statewide bonding proposals, approving upwards of 90% of those that appear on ballots. This tends to hold true even in years when the economy is weak: in 2009, every bond on a statewide ballot was approved, and in 2008, all but one was approved.
This year, the total proposed bonding was the lowest it has ever been in an even-year general election in NCSL's records, which go back to 1992. This year's total was just under $1.9 billion. (The total is typically much lower in odd-year elections, when most states prohibit votes on statewide ballot measures.)
So far, just one bond proposal is failing: Washington's $505 million proposal to improve energy efficiency in school buildings. Proposal D in New Mexico, a higher education capital improvement proposal, is currently too close to call at 5:45am MDT -- it's got 49.9% of the vote, with 31 out of 33 counties reporting results.
