Prop*50

Massachusetts: Up to 4 initiatives in November

Sponsors for four initiatives submitted their petitions to the secretary of state's office in Massachusetts yesterday.  The signatures have already been validated by local election officials.  The secretary of state's office must verify the totals provided by local officials, and will announce which measures have qualified for the ballot as soon as tomorrow.  NCSL will stay on the story and provide news of certification as soon as it's available.

The four petitions that were submitted are:

• Repeal the sales tax on alcohol
• Reduce the state sales tax rate from 6.25 to 3 percent
• Repeal a state law that allows a streamlined permitting process for government-subsidized affordable housing
• Redefine "renewable energy generating sources" as it pertains to retail electricity suppliers that rely on waste-to-energy and biomass sources to comply with renewable energy requirements

Oregon: Six initiatives filed

Proponents of six ballot initiatives filed signatures for verification by the July 2 deadline.  The secretary of state has 30 days to verify the signatures.  The six initiatives filed were:

13: mandatory minimum sentences for drunk drivers and sex offenders

28: create dispensaries for medical marijuana

50: create an independent redistricting commission

70: dedicate lottery funds to parks and wildlife

75 and 77: casino gaming

Read more about all six at OregonLive.com.

Washington: Six initiatives filed

Of approximately 60 initiatives circulated for signatures in Washington this year, six were filed for signature verification on the July 2 deadline.  The secretary of state typically takes about a month to verify signatures.  The six that were submitted and are hoping for a spot on the November 2010 ballot are:

1053: restates existing statutory requirements for a two-thirds legislative vote for a tax increase; prominent anti-tax activist Tim Eyman is the primary sponsor.

1082: would allow private worker's comp insurance; the Building Industry Association of Washington is a leading advocate of the change

1098: would tax income of above $200,000 for individuals and $400,000 for joint filers; supporters of the measure include Bill Gates Sr., the Washington State Democratic Party, the Service Employees International Union, the Washington Education Association and the Washington State Labor Council

1100: would close state liquor stores and allow private businesses to sell liquor; retailer Costco has provided significant financial support

1105: like Initiative 1100, 1105 would close state liquor states and allow private businesses to sell liquor; the key difference lies in the fact that 1105 would require retailers to buy through wholesalers, while 1100 does not.  Given that fact, it's no surprise that liquor wholesalers are the primary financial supporters of 1105.

1107: would end taxes on candy, soft drinks, bottled water, and certain processed foods; the American Beverage Association has been a significant financial supporter

Read more about the initiatives in signature verification in Washington and their backers in The Olympian.

Michigan & Nebraska: No initiatives this year

The deadline to submit petitions for access to the November 2010 ballot was yesterday in Michigan, and no petitions were submitted.  Three constitutional amendments were circulated -- two to expand casino gaming and one blocking the new federal health insurance laws -- but none gathered the 380,000 signatures required for ballot access.

No petitions were submitted in Nebraska by the July 2 deadline either.  Three were circulated -- two dealing with annexation by cities and a third providing for the recall of state officials.

Arkansas: Just one initiative submitted by deadline

Only one of the four petitions circulating for the November 2010 ballot in Arkansas submitted signatures by the July 2 deadline.  The proposed constitutional amendment would bar illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits.  The secretary of state's office has 30 days to verify the signatures on the petition.  If the number comes up short, proponents have another 30 days to gather additional signatures in hopes of qualifying.

Arizona: Just one initiative on the ballot

The only initiative that submitted enough signatures to qualify for the November 2010 ballot in Arizona is Proposition 203, which would legalize marijuana for medical use.  11 other petitions that were circulated did not submit sufficient signatures by the July 1 deadline.

Four referendum petitions seeking to undo the state's new immigration law are still circulating and have until July 28 to submit signatures.

As it stands now, Arizona voters will see nine questions on the November ballot.

Petition Deadlines Looming

Initiative petitions are due in eight states over the coming week.  The combined total number of petitions circulating for signatures in these states is 104.  It generally takes election officials a month or more to verify signatures, so it will be August before we know how many of those have qualified for the ballot.

Today:  Ohio (proposed constitutional amendments)

July 1:  Arizona

Friday, July 2:  Arkansas, Nebraska, Oregon and Washington

Monday, July 5:  Michigan

Wednesday, July 7:  Massachusetts

Montana Signature Deadline Passes

The deadline to submit initiative petitions for signature verification by county election officials in Montana was Friday, June 18.  According to the Billings Gazette, at least two of the ten petitions circulated this year have a good chance of qualifying for the ballot.  One would regulate payday lenders and cap interest rates at 36 percent; the other would prohibit real estate sale and transfer taxes.  Other initiatives submitted include one to change hunting license fees, a ban on trapping wild animals and birds, an anti-abortion "personhood" measure, and a repeal of the state's medical marijuana law.

Initiatives proposing changes to state law require signatures from 24,337 qualified voters, which must include signatures from five percent of the qualified voters in each of 34 of the state's 100 legislative districts.  Constitutional amendments require 48,674 signatures, including signatures from 10 percent of the qualified voters in each of 40 legislative districts.

County officials have until July 16 to verify signatures and turn the petitions in to the secretary of state.