Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB NHL Golf Horse Racing Tennis Col. Football Col. Basketball
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features Archives
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Archive Almanac
About Feedback
About Feedback
Search
Trending
9/11 fund
Payless
Theodore McCarrick
Jussie Smollett
Illinois shooting
Iran attack
Laurie Hernandez
'Alexa & Katie'
Nigeria election
Colin Kaepernick
Stephen Curry
YNW Melly
Top News
Updated Nov. 5, 2014 at 11:04 AM

Voters take action on minimum wage, guns and marijuana in state ballot questions

Overall, 41 states voted on 147 ballot initiatives on Tuesday.

By
Matt Bradwell
Melvin Clay, of the DC Cannabis Campaign, displays a sign outside of the voting precinct at Eastern Market in Washington DC, November 4, 2014. Voters across the country will cast ballots on several hot-button issues that have the potential to drive voter turnout in some of the closest races. UPI/Molly Riley | License Photo
People line up to vote at Eastern Market in Washington DC, November 4, 2014. Voters across the country will cast ballots on several hot-button issues that have the potential to drive voter turnout in some of the closest races. UPI/Molly Riley | License Photo
A lone voter casts his votes at a Delray Beach, Florida voting precinct on November 4, 2014. Democratic candidate and former Governor Crist is in a tight race with Republic candidate and current Governor Scott for the Florida Governorship. UPI / Gary I Rothstein | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- While voters around the United States chose who to send office and who to send home Tuesday, many also faced questions of adding or rewriting their state's existing laws.

Voters in 41 states and the District of Columbia determined the fate of 147 ballot initiatives, covering a wide swath of hot-button issues including, the minimum wage, gun control and legal marijuana.

Colorado and North Dakota rejected "personhood" amendments that proposed to extend legal protections to the moment of fertilization. If passed, the ballot measures could have criminalize in vitro fertilization, ban certain types of birth control and restrict women's access to abortion clinics. Meanwhile, Tennessee approved an amendment adding language to its state constitution that the right to an abortion is not protected.

Alaska was also one of four states to approve a minimum wage hike, along with Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. Alaska's measure will raise the minimum wage to $9.75 per hour by 2016 and tie it to inflation moving forward. South Dakota's minimum wage hike is also tied to inflation after its rise to $8.50 in 2014. Arkansas' minimum wage, which is currently below the federal minimum of $7.25, will raise incrementally to $8.50 by 2017. Nebraska will reach $9 by 2016. Neither Nebraska nor Arkansas have inflation provisions.

In Washington state, opposing ballot initiatives sought to require and ban universal background checks for individuals attempting to purchase firearms, with voters backing the gun control legislation.

Initiative 594 requires background checks on all gun purchases and closes the state's "gun show loophole." Initiative 594, which passed with 60 percent of the vote, was backed by an $11.2 million campaign by the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility, a group with major funding from Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and Paul Allen.

Oregon and Alaska voted to legalize and tax marijuana for recreational use, as Washington and Colorado already have. Voters in the District of Columbia approved a similar measure, but it does not legalize marijuana on federal land and does not allow for an open retail market. Citizens of the capital are instead allowed to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana and grow up to six plants in their home.

  • Topics
  • Michael Bloomberg
  • Bill Gates
  • Steve Ballmer
  • Paul Allen
  • Marijuana
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more UPI news and photos.

Trending Stories

Pentagon chief to review funds to shift for building border wall
Anthony Weiner released from prison to federal re-entry program
Four hostages, gunman dead after 12-hour hostage standoff in Mississippi
Baltimore judge overturns $38M award to family in police killing case
Nauert withdraws from U.N. ambassador consideration

Photo Gallery

 
Kacey Musgraves, Lady Gaga win at the Grammys

Latest News

UPI Almanac for Monday, Feb. 18, 2019
Famous birthdays for Feb. 18: Dr. Dre, Toni Morrison
On This Day: Dozens die in Kiev, Ukraine, protests
Fashion icon Lee Radziwill dies at 85
Stephen Curry ends All-Star Game with reverse slam off bounce alley-oop
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy