With all the focus on the presidential race and some of the congressional elections, there are a number of important state ballot questions that we must not overlook.  Many of us claim that conservatism is not on the ballot in many states where the candidates for Congress are underwhelming.  However, there are a plethora of ballot questions that deal with taxes, marriage, and Obamacare – issues that are of great concern to conservatives.

Here is an informal list of some important ballot questions – some good and some bad.  We’ll update this post next week to reflect the results of the ballot initiatives and referendums.

Alabama

• Obamacare: Amendment 6 would prohibit any coercion to comply with Obamacare mandates.
• Labor: Amendment 7 would guarantee the right to a secret ballot in union elections.

California

• Death Penalty: Proposition 34 would end the death penalty in California.
• Taxes: Proposition 30 would uphold Jerry Brown’s motherload of all tax increases; sales tax, income tax, millionaire’s tax….

Colorado

• Campaign Finance: Amendment 65 attempts to end-run the Citizens United decision by urging the state to adopt limits on corporate donations.

Florida

• Obamacare: Amendment 1 would prevent any law that forces individuals to purchase health insurance.
• Abortion: Amendment 6 prohibits public funds for abortions.

Georgia

• School Choice: Amendment 1 gives the state legislature the right to create special schools.

Louisiana

• Guns: Amendment 2 affirms that the right to bear arms includes acquisition, transport, carry, transfer of firearms.  It is designed as a preemptive strike against judicial activism infringing on the Second Amendment.

Maine

• Gay Marriage – Question 1 would overturn a voter-approved 2009 ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in the state.

Maryland

• Dream Act : Maryland will vote on whether to uphold the state law to grant instate tuition to illegal aliens with Question 4.
• Gay Marriage: Questions 6 places the gay marriage law passed by the Maryland legislature before the voters.
• Redistricting: Maryland Democrats passed the most egregious congressional map of all states.  It will net them another House seat.  Voters will decide whether to uphold the map with Question 5.

Massachusetts

• Euthanasia: Question 2 would establish laws to allow for a terminally ill patient to be given lethal drugs.

Michigan

• Labor: Proposal 2 would enshrine collective bargaining rights for union into the state constitution.
• Taxes: Proposal 5 would require that increases in state taxes must be approved by either a 2/3 majority in the Legislature or by a statewide vote.
• Cap and Trade: Proposal 3 would mandate that by 2025, 25% of the state’s electricity must come from renewable resources.

Minnesota

• Gay Marriage: Amendment 1 would define marriage in the Minnesota Constitution as between one man and one woman in the state.
• Voter ID: Amendment 2 would require voters to show picture ID before voting in the state.

Missouri

• Obamacare: Proposition E would prevent the governor from establishing the healthcare exchanges required under Obamacare.

Montana

• Abortion: LR-120 would require parental notification before abortions are performed.
• Illegal Immigration:  LR-121 would require proof of citizenship in order for a person to receive certain services provided by the state.
• Obamacare: LR-122 would prohibit any coercion to comply with Obamacare mandates.
• Campaign Finance: I-166 would ban certain corporate contributions and expenditures in state and national elections.  This is yet another attempt to circumvent the Citizens United ruling.

New Hampshire

• Taxes: CACR 13 would institute a constitutional ban on any implementation of a state income tax.

Oklahoma

• Affirmative Action: State Question 759 would ban affirmative action programs in the state, and would prohibit special treatment based on race or sex in public employment, education and contracts.

Oregon

• Taxes: Measure 84 phases out estate/inheritance tax, tax on death-related property transfers, and tax on property transfers between family members

Virginia

• Eminent Domain: Question 1 would prohibit eminent domain from being used for private enterprise.

Washington

• Taxes: Initiative 1185 would require either two-thirds legislative approval or a vote by the people in order to raise taxes.
• Gay Marriage: Referendum 74 puts the issue of gay marriage before the voters.

Wyoming

• Obamacare: Constitutional Amendment A would prohibit any coercion to comply with Obamacare mandates.

In addition, the following states will be voting on some form of legalizing marijuana:  Arkansas (medical), Colorado (recreational), and Massachusetts (medical).