2024 Election Results: Unpacking State and Local Ballot Measures Nationwide

The 2024 General Election showcased pivotal state and local ballot measures that could reshape policies on taxes, housing, transportation, and cannabis. From high-stakes tax reforms to crucial infrastructure and housing decisions, voters made their voices heard.

These decisions reflect a broad spectrum of voter priorities, and each measure carries significant implications for local governance and community development, signaling potential policy shifts that could resonate well beyond state lines.

Here, Conduit Street breaks down some of the most intriguing outcomes:

Taxes

  • North Dakota Measure 4: Voters turned down a proposal to eliminate property taxes statewide. Under the proposal, the state government would have supplied local funding up to 2024 levels. If Measure 4 had passed, North Dakota would have become the first US state with no property taxes.
  • South Dakota Measure 28: This ballot measure sought to prohibit state sales taxes on groceries while continuing to tax alcoholic beverages and prepared food, including items sold heated or with utensils. Voters rejected the proposal, opting to maintain the existing tax system.
  • Los Angeles County Measure E: Voters approved a tax on certain parcel improvements at 6 cents per square foot, projected to raise $152 million annually for emergency services. The measure includes an exemption for low-income seniors and a 2% cap on annual adjustments.
  • Colorado Proposition JJ: Coloradans approved this measure, allowing the state to retain excess sports betting tax revenue beyond the $29 million cap. Without approval, the excess funds would have been returned to casinos and sportsbooks. This change bypasses a 1992 constitutional amendment limiting tax collections to legislative projections without voter approval.

  • Oregon Measure 118: Voters decisively rejected a proposal to raise the corporate minimum tax on in-state sales exceeding $25 million to fund a universal basic income. Nearly 79 percent opposed the measure.

Transportation

  • Maricopa County, AZ, Proposition 479: Voters approved continuing a half-cent sales tax to fund transportation infrastructure projects, including roads and transit services. The extension secures funding in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
  • Seattle, WA, Proposition 1: Seattle residents supported a property tax measure allocating $1.55 billion over the next eight years for infrastructure improvements, including streets, sidewalks, bridges, and transit routes. The measure reflects the city’s emphasis on sustainable urban infrastructure.
  • San Francisco, CA, Proposition L: Voters approved a graduated tax on revenue for ride-hailing and robotaxi companies, with proceeds funding Muni transit and fare discount programs.
  • Richland County, SC, Transportation Sales Tax: Voters backed the continuation of the 1 percent sales tax that funds projects like new roads, sidewalks, and the COMET bus system, ensuring support for local transportation needs.

Housing

  • California Proposition 5: Voters approved a measure lowering the approval threshold for housing and infrastructure bonds from two-thirds to 55%, aiming to accelerate funding for affordable housing projects.
  • San Francisco Affordable Housing Fund: Voters approved the creation of a dedicated fund for affordable rental housing, addressing the city’s ongoing affordability crisis.
  • Los Angeles County Measure A: Voters passed a 0.5% sales tax projected to raise over $1 billion annually to create affordable housing and reduce homelessness. The funds will support services, including rental assistance and additional mental health and addiction treatment.
  • Denver Affordable Housing Sales Tax: Denver voters approved a half-percent sales tax increase dedicated to affordable housing projects, adding to its efforts to combat housing affordability through local taxation.

  • California Proposition 33: California voters rejected a measure to expand local governments’ ability to impose rent control on more housing types, keeping current rent control limitations in place.

Cannabis

  • Florida Amendment 3: The proposal to legalize recreational cannabis did not achieve the required 60 percent supermajority for approval, even though a majority voted in favor.
  • Nebraska Amendments 437 & 438: Voters approved the legalization and regulation of medical cannabis, marking a significant shift in the state’s approach to cannabis policy. Nebraska now joins other states that have adopted medical cannabis laws.
  • North Dakota Measure 5: The effort to legalize recreational cannabis failed, with North Dakota voters once again opposing the expansion of cannabis laws.
  • South Dakota Measure 29: Voters rejected a proposal to legalize recreational cannabis, continuing a pattern of conservative stances on drug policy.
  • Texas: Dallas Proposition 18: This local measure passed, decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis. The initiative instructs law enforcement to stop issuing citations and making arrests for minor possession offenses.
  • Massachusetts Question 4: Voters rejected a measure to legalize specified psychedelic substances.

These measures reflect voters’ critical role in shaping policies that impact counties nationwide, influencing everything from local infrastructure to community services.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.