|
Edited by Al Ortiz
Much like 2010, initiatives are expected to be proposed in waves in 2012. Recent occurrences with initiative filings across the country give no reason to suspect otherwise.
While 60 ballot measures are still certified in 24 states, two states in particular are gearing up to pile more onto the total with their petition drive deadlines arriving.
The big day for initiative supporters in the state of Maine came and went this week. The day of the deadline started off with six potential ballot initiatives vying for a spot on the statewide ballot; it ended with just one hoping for a chance for public vote.
January 30 marked the petition drive deadline, as any and all ballot initiative efforts that hoped to place their proposal on the 2012 ballot must have submitted signatures to the Maine Secretary of State's office by the end of the business day. However, when contacted by Ballotpedia, the Maine Secretary of State's office stated that only one measure had submitted signatures.
That measure was the same gender marriage question, whose supporters claimed they had collected enough for the ballot. Equality Maine collected about 100,000 names, with 36,000 of those signatures collected on Election Day, November 6, 2011, surpassing the required number of 57,277.
Since 2003, a calculated average of about 2 citizen initiatives appeared on the ballot each year in the state.
Next up in line for petition drive deadlines is the state of Florida. February 1 marks the deadline to collect signatures, and 24 public initiatives are currently in circulation. Supporters of these petitions must gather at least 676,811 valid signatures and submit them by the deadline if they wish to qualify for the 2012 ballot. However, in the state of Florida, if the petitions fail to acquire the required amount by this year's deadline, the signatures on it will remain valid for two years before petitioners are required to start over.
Also raising some news are proposals in North Dakota regarding Fighting Sioux mascot of the University of North Dakota. The proposed referendum would allow for the University of North Dakota to use the "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo by repealing Senate Bill 2370, a law that repealed an earlier mandate requiring the use of the nickname.
After years of debates and lawsuits, supporters of the use of the "Fighting Sioux" nickname by the University of North Dakota filed two initiatives: a veto referendum and an initiated constitutional amendment.
In order to qualify the referendum for the June primary 2012 statewide ballot a minimum of 13,500 valid signatures are required by February 7.
The state of Washington's signature filing deadline is not until July 6. That didn't stop supporters of Initiative 502 from submitting more than enough signatures for ballot consideration in 2012. According to the Washington Secretary of State's office, those signatures were verified, taking the proposal to the next level in the state initiative process. Unlike most initiatives that head directly to the ballot following verification, this Initiative to the Legislature will first head to the Washington State Legislature for consideration.
The legislature can adopt the measure, reject it and send it to the ballot, or approve an alternate version of the proposal.
Initiative 502 would legalize the production, possession, delivery and distribution of marijuana. The initiative would regulate the sale of small amounts of marijuana to people 21 and older. According to reports, marijuana grow farms and food processors would be licensed by the Washington State Liquor Control Board.
More developments on this measure are available in the Quick hits section.
In Nebraska, a legislative referral is dipping its hands into another controversial social issue that could also be big in 2012, much like marijuana.
State Sen. Paul Schumacher has proposed an amendment lifting the state's constitutional ban on gambling. The law would not immediately legalize gambling but grant the Legislature power to "authorize and regulate" gambling in the Nebraska.
The amendment also contains a unique provision designed to draw gambling revenues from neighboring Iowa and South Dakota. Specifically, the amendment would ban any gaming enterprise within 60 miles of a state that agrees to share gambling revenues with Nebraska. Neighboring states would have just one year to agree to share their income or face the possibility of out-of-state competition.[1]
| 
