03/19/2024

Top State Tax Ballot Initiatives to Watch in 2016

Ballot initiatives and referenda are often an afterthought on Election Day, but in many states, voters going to the polls on November 8th, 2016 will have the opportunity to weigh in on significant—in some cases, momentous—policy questions.

On the issue of taxation alone, voters must decide whether to impose a first-in-the-nation carbon tax (Washington), adopt a new income and payroll tax to fund a state public option health care system (Colorado), levy a high-rate gross receipts tax (Oregon), extend temporary income tax increases (California), impose a new high-income surcharge (Maine), legalize and tax marijuana (five states), and hike cigarette taxes (four states), just to name a few of the tax changes on ballots across the country.

Although ballot issues often fly under the radar, they merit taxpayer attention. In the coming days and weeks, this page will continue to be updated with links to Tax Foundation research and analysis on some of the most significant ballot questions of 2016.

We have tried our best to select the largest and most impactful ballot initiatives on tax issues, but admit that this list is not comprehensive. Other helpful resources include Ballotpedia’s Ballot Measures page, and the National Taxpayers Union’s annual Ballot Guide.

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