California voters say no to legalizing pot

The midterm battle comes to the forefront tonight. It's Election Day in America, and you won't miss a result by following CNN, starting at 7 ET tonight. Share your election experiences with CNN iReport.

(CNN) -- California voters rejected the legalization of marijuana Tuesday, according to a CNN projection based on exit polling.

Supporters of Proposition 19 argued that the "prohibition" of marijuana -- much like that for alcohol decades ago -- has created a violent criminal black market, led today by international drug cartels.

But opponents prevailed Tuesday. They asserted that even if the proposition were to pass, federal law still prohibits individuals and groups from manufacturing, distributing and possessing marijuana for recreational use. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said he will continue to enforce that federal law. Opponents also said that driving under the influence of marijuana would be a public threat.

Supporters said the measure could have generated tax revenue from the $14 billion-a-year marijuana business in California and save the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually by ending the arrests of 61,000 Californians a year for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

California has already legalized medical marijuana.

A measure that would have legalized medical marijuana in South Dakota also failed, according to another CNN projection based on exit polling. Results were still pending for a similar medical marijuana measure in Arizona. A total of 14 states and the District of Columbia have already legalized marijuana for medical care only.

Meanwhile, among the many initiatives on ballots Tuesday, four states -- Utah, Arizona, South Carolina and South Dakota -- approved a measure that will guarantee workers the right to vote by secret ballot on whether they want union representation, according to CNN projections based on exit polling.

The anti-union measures are considered pre-emptive strikes against a federal legislative proposal that would allow unions to organize workers by relying on sign-up cards instead of secret ballots, The proposed Employee Free Choice Act would allow unions to organize workers with a "card check."

Business groups have opposed this draft legislation because, they claim, employees could be coerced into checking yes on a card to unionize. Workers rights groups say the proposed "majority sign-up" law would reduce opportunities for employers to threaten or fire workers wanting a union, said spokeswoman Zoe Bridges-Curry of the advocacy group American Rights at Work.

Meanwhile, Colorado voters were projected to reject an anti-abortion amendment that would have defined a "person" as "every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being," according to a CNN analysis of exit poll data.

Arizona and Oklahoma voters passed a measure Tuesday allowing residents to opt out of President Barack Obama's federal health care reform and its requirement that people have insurance, according to a CNN projection based on an analysis of exit poll data.

But in Colorado, voters rejected a similar measure that would give voters the option of not participating in the federal health care reforms, including the insurance requirement, according to a CNN projection based on exit polling.

The approvals were a rebuke of the administration's controversial health care reforms.

Experts question whether such state laws could be implemented because they seek to pre-empt federal law, and the matter could eventually end up in court, said Jennie Bowser, an elections analyst with the conference.

Voters in many states cast ballots on other controversial measures Tuesday, including balancing budgets.

In all, 37 states offered 160 ballot proposals, and the initiatives had no single unifying theme this November, unlike in 2004 and 2006, when voters saw same-sex marriage dominate ballots, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Among its nine initiatives, California offered a proposition that could reduce government gridlock by lowering the minimum needed for the legislature to approve a state budget, making it a simple majority instead of a two-thirds majority. Only two other states require two-thirds.

Among other controversial or interesting measures:

Under Rhode Island Question 1, voters were projected by CNN to reject changing the official state name from "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" to simply "Rhode Island."

In the wake of scandal in the governor's office, Illinois voters approved a constitutional amendment (HJRCA 31) that will allow for a recall of a governor and a special election to choose a replacement -- a process that exists in 18 other states. For the measure to pass, the "yes" votes must total at least 60 percent of those voting on this question or a majority of those voting in the overall election.

Arizona voters were projected by CNN to approve Proposition 107, which called for an affirmative action/discrimination ban. The amendment to the state constitution would prohibit the state from granting preferential treatment or discriminating against any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, skin color, ethnicity or national origin.

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Marijuana, health care on ballots for some

The midterm battle comes to the forefront tonight. It's Election Day in America, and you won't miss a result by following CNN, starting at 7 ET tonight. Share your election experiences with CNN iReport.

(CNN) -- Voters in many states cast ballots on controversial measures Tuesday, including opting out of President Obama's health care reforms, balancing budgets, legalizing marijuana, and countering union organizing.

In all, 37 states offered 160 ballot proposals, and the initiatives had no single unifying theme this November, unlike in 2004-2006, when voters saw same-sex marriage dominate ballots, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Oklahoma, Colorado and Arizona offered measures that would give voters the option of not participating in federal health care reforms, including the requirement that all people have health insurance. Experts question whether such state laws could be implemented, pre-empting federal law, and the matter could eventually end up in court, said Jennie Bowser, an elections analyst with the conference.

Among its nine initiatives, California offered a proposition that could reduce government gridlock by lowering the minimum needed for the legislature to approve a state budget, making it a simple majority instead of a two-thirds majority. Only two other states require two-thirds.

California also had a measure to legalize marijuana. South Dakota and Arizona had proposals that would legalize medical marijuana, which California, 13 other states and the District of Columbia have already done.

South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and Arizona offered measures that would guarantee that votes -- particularly in union elections -- would be by secret ballot. The propositions counter a pro-union federal legislative proposal called the Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow unions to organize workers with a "card check" rather than a secret ballot. Business groups have opposed this because, they claim, employees could be coerced into checking "yes" on a card to unionize.

Among other controversial or interesting measures:

Under Rhode Island Question 1, voters were asked to change the official state name from "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" to simply "Rhode Island."

South Carolina voters were to give a thumbs up or down to Amendment 2, which would modify the state constitution to establish the right of an individual to vote by secret ballot in union elections. The measure was in response to the labor movement's card-check efforts.

In the wake of scandal in the governor's office, the Illinois constitutional amendment (HJRCA 31) would allow voters to recall a governor and to hold a special election to choose a replacement -- a process that exists in 18 other states. For the measure to pass, the "yes" votes must total at least 60 percent of those voting on this question or a majority of those voting in the overall election.

Oklahoma Question 756 sought to provide individuals and groups a way to opt out of federal health care reforms. The measure would amend the state constitution to prohibit any requirement by the state that people participate in a public or private health care insurance system.

South Dakota's Constitutional Amendment K is another measure countering the labor movement. It would amend the state constitution to guarantee the right to vote by secret ballot in elections for public officials, ballot measures, and elections run by unions and employee organizations.

South Dakota's Initiated Measure 13 called for the legalization of medical marijuana. The initiative would legalize the possession, use, distribution and cultivation of marijuana for medical use.

Colorado Amendment 62 sought to amend the state constitution by defining the term "person" to include "every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being."

This definition would be applied to the entire state constitution, including the provisions that ensure that no person has his life, liberty or property taken away without due process of law. The measure would essentially ban abortion. This is almost identical to a 2008 measure that defined a "person" as a human being from the moment of fertilization. That measure failed 27 percent to 73 percent.

Colorado Amendment 63 sought a ban on required health care system participation. In yet another state initiative designed to diminish federal health care reform, this measure would amend the state constitution to prohibit any requirement by the state that people participate in a public or private health care insurance system.

Under Arizona Proposition 106, voters were asked to amend the state constitution to void any law requiring participation in any health care insurance system, including the new federal health reforms. Under the proposal, individuals, businesses and health care providers could forgo health insurance and make private payment for health care services without a penalty.

Supporters said the measure would protect Arizonans from government-mandated health insurance. Opponents said it would take the benefits of federal health reforms away from children, the elderly and those unable to afford insurance.

Arizona Proposition 107, which called for an affirmative action/discrimination ban, sought an amendment to the state constitution that would prohibit the state from granting preferential treatment or discriminating against any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, skin color, ethnicity or national origin.

Arizona Proposition 113 would guarantee the right under state law to vote by secret ballot in elections, including those run by unions and employee organizations.

Arizona Proposition 203 would legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes for people with "debilitating medical conditions" who obtain written permission from a physician.

California Proposition 19 called for the legalization of marijuana. Almost two weeks ago, a poll by USC/Los Angeles Times showed the state's proposition failing. Medical marijuana, limited to individuals with a prescription, is currently legal in California.

Supporters of Proposition 19 said the "prohibition" of marijuana -- much like that for alcohol decades ago -- has created a violent criminal black market, led today by international drug cartels. Supporters said the proposition could generate tax revenue from the $14 billion-a-year marijuana business in California and save the state hundreds of millions of dollars annually by ending the arrests of 61,000 Californians a year for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

But opponents contended that even if the proposition were to pass, federal law still prohibits individuals and groups from manufacturing, distributing and possessing marijuana for recreational use. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said he will continue to enforce that federal law. Opponents also said that driving under the influence of marijuana would be a public threat.

California Proposition 25 sought a constitutional amendment that would drop the two-thirds majority required of state legislators to pass a budget and replace it with a simple majority -- except in the case of tax increases, which would still require a two-thirds vote.

Supporters contended that the accountability measure would break California's annual legislative gridlock on getting a budget approved. The state's broken budget process costs taxpayers millions of dollars when the legislature must go into overtime in putting together a budget.

Opponents argued the proposal would make it easier for politicians to pass an unbalanced budget, incur additional debt and reward special interest groups. The measure also would allow legislators to fatten their perks with the same voting margin, critics contended

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