2021 Election Results | 2021 Ballot Measures

Election Day can be a modest affair in 2021, maybe a welcome respite from the infected politics of current years. Regardless of few statewide races, nevertheless, voters in some states will resolve essential questions by poll measure. Of specific be aware, via 10 poll measures throughout 4 states—Colorado, Louisiana, Texas, and Washington—voters will resolve vital questions of state tax coverage. We summarize every of those poll measures under, and hyperlink to extra intensive discussions of the 5 most important measures. And also you’ll need to bookmark this web page, as a result of after the polls shut on Election Day, we’ll do reside monitoring of outcomes.

Solely New Jersey and Virginia have main state-level races on the poll, with these states electing a governor, lieutenant governor, and, in Virginia’s case, an lawyer common, together with state Home (each states) and Senate (simply New Jersey) candidates. Louisiana and Wisconsin will select judicial and schooling officers, and Pennsylvania and Washington even have statewide judicial elections. There are three congressional particular elections, one in Florida and two in Ohio. And there are, in fact, municipal places of work on the poll throughout the nation. Turnout in a lot of the nation is more likely to be mild, although two of the states with statewide tax questions on the poll—Louisiana and Washington—have statewide places of work up this 12 months as nicely.

The ten tax-related statewide poll measures cowl the whole lot from a big overhaul of an antiquated state tax code (Louisiana) to greater marijuana taxes (Colorado). In three of the 4 states, Election Day falls, as per ordinary, on the primary Tuesday after the primary Monday of November—on this case, November 2nd. In Louisiana, nevertheless, voters will go to the polls on Saturday, November thirteenth. Listed here are the tax questions they’ll resolve once they go to the polls.

Colorado Proposition 119: Growing Hashish Taxes

Proposition 119 would improve the excise tax on marijuana retail gross sales by 5 proportion factors, phased in over 4 years. The entire tax on retail marijuana gross sales would improve from 15 % at present to 18 % in 2022, 19 % in 2023, and 20 % by 2024. The proposal represents a big tax improve on companies and customers who’re already taxed at comparatively excessive charges in Colorado. The extra income is meant to partially fund a brand new out-of-school program. For evaluation of this poll measure, click on right here.

Colorado Proposition 120: Decreasing Property Taxes and Offsetting Homestead Exemptions

Initially meant as a big tax minimize for all residential property and most courses of nonresidential property, Proposition 120 would now decrease property tax evaluation charges for under two courses of property: (1) multifamily housing property (flats, duplexes, and triplexes), and (2) lodging property (resorts, motels, and mattress and breakfasts). Different kinds of property, akin to single-family properties and industrial properties, won’t obtain a tax minimize underneath Proposition 120, assuming courts uphold legislative adjustments made in anticipation of the poll measure, which revised property classifications to moot a lot of the affect of the poll query. For evaluation of this poll measure, click on right here.

Louisiana Modification 1: Streamlining State Gross sales Tax

Modification 1 is a legislatively referred constitutional modification that might create the State and Native Streamlined Gross sales and Use Tax Fee to unify the separate boards that at present oversee state and native gross sales taxes. The brand new fee would consolidate the submitting and remittance of gross sales and use taxes from the current 64 taxing jurisdictions to a single, state-operated digital system, dramatically lowering complexity and compliance prices for retailers. For evaluation of this poll measure, click on right here.

Louisiana Modification 2: Earnings Tax Reform

Modification 2 is a legislatively referred constitutional modification enabling a complete package deal of tax reforms. It will decrease the utmost particular person revenue tax charge allowable underneath the state structure from 6 % to 4.75 % and empower the state legislature to make adjustments concerning the deductibility of federal revenue taxes. Ratification will result in the implementation of a bipartisan tax reform plan (HB 278, HB 292, and SB 161) that might repeal federal deductibility to create a less complicated revenue tax code with decrease charges for each people and companies. For evaluation of this poll measure, click on right here.

Louisiana Modification 3: Levee District Taxes

Modification 3 is a legislatively referred constitutional modification that might grant levee districts created after January 1, 2006 the authority to levy an actual property tax of as much as 5 mills to fund the development or upkeep of levees or different hurricane and flood safety techniques. The modification would additionally allow will increase within the tax charge above the 5 mill restrict if they’re accepted by voters. Presently, the state structure solely affords levee districts established previous to January 1, 2006 the suitable to a 5 mill tax.

Texas Proposition 7: Homestead Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Disabled People

Proposition 7 is a legislatively referred constitutional modification that grants surviving spouses of disabled people a resident homestead tax exemption on actual property taxes assessed by elementary and secondary faculty districts. The modification successfully transfers the homestead tax exemption advantage of the decedent to the surviving partner, offered the surviving partner is at the least 55 years previous on the time of the particular person’s dying. The homestead exemption solely applies towards faculty district taxes, and prevents any improve in tax legal responsibility.

Texas Proposition 8: Homestead Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Disabled People

Proposition 8 is a legislatively referred constitutional modification that empowers the legislature to grant surviving spouses of members of the armed forces killed or fatally injured within the line of responsibility an exemption from property taxation as much as full market worth of the homestead. The modification removes the prevailing provision from the structure that solely afforded the property tax exemption to spouses of service members killed in motion. The exemption would stay in impact till the widow or widower is remarried. The homestead exemption solely applies towards faculty district taxes, and prevents any improve in tax legal responsibility.

Washington Advisory Vote 36: Increased Telephone Line Taxes

Advisory Vote 36 is a nonbinding advisory query asking whether or not extra tax ought to be imposed on cellphone providers to fund behavioral well being and suicide prevention providers in Washington. The tax would apply to all landline cellphone numbers, cellphone numbers, and voice over web protocol (VOIP) firms. The present tax charge is 24 cents per line. On January 1, 2023, the tax is scheduled to extend to 40 cents per line. The poll query is nonbinding however will sign whether or not Washington voters need legislators to take care of the tax as at present enacted or whether or not they need it repealed.

Washington Advisory Vote 37: Capital Beneficial properties Earnings Tax

Advisory Vote 37 is a nonbinding advisory query asking whether or not a newly enacted capital features revenue tax to fund schooling and youngster providers ought to be repealed. Starting January 1, 2022, the sale or trade of long-term capital features belongings can be topic to a 7 % tax, which the legislature calls an excise tax—though it’s imposed on web revenue—in a doubtful effort to work round a constitutional limitation on revenue taxation. Notable exemptions embody the switch of actual property, sure retirement belongings, livestock, and timberland. The primary $250,000 of capital features, no matter submitting standing, are additionally excluded from taxation. The poll measure would sign whether or not Washington voters need legislators to take care of the tax as at present enacted or whether or not they need it repealed. For evaluation of this poll measure, click on right here.

Washington Advisory Vote 38: Captive Insurance coverage Premiums Tax

Advisory Vote 38 is a nonbinding advisory query asking whether or not to tax captive insurance coverage premiums at a charge of two %. A captive insurer is a subsidiary firm that gives threat mitigation to a mum or dad firm. The tax went into impact January 1, 2021. All premium taxes are credited to the final fund. The poll measure would sign to legislators whether or not Washington voters need to preserve the tax as at present enacted or whether or not they need legislators to repeal it.