Measures in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington would either give the right to same-sex couples to marry or reverse bans on such unions, while Colorado voters appeared to be on their way to approving a state initiative legalizing marijuana, according to a CNN projection.
Meanwhile, even as voters returned President Barack Obama to office for a second term, according to CNN projections, a key component of his signature health care reform law was on the line in a number of states.
Alabama voted for a measure to amend the state constitution to prohibit people from being compelled to participate in Obamacare while Wyoming and Montana were voting for similar measures.
The one exception appears to be Florida, where voters turned back a measure that would have prohibited people and businesses from participating in Obamacare, according to CNN projections.
“These laws may promise more than they can deliver,” said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University Law School.
“What the laws certainly do is to give state officials more of a basis to go to court and challenge the national health care law.”
Voters nationwide were deciding the outcome of nearly 180 ballot measures in 38 states. That’s up from 159 in 2010, but down from 204 in 2008.
Colorado approved legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, a measure opposed by the state’s governor.
“The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will. This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a statement late Tuesday.
“That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don’t break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly.”
In Washington, voters were deciding whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use, while voters in Arkansas, Massachusetts and Montana were voting on medical marijuana referendums.
Voters in Florida, meanwhile, nixed a constitutional amendment that would have banned the use of public funds for abortions, according to CNN projections.
The campaign pitted the Protect Florida Taxpayers and Parental Rights, which was primarily funded by a large collection of Catholic archdioceses across Florida, against Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood spent $3.2 million on ads to defeat the measure in Florida during the week heading into the election.
“The people of Florida have sent a clear message that politicians have no place in a woman’s deeply personal and private medical decisions,” said Jennifer Dalven, director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project.
Results for key ballot initiatives:
Alabama
Obamacare
A measure that would amend the state constitution to prohibit individuals and businesses from being compelled to participate in any health care system passed.
Arkansas
Medical marijuana
A measure to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes held a narrow lead with 60% of the vote in, according to CNN projections.
California
Propostion 30: Jerry Brown tax Increase
The state was voting on a measure sponsored by Gov. Jerry Brown that would increase personal income tax for seven years for those making more than $250,000 a year. It also increases the sales tax by 0.25% for four years.
Proposition 34: Death penalty
The state was voting on a measure to abolish capital punishment in California and make life imprisonment without the possibility of parole the maximum punishment for murder.
The measure, if approved, would apply retroactively to all death row inmates, whose sentences would be converted to life imprisonment.
Proposition 38: Other tax increase
Initial returns showed a measure that would raise income taxes for almost all income levels for 12 years was failing nearly 3-to-1, according to CNN projections.
Under the measure, for its first four years, 60% of the revenue would be dedicated to K-12 education, 30% to debt reduction, and 15% to early childhood programs. After four years, 85% of revenues would go to K-12 education and 15% to early childhood programs.
Gov. Jerry Brown is opposed to this measure, which competes with one he backs that would raise personal income taxes for seven years on those making more than $250,000 a year.
Colorado
Marijuana legalization
The state was voting on a measure to amend the constitution to legalize and regulate the production, possession and distribution of marijuana for people age 21 and older.
Florida
Obamacare
The measure to amend the state constitution to prohibit individuals and businesses from being compelled to participate in any health care system was on the ballot.
Under Florida state law, the measure requires 60% of the vote to pass.
Abortion funding
Voters nixed a constitutional amendment that would have banned the use of public funds for abortions, with the exception of rape, incest and cases where the mother’s life is in danger, according to a CNN projection.
Maine
Same-sex marriage
If approved, the measure would repeal a previous law banning same-sex marriage and allow the state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples as well as recognize legal same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Maryland
Same-sex marriage
The vote was for a new law allowing same-sex couples to marry in the state of Maryland.
Massachusetts
Medical marijuana
The measure was to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
Minnesota
Same-sex marriage
A measure to amend the state constitution to define marriage as a union of one man and one woman.
Montana
Obamacare
The measure prohibits federal and state government from requiring the purchase of health insurance.
Medical marijuana
The vote was to change the state’s current medical marijuana law for a more restrictive version.
Oregon
Marijuana legalization
The measure would allow the commercial cultivation and sale of marijuana through state-licensed stores as well as unlicensed cultivation.
Washington
Measure 74: Same-sex marriage
It would repeal a new state law that legalized same-sex marriage.
Initiative 502: Marijuana legalization
The measure would legalize and regulate the production, possession and distribution of marijuana for people age 21 and older.
Wyoming
Obamacare
With more than 95% of the vote counted, a measure to amend the state constitution to give residents the right to make their own health care decisions was ahead by a margin of 3-to-1, according to CNN estimates.
