State-by-State Ballot Initiatives on Same-Sex Marriage

Read about the results for these and other 2006 ballot measures here.

Updated November 16, 2006

The following ballot initiatives concerning marriage equality will appear on the ballots in November, 2006. Eight states have ballot initiatives which would define marriage as between one man and one woman and outlaw marriage or partnership recognition for LGBT people. The specific language of each state ballot initiative or the official summary is listed below. NOW activists are working on get out the vote projects to stop these initiatives from becoming law!

ARIZONA

Title: The Protect Arizona Marriage Amendment
Summary: This proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution preserves "marriage" as only consisting of the union of one man and one woman, and prohibits creating or recognizing any legal status for unmarried persons that is similar to that of marriage.
Status: Defeated!

COLORADO

Title: Proposed Initiative 83
Text: An amendment to the Colorado Constitution, concerning marriage, and, in connection therewith, specifying that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage on Colorado.
Section 1. Article II of the Colorado Constitution is amended By the Addition of a New Section to read:
(Section 31). Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.
Status: Passed.

Title: Proposed Initiative 109
Text:
SECTION 32 - LEGAL STATUS OF MARRIAGE
Section 1. Article II of the Colorado Constitution is amended By the Addition of a New Section to read: Neither the state nor any of its political subdivisions may create or recognize a legal status similar to that of marriage, as described in Sections 14-2-101 through 14-2-104, Colorado revised statutes (2005), from the Uniform Marriage Act.
Status: Defeated.

FLORIDA

Title: Florida Marriage Protection Amendment
Summary: To amend the Florida Constitution to protect marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and provides that no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.
Status: Failed to Make 2006 Ballot; Collecting Signatures for 2008

IDAHO

Title: Proposed Constitutional Amendment (HJR 2)
Summary: To amend the Idaho Constitution to protect marriage as only between a man and a woman, to prohibit recognition by the State of Idaho, or any of its political subdivisions, of civil unions, domestic partnerships, or any other relationship that attempts to approximate marriage, no matter how denominated, to prohibit the State of Idaho, or any of its political subdivisions, from granting any or all of the legal benefits of marriage to civil unions, domestic partnerships, or any other relationship that attempts to approximate marriage.
Status: Passed.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Summary: This amendment provides that the institution of marriage in South Carolina consists only of the union between one man and one woman. No other domestic union is valid and legal. The State and its political subdivisions are prohibited from creating or recognizing any right or claim respecting any other domestic union, whatever it may be called, or from giving effect to any such right or benefit recognized in any other state or jurisdiction.
Status: Passed.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Title: Constitutional Amendment C - Relating to the definition of marriage
Text: Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in South Dakota. The uniting of two or more persons in civil union, domestic partnership, or other quasi-marital relationship shall not be recognized in South Dakota.
Status: Passed.

TENNESSEE

Title: Tennessee Marriage Projection Amendment
Text: The historical institution and legal contract solemnizing the relationship of one man and one woman shall be the only legally recognized marital contract in this state. Any policy or law or judicial interpretation, purporting to define marriage as anything other than the historical institution and legal contract between one man and one woman is contrary to the public policy of this state and shall be void and unenforceable in Tennessee. If another state or foreign jurisdiction issues a license for persons to marry and if such marriage is prohibited in this state by the provisions of this section, then the marriage shall be void and unenforceable in this state.
Status: Passed.

VIRGINIA

Title: Ballot Question 1: Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Text: That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions. This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.
Status: Passed.

WISCONSIN

Text: Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.
Status: Passed.