VOTING ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION BALLOT QUESTION AND IN INITIATIVE STATES

Topic:
BALLOTS; CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS; ELECTIONS (GENERAL); MUNICIPALITIES; STATISTICAL INFORMATION; VOTING;
Location:
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION; VOTING;

OLR Research Report


October 27, 2008		2008-R-0584
VOTING ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION BALLOT QUESTION AND IN INITIATIVE STATES

By: Kristin Sullivan, Associate Analyst

You asked (1) for the percentage of electors who voted on the 1986 ballot question asking whether there should be a constitutional convention, (2) whether there was a correlation between municipal population and percentage of vote on the ballot question, and (3) whether this percentage of vote was greatest in cities. You also asked whether, in states that have initiative and referenda, the percentage of vote on ballot questions is greatest in the largest cities.

BACKGROUND

The Connecticut Constitution requires the following ballot question to be submitted periodically to all state electors: “Shall there be a Constitutional Convention to amend or revise the Constitution of the State?”

The question must be submitted at the general election in the even-numbered year after the expiration of 20 years from the last time (1) the question was submitted to all electors or (2) a constitutional convention occurred (Ct. Const. Art. XIII, § 2). The requirement grew out of changes made to the 1818 constitution by the 1965 constitutional convention; thus, 1986 was the first and only time the question has been asked. It will next appear on the ballot at the November 4, 2008 general election.

For more information on the 1965 constitutional convention, see OLR Report 2008-R-0456, which is attached.

SUMMARY

According to the Statement of Vote, there were 1,670,798 registered voters in Connecticut at the time of the 1986 state election. Of these, 1,025,605 (61. 4%) voted in the election and 587,516 (35. 2%) voted on the constitutional convention ballot question. On average, voter turnout and percentage of vote on the ballot question asking whether there should be a constitutional convention were highest in the smallest municipalities and lowest in the largest. There was a greater disparity between the largest and the smallest municipalities, however, with respect to percentage of vote on the ballot question.

We did not locate any research addressing whether, in states that have initiative and referenda, the percentage of vote on ballot questions is greatest in the largest cities. Rather, most of the research we found compares voter turnout in states with initiative to those without initiative. The findings show generally higher voter turnout in initiative states after controlling for external factors.

VOTING IN THE 1986 ELECTION

Average voter turnout in the 1986 general election was highest in municipalities with a population of less than 10,000 (65. 3%) and lowest in those with a population of 100,000 or more (55. 3%). Average percentage of vote on the ballot question asking whether there should be a constitutional convention showed a similar trend but with a stronger negative correlation. In the five municipalities with a population over 100,000 (Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, and Waterbury), the average percentage of vote on the ballot question was 20. 7%, while it was 40. 5% in municipalities with a population less than 10,000.

Table 1 provides information, grouped according to municipal population, on average voter turnout and percentage of vote on the ballot question asking whether there should be a constitutional convention. Both indicators were, on average, highest in the smallest municipalities and lowest in the largest municipalities. Statewide, voter turnout was 61. 4% and 35. 2% of electors voted on the constitutional convention ballot question. Table 2 provides town-by-town data, arranged from most to least populated.

Table 1: Average Voting in the 1986 Election

by Municipal Population

*Municipal Population*	*Total Voting in Election as % of Registered Voters*	*Total Voting on State Question as % of Registered Voters*
100,000 and above	55. 3	20. 7
50,000 to 99,000	60. 9	35. 3
25,000 to 49,999	61. 8	38. 8
10,000 to 24,999	63. 7	39. 1
0 to 9,999	65. 3	40. 5
STATEWIDE	61. 4	35. 2

Table 2: Voting by Municipality in 1986 Election

	*Municipality*	*Population*	*Total Registered Voters (including overseas voters)*	*Total Voting in Election (including overseas voters)*	*Total Voting in Election as % of Registered Voters*	*Total Voting on State Question*	*Total Voting on State Question as % of Registered Voters*
1	Bridgeport	143,500	62,315	29,240	46. 9%	10,117	16. 2%
2	Hartford	135,080	52,631	25,666	48. 8%	12,163	23. 1%
3	New Haven	126,490	60,184	38,991	64. 8%	10,978	18. 2%
4	Stamford	107,560	52,953	27,074	51. 1%	11,787	22. 3%
5	Waterbury	106,160	49,804	32,661	65. 6%	12,456	25. 0%
6	Norwalk	80,000	38,571	20,674	53. 6%	12,982	33. 7%
7	New Britain	74,240	32,339	20,635	63. 8%	10,970	33. 9%
8	Danbury	67,230	28,861	15,101	52. 3%	8,231	28. 5%
9	West Hartford	61,180	41,752	29,263	70. 1%	19,863	47. 6%
10	Greenwich	60,370	35,847	19,293	53. 8%	9,938	27. 7%
11	Bristol	60,250	30,198	18,263	60. 5%	13,046	43. 2%
12	Meriden	59,160	28,029	17,045	60. 8%	8,007	28. 6%
13	Fairfield	55,720	32,943	21,068	64. 0%	13,336	40. 5%
14	West Haven	54,050	28,610	17,989	62. 9%	6,663	23. 3%
15	East Hartford	52,180	25,934	15,585	60. 1%	9,396	36. 2%
16	Milford	51,980	27,928	15,923	57. 0%	9,059	32. 4%
17	Hamden	51,590	31,688	19,225	60. 7%	8,949	28. 2%
18	Manchester	51,100	28,679	19,198	66. 9%	15,525	54. 1%
19	Stratford	50,860	28,380	18,572	65. 4%	9,056	31. 9%
20	Enfield	44,290	22,838	11,855	51. 9%	9,540	41. 8%
21	Groton	43,280	16,186	8,992	55. 6%	6,227	38. 5%
22	Middletown	41,220	20,995	13,044	62. 1%	7,160	34. 1%
23	Wallingford	39,660	19,769	12,441	62. 9%	6,532	33. 0%
24	Southington	38,590	19,106	12,122	63. 4%	8,601	45. 0%
25	Norwich	38,480	19,305	10,513	54. 5%	6,283	32. 5%
26	Shelton	34,720	17,603	10,290	58. 5%	5,810	33. 0%
27	Trumbull	33,830	20,180	12,888	63. 9%	6,366	31. 5%
28	Torrington	32,260	17,526	11,169	63. 7%	6,355	36. 3%
29	Vernon	29,390	13,936	9,293	66. 7%	6,570	47. 1%
30	Newington	29,350	17,517	11,873	67. 8%	8,010	45. 7%
31	Naugatuck	29,070	14,004	8,174	58. 4%	5,131	36. 6%
32	New London	28,720	12,592	6,470	51. 4%	4,491	35. 7%
33	Wethersfield	27,410	16,846	12,469	74. 0%	8,842	52. 5%
34	Glastonbury	27,210	15,740	11,605	73. 7%	9,676	61. 5%
35	Windsor	27,040	14,442	9,050	62. 7%	5,962	41. 3%
36	Westport	26,570	15,770	10,560	67. 0%	6,915	43. 8%
37	Branford	25,720	14,190	9,289	65. 5%	4,812	33. 9%
38	East Haven	25,570	16,048	8,448	52. 6%	2,788	17. 4%
39	Cheshire	24,560	13,907	8,510	61. 2%	6,515	46. 8%
40	Simsbury	23,030	12,132	9,046	74. 6%	7,104	58. 6%
41	North Haven	22,360	12,837	8,450	65. 8%	4,132	32. 2%
42	Ridgefield	21,710	12,792	7,055	55. 2%	5,313	41. 5%
43	Windham	21,340	11,118	7,328	65. 9%	3,422	30. 8%
44	New Milford	21,200	9,168	4,761	51. 9%	3,339	36. 4%
45	South Windsor	20,850	11,001	7,800	70. 9%	6,200	56. 4%
46	Mansfield	20,810	6,970	4,329	62. 1%	3,594	51. 6%
47	Newtown	20,370	10,235	5,961	58. 2%	4,291	41. 9%
48	Bloomfield	20,140	11,781	7,526	63. 9%	4,812	40. 8%
49	Watertown	20,060	11,018	6,940	63. 0%	4,564	41. 4%
50	Guilford	19,190	10,389	6,307	60. 7%	4,021	38. 7%
51	Ansonia	19,030	9,887	6,775	68. 5%	3,221	32. 6%
52	Darien	19,000	10,783	6,819	63. 2%	4,119	38. 2%
53	Waterford	18,700	10,378	6,757	65. 1%	4,263	41. 1%
54	New Canaan	18,580	10,162	6,734	66. 3%	3,916	38. 5%
55	Farmington	18,430	9,912	6,835	69. 0%	4,743	47. 9%
56	Stonington	17,610	10,368	6,128	59. 1%	704	6. 8%
57	Plainville	17,450	8,224	5,643	68. 6%	3,328	40. 5%
58	Bethel	17,250	8,475	5,038	59. 4%	2,878	34. 0%
59	Montville	17,000	7,387	4,658	63. 1%	2,831	38. 3%
60	Wilton	16,950	8,904	5,474	61. 5%	4,266	47. 9%
61	Monroe	16,280	8,038	4,549	56. 6%	2,973	37. 0%
62	Berlin	15,900	10,235	7,162	70. 0%	3,586	35. 0%
63	Rocky Hill	15,550	8,188	5,633	68. 8%	3,704	45. 2%
64	Killingly	15,200	6,397	3,766	58. 9%	2,198	34. 4%
65	Madison	15,080	8,804	5,543	63. 0%	2,853	32. 4%
66	East Lyme	14,830	8,022	5,077	63. 3%	3,071	38. 3%
67	Ledyard	14,700	6,956	3,962	57. 0%	2,842	40. 9%
68	Southbury	14,690	8,650	5,831	67. 4%	3,570	41. 3%
69	Brookfield	14,330	7,412	4,209	56. 8%	2,629	35. 5%
70	Seymour	13,870	7,026	4,549	64. 7%	2,096	29. 8%
71	Wolcott	13,840	7,225	4,668	64. 6%	2,222	30. 8%
72	Orange	13,440	8,568	5,552	64. 8%	3,198	37. 3%
73	Plainfield	13,170	5,990	3,563	59. 5%	2,337	39. 0%
74	Avon	12,940	7,695	5,494	71. 4%	3,952	51. 4%
75	North Branford	12,600	6,805	3,882	57. 0%	2,080	30. 6%
76	Derby	12,350	5,954	4,063	68. 2%	1,690	28. 4%
77	Windsor Locks	12,330	7,197	4,597	63. 9%	3,065	42. 6%
78	Clinton	12,200	6,230	3,810	61. 2%	2,218	35. 6%
79	New Fairfield	12,170	6,542	3,770	57. 6%	2,209	33. 8%
80	Cromwell	11,390	6,035	4,161	68. 9%	2,637	43. 7%
81	Plymouth	11,160	5,522	3,515	63. 7%	1,945	35. 2%
82	Winchester	11,060	5,965	4,157	69. 7%	2,245	37. 6%
83	Ellington	10,830	5,332	3,276	61. 4%	2,355	44. 2%
84	Tolland	10,670	5,539	3,518	63. 5%	2,789	50. 4%
85	Suffield	10,520	6,024	3,812	63. 3%	2,599	43. 1%
86	Stafford	10,210	5,501	3,775	68. 6%	1,640	29. 8%
87	Old Saybrook	9,880	5,674	3,548	62. 5%	2,114	37. 3%
88	Griswold	9,630	3,898	2,265	58. 1%	904	23. 2%
89	Coventry	9,420	4,843	2,968	61. 3%	2,164	44. 7%
90	East Hampton	9,350	4,963	3,495	70. 4%	2,083	42. 0%
91	Somers	9,270	4,540	2,503	55. 1%	1,716	37. 8%
92	East Windsor	9,270	4,500	2,567	57. 0%	1,547	34. 4%
93	Weston	8,940	5,192	2,853	54. 9%	2,074	39. 9%
94	Granby	8,920	5,012	3,396	67. 8%	2,875	57. 4%
95	Putnam	8,900	4,926	3,020	61. 3%	1,559	31. 6%
96	Colchester	8,880	4,924	3,530	71. 7%	2,139	43. 4%
97	Portland	8,610	5,345	3,695	69. 1%	2,188	40. 9%
98	Thompson	8,450	4,690	2,694	57. 4%	1,414	30. 1%
99	Woodbridge	8,170	5,170	3,529	68. 3%	2,231	43. 2%
100	Litchfield	8,080	4,789	3,224	67. 3%	1,847	38. 6%
101	Canton	7,960	4,585	3,114	67. 9%	2,190	47. 8%
102	Redding	7,820	4,673	2,659	56. 9%	1,608	34. 4%
103	Woodbury	7,490	4,461	2,897	64. 9%	2,107	47. 2%
104	Oxford	7,410	3,635	2,385	65. 6%	1,347	37. 1%
105	Prospect	7,300	3,900	2,562	65. 7%	1,368	35. 1%
106	Haddam	6,740	3,856	2,644	68. 6%	1,735	45. 0%
107	Old Lyme	6,540	3,947	2,678	67. 8%	1,732	43. 9%
108	Hebron	6,520	3,584	2,383	66. 5%	1,611	44. 9%
109	Thomaston	6,460	3,903	2,573	65. 9%	1,266	32. 4%
110	Burlington	6,430	3,273	2,116	64. 7%	1,487	45. 4%
111	Easton	6,290	3,967	2,454	61. 9%	1,501	37. 8%
112	Brooklyn	6,280	2,842	1,874	65. 9%	976	34. 3%
113	East Haddam	6,270	3,504	2,321	66. 2%	1,376	39. 3%
114	Middlebury	6,250	3,701	2,589	70. 0%	1,357	36. 7%
115	Durham	5,530	3,006	2,025	67. 4%	1,082	36. 0%
116	Westbrook	5,470	3,032	2,137	70. 5%	1,221	40. 3%
117	Woodstock	5,460	3,057	1,905	62. 3%	1,299	42. 5%
118	Essex	5,410	3,258	2,229	68. 4%	1,442	44. 3%
119	Lebanon	5,280	2,925	2,089	71. 4%	1,329	45. 4%
120	New Hartford	5,210	3,372	1,963	58. 2%	1,278	37. 9%
121	Marlborough	5,150	2,900	2,023	69. 8%	1,570	54. 1%
122	Harwinton	5,130	2,709	1,861	68. 7%	1,152	42. 5%
123	Willington	5,000	2,293	1,611	70. 3%	1,121	48. 9%
124	Preston	4,830	2,326	1,374	59. 1%	732	31. 5%
125	Bethany	4,550	2,839	1,920	67. 6%	1,337	47. 1%
126	North Stonington	4,370	2,472	1,485	60. 1%	878	35. 5%
127	Beacon Falls	4,370	2,145	1,472	68. 6%	700	32. 6%
128	Killingworth	4,350	2,450	1,685	68. 8%	1,012	41. 3%
129	East Granby	4,330	2,384	1,583	66. 4%	1,144	48. 0%
130	Bolton	4,260	2,409	1,586	65. 8%	1,035	43. 0%
131	Deep River	4,180	2,238	1,555	69. 5%	817	36. 5%
132	Salisbury	4,040	2,592	1,663	64. 2%	1,020	39. 4%
133	Middlefield	3,900	2,360	1,713	72. 6%	1,048	44. 4%
134	Washington	3,870	2,093	1,318	63. 0%	794	37. 9%
135	Canterbury	3,790	1,937	1,278	66. 0%	719	37. 1%
136	Columbia	3,750	2,347	1,668	71. 1%	1,267	54. 0%
137	Lisbon	3,500	1,741	1,059	60. 8%	543	31. 2%
138	Ashford	3,400	1,852	1,148	62. 0%	789	42. 6%
139	North Canaan	3,320	1,745	1,218	69. 8%	576	33. 0%
140	Chester	3,220	1,871	1,187	63. 4%	667	35. 6%
141	Sprague	3,070	1,663	1,023	61. 5%	417	25. 1%
142	Barkhamsted	3,050	1,665	1,120	67. 3%	786	47. 2%
143	Pomfret	2,920	1,493	1,008	67. 5%	688	46. 1%
144	Salem	2,800	1,474	1,047	71. 0%	694	47. 1%
145	Bethlehem	2,780	1,701	1,267	74. 5%	874	51. 4%
146	Sharon	2,750	1,752	919	52. 5%	514	29. 3%
147	Kent	2,700	1,443	984	68. 2%	612	42. 4%
148	Sherman	2,520	1,434	918	64. 0%	723	50. 4%
149	Andover	2,400	1,277	849	66. 5%	538	42. 1%
150	Bozrah	2,270	1,266	920	72. 7%	581	45. 9%
151	Norfolk	2,210	1,061	789	74. 4%	420	39. 6%
152	Goshen	2,080	1,200	830	69. 2%	563	46. 9%
153	Morris	1,960	1,186	823	69. 4%	469	39. 5%
154	Sterling	1,920	1,096	545	49. 7%	319	29. 1%
155	Lyme	1,910	1,230	789	64. 1%	502	40. 8%
156	Chaplin	1,880	855	557	65. 1%	334	39. 1%
157	Voluntown	1,760	816	536	65. 7%	263	32. 2%
158	Franklin	1,740	1,141	777	68. 1%	466	40. 8%
159	Roxbury	1,680	1,034	762	73. 7%	424	41. 0%
160	Bridgewater	1,560	1,081	718	66. 4%	473	43. 8%
161	Hartland	1,540	893	564	63. 2%	401	44. 9%
162	Hampton	1,450	855	540	63. 2%	391	45. 7%
163	Cornwall	1,370	824	630	76. 5%	412	50. 0%
164	Colebrook	1,290	814	581	71. 4%	370	45. 5%
165	Scotland	1,130	647	456	70. 5%	262	40. 5%
166	Warren	1,110	600	409	68. 2%	257	42. 8%
167	Eastford	1,040	720	512	71. 1%	373	51. 8%
168	Canaan	1,030	617	388	62. 9%	273	44. 2%
169	Union	550	391	274	70. 1%	157	40. 2%
	TOTAL	3,241,680	1,670,798	1,025,605	61. 4%	587,516	35. 2%

VOTER TURNOUT AND INITIATIVE

Presently, 24 states permit their citizens to propose constitutional amendments or develop legislation through direct or indirect initiatives. The direct initiative allows citizens to place a measure on the ballot after obtaining a specific number of signatures. In the indirect process, once the required signatures are obtained, proposals go first to the legislature, which has an opportunity to act before the proposal is placed on the ballot.

Most research suggests a positive correlation between initiative and voter turnout after controlling for external factors such as candidate races, registration requirements, state racial and ethnic composition, and socioeconomic conditions. One study indicates that turnout in initiative states was 7% to 9% higher than in noninitiative states in 1994, a midterm election year, and 3% to 4. 5% higher in 1996, a presidential election year. According to the study, initiatives cause a greater increase in turnout during midterm election years because these years are generally low information elections. Only one or two propositions (initiatives or referenda) on the ballot appears to be sufficient to stimulate turnout. (The study, “The Effects of Ballot Initiatives on Voter Turnout in the American States,” is attached. )

HYPERLINKS

OLR Report 2008-R-0456, 1965 Constitutional Convention, http: //cgalites/2008/rpt/2008-R-0456. htm.

Tolbert et al. , “The Effects of Ballot Initiatives on Voter Turnout in the American States,” American Politics Research, Vol. 29 No. 6, Nov. 2001, http: //www. iandrinstitute. org/New%20IRI%20Website%20Info/I&R%20Research%20and%20History/I&R%20Studies/Tolbert%20Grummel%20and%20Smith%20(Dan)%20-%20Effects%20of%20Initiatives%20on%20Voter%20Turnout%20IRI. pdf.

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