How Business Issues Fared in the General Election

You know the results of the heated presidential election, but have you checked in on how various states voted on business issues?

Four states approved minimum wage increases in November’s general election, and South Dakota residents voted down a decrease in minimum wage for hourly workers who are younger than 18. In California, voters chose to keep a plastic bag ban. The election results on these and other business issues are detailed below.

Check out at a pre-election graphic about the issues.

Arizona
Proposition 206
Passed: Yes
Voters approved Proposition 206, which will increase the state minimum wage from $8.05 to $12 per hour by the year 2020 and require employers to give paid time off to employees for every
30 hours worked. 

California
Proposition 67
Passed: Yes
Voters approved Proposition 67, reaffirming the state’s single-use plastic bag ban. Proposition 65, another bag-related proposal, failed. Proposition 65 would have modified existing law and required businesses to contribute earnings from shopping bag sales to an environmental protection fund.

Colorado
Amendment 70
Passed: Yes
Amendment 70 increases the state minimum wage from $8.31 per hour to $12 per hour by the year 2020.

Amendment 69
Passed: No
Had it passed, Amendment 69 would have established a statewide system to finance health care services and create new taxes to fund the program.

Maine
Question 4
Passed: Yes
Question 4 increases the state minimum wage from $7.50 to $12 per hour by the year 2020 and increases the minimum wage of service employees who receive tips to $5 per hour.

South Dakota
Referred Law 20
Passed: No
Had it passed, Referred Law 20 would have decreased the hourly minimum wage for nontipped workers younger than age 18 from $8.55 to $7.50 per hour.

Initiated Measure 23
Passed: No
Had it passed, Initiated Measure 23 would have given businesses and nonprofit organizations the right to charge fees for any service provided.

Washington
Initiative Measure 1433
Passed: Yes
Initiative Measure 1433 increases minimum wage from $9.74 per hour to $13.50 per hour by the year 2020 and requires employers to provide paid sick leave to workers.