The presidential race may still have been a cliffhanger yesterday, but US voters overwhelmingly rejected gay marriage in 11 state ballots held in parallel with the election. California also backed a $6 billion measure to fund stem cell research in the voting on Tuesday and rejected measures that would have expanded gambling in the nation’s most populous state. Ohio, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Michigan, North Dakota, Arkansas, Montana, Utah and Oklahoma solidly backed state constitutional amendments to define marriage as a union between man and a woman.

Oregon, where more than 3,000 same-sex couples married in March, was backing a similar amendment by a smaller margin. Before that, more than 4,000 gay couples married in San Francisco. California’s Supreme Court latter ruled that Mayor Gavin Newsom exceeded his authority in allowing the weddings.

“There was obviously an agenda by the cultural conservatives to make this a wedge issue in the campaign,” Newsom told Reuters. “It failed to reach the intensity that they had hoped for. Nonetheless it is obviously indicative of the mood of the public.” He said it would take a while to get public approval for gay marriage, much as with interracial marriage years ago.Activists have spent hundreds of millions of dollars – an estimated $200 million in California alone – on 163 state voter initiatives in 34 states tackling issues as varied as tobacco taxes, electoral changes and tort reform.

In Arizona, voters comfortably passed a controversial proposition that targets illegal immigrants entering the southwestern US border state from Mexico. The measure requires individuals to prove eligibility when applying for non-federally mandated public benefits. Workers not doing so could face four months in jail and a $750 fine. A legal challenge is expected. California passed a similar measure a decade ago only to have it struck down in court.

<B>Initiative AD wars</B>

“This is a big win for the people of Arizona,” said Randy Pullen, chairman of Yes on Proposition 200. “It sends a message to our political leaders that they need to do something about illegal immigration and what it’s doing to the country.” In Colorado, voters rejected a measure that would have enabled the state to divide its nine electoral votes proportionately based on the popular vote. As Bush won the state, keeping all the electoral votes intact helps him.

In some states, television stations have aired relentless initiative advertising. The late actor Christopher Reeve spoke for California’s stem cell initiative allocating $3 billion for research and $3 billion to finance the bond. “Please support Prop 71. And stand up for those who can’t,” he said.

One recurring issue in the state initiatives are casinos. In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger helped easily defeat two measures related to Indian gaming by arguing: “The Indians are ripping us off.” “When the people flex their muscles, the state gets much stronger,” the former bodybuilder said. “Now, let’s party.” California measures to ease sentencing for criminals who have committed three crimes and to require smaller firms to pay health care costs for workers remained close.

Miami-Dade and Broward counties in south Florida were considering whether to allow slot machines at racing establishments. With more than 98 percent of the votes counted, 49.9 percent backed such gaming in a race even closer than the presidential election. Floridians backed a measure that would require minors to gain parental consent to get an abortion, and a boost in the minimum wage to $6.15, a dollar above the national level.

Colorado voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to hike taxes on a pack of cigarettes to 84 cents from 20 cents. Montana backed medical marijuana. Alabama appeared poised to include the promotion of shrimp in its state constitution, as did Louisiana to enshrine the right to hunt and fish. Initial results showed Alaskan voters rejected a measure that would have outlawed using food to bait bears out of the woods for photography or hunting.

<B>Adam Tanner</B>