In
the 2004 election, unfortunately, animals had several defeats
and few victories. Extremist trophy hunters were able to
defeat Ballot Measure 3 in Alaska and Question 2 in Maine,
both of which would have banned cruel and unsporting methods
of hunting bears. The Alaska measure gained 41% of the vote
despite the fact that opponents spent eight times more money
than ban supporters, and the Maine referendum received 47%
support even though opponents again outspent animal advocates
and received legally suspect support from the state wildlife
agency. The close votes demonstrate that citizens find bear
baiting and other cruel and unsportsmanlike practices unconscionable.
In
Florida, a measure to prop up the sagging greyhound racing
was narrowly approved. The vote on Amendment 4, which allows
slot machines at south Florida greyhound tracks, went down
to the wire and ending in a recount. Wealthy track owners
spent $25 million dollars on this campaign and were able
to scrape up a razor-thin majority.
However,
In Arizona, voters soundly defeated a measure, Proposition
104, which would have made it more difficult to place animal
protection initiatives on the ballot.
Alaska
Ballot Measure 3: Bans trophy hunters from using piles of
smelly food as bait to lure bears into shooting range.
FAILED 41.46%-58.54% (98.41% reporting): Loss
for animals.
Ballot
Measure 1: Drastically increases the requirements to qualify
a citizen initiative for the ballot, making it more difficult
for citizens to get initiatives on the ballot.
PASSED 51.27%-48.73%: Loss for animals.
Arizona
Proposition 101: Requires any voter-approved measure that
expends state funds, including measures to end animal cruelty,
to provide its own special funding source (tax or fee).
PASSED 54.9%-45.1% (98.1% reporting):Loss
for animals.
Proposition
104: Changes the deadline for filing signatures to place
an initiative petition on the ballot from July to April,
giving citizens and volunteer groups less time to gather
the required signatures.
DEFEATED 31.8%-68.2%: Victory for
animals!
California
Proposition 64: Prevents citizens from challenging unfair
business practices (including those that might harm animals).
PASSED 58.95%-41.1% (100% reporting): Loss
for animals.
Florida
Amendment 2: Moves the deadline for signature gathering
for citizen ballot initiatives from August to February,
making it much harder for activists to collect enough signatures.
PASSED 68.3%-31.7% (98.8% reporting): Loss
for animals.
Amendment
4: Allows slot machines at dog tracks to boost the cruel
greyhound racing industry.
PASSED 50.7% to 49.3% (100% reporting): Loss
for animals.
Maine
Question 2: Bans the killing of bears by baiting, hounding
and trapping.
DEFEATED 47%-53% (90% reporting): Loss
for animals.
Montana
C-41: Establishes the Constitutional right to hunt, fish
and trap.
PASSED 80.64%-19.36% (877 of 881 precincts reporting): Loss
for animals.
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the Fight for Animals
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For more information, please contact our Administrative
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