(11-06-2024, 12:40 AM)surfon Wrote: Both had a majority vote of more than 55% as of me writing this.  Its a bit annoying these hoth had to have 60% or more to pass.  Why?

As of now I am of the understanding that neither will pass.

They are proposed amendments to the state constitution.  Many people think constitutional amendments should be passed selectively since even our state legislators and governor can't change them.  The state's 60% standard is actually incredibly easy if you want to compare it to the United States Constitution which requires two thirds approval from the House of Representatives, two thirds approval from the Senate and three fourths of state legislatures.  

Changing the threshold from 50% plus one to 60% was actually created through an amendment that passed in 2006.  The rule change was in reaction to a prior amendment dealing with pregnant pigs which some thought was both silly and written misleadingly and felt it was too easy to get amendments passed.  Ironically, the amendment creating the 60% rule passed with only 57% of the vote.

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