Taking Initiative

By Rebecca Winters

Trial lawyers, gays and bears all had something extra at stake in this week's election returns, as voters in 34 states decided 163 ballot measures. Some--like proposed constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage--helped woo a party's base to the polls. Other ballot measures--like laws against baiting bears--forced voters to tackle local issues too grisly for legislators to handle on their own. --By Rebecca Winters

GAY MARRIAGE Voters resoundingly rejected gay marriage, supporting constitutional bans in 11 states

ELECTORAL COLLEGE Colorado rejected a measure that would have let the state divide its electoral votes among candidates

LIQUOR BOTTLES Urged by MADD, South Carolina voters repealed a law that required bars to serve liquor in sealed mini-bottles

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE Nevada imposed a cap on pain-and-suffering awards; Wyoming voters rejected a similar cap

BEAR BAITING Voters in two states--Alaska and Maine--defeated proposals to outlaw bear hunters' use of bait

IMMIGRATION Arizona will now require proof of immigration status when obtaining government services

SCHOOLS Washington approved a measure (backed by teachers) to repeal a law creating charter schools

STEM-CELL RESEARCH Californians endorsed a popular plan to devote $3 billion to experiments on human embryonic stem cells