RESULTS OF SELECTED BALLOT MEASURES

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION *PASS (% yes) *FAIL (% no)

Removes preferences for racial minorities and

women in government contracts and hiring and

public education. Washington 59%

ANALYSIS: For the second time in two years, voters in a state election have clearly rejected what is seen as reverse discrimination. Following passage of California's Proposition 209 in 1996, Washington State voters' approval of Initiative 200 is likely to give a boost to similar efforts elsewhere. But the effect of the win may not be known for some time; officials expect a flurry of lawsuits in the state. Issues yet to be sorted out are the practical definition of "preferential treatment" and how that impacts dozens of affirmative-action provisions that remain under state law.

MEDICINAL MARIJUANA *PASS (% yes) *FAIL (% no)

Allows use of marijuana as a palliative for certain

types of patients. Arizona (upheld) 57%

Nevada 59%

Washington 59%

Alaska 58%

Oregon 55%

ANALYSIS: This week's elections were a clean sweep for those advocating legal use of marijuana in certain medical situations. The movement is likely to spread to other states despite the warning from federal antidrug czar Barry McCaffrey that it sends "the wrong message to our children about smoking marijuana."

CAMPAIGN-FINANCE REFORM *PASS (% yes) *FAIL (% no)

Gives public funding to candidates who agree to

certain fund-raising limits. Arizona 51%

Massachusetts 67%

ABORTION *PASS (% yes) *FAIL (% no)

Requires parental notification for minors'abortions.

Bans late-term procedure sometimes called

"partial-birth" abortion. Colorado 55% Colorado 52%

Washington 57%

ANALYSIS: Efforts to outlaw a late-term abortion procedure are expected to continue in state legislatures and with voter initiatives despite this week's votes. In any case, the legal fight could be a long one. Twenty-eight states have banned the procedure, but courts have blacked 19 of those.

PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE *PASS (% yes) *FAIL (% no

Allows prescription of lethal dose of medication for

patients diagnosed as terminally ill. Michigan 70%

ANALYSIS: Voters' rejection of physician-assisted suicide is not a surprise in Michigan - home of controversial Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Oregon remains the only state where doctors may help some people commit suicide. Most Americans approve of the idea in concept, but making it legal remains an uphill battle for proponents.

EDUCATION REFORM *PASS (% yes) *FAIL (% no)

Reduces class size and establishes parent councils

that have some authority over budgets and curricula. California 63%

Gives income-tax credit for private-school tuition. Colorado 59%

ENVIRONMENT *PASS (% yes) *FAIL (% no)

Bans clear cutting, and herbicides and pesticides in

all forest lands in the state. Oregon 79%

Regulates hog farms. South Dakota 59%

Bans use of cyanide in new gold mines. Montana 53%

MISCELLANEOUS *PASS (% yes) *FAIL (% no)

Prohibits same-sex marriage. Hawaii, Alaska 68%

Protects animals by banning steel leg traps and

certain kinds of poisoning. California 57%

*Numbers available at press time