MINNEAPOLIS -- Here are the results of tobacco-related California, Colorado, Missouri and North Dakota ballot questions:
California: The California secretary of state reported that with ballots in 99.4% of the precincts counted, voters approved Proposition 56 with 62.9% of those voting "yes" on the ballot question and 37.1% voting “no.” Proposition 56 will increase the California cigarette tax rate by $2 per pack and raise the tax rate on other tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, an equivalent amount.
Colorado: As of 11:45 p.m. on Nov. 8, the Colorado secretary of state reported that with 67% of ballots counted, 53% of voters who voted on Amendment 72 voted “no” and that 47% voted “yes.” Additional ballot totals are supposed to be released by the Colorado secretary of state today on Amendment 72. That amendment would increase the Colorado cigarette tax by $1.75 per pack from the current 84 cents per pack to $2.59 per pack and raise the excise tax on other tobacco products by another 22% of the manufacturer’s list price.
Missouri: The Missouri secretary of state reported that with 98.9% of precincts reporting, voters defeated Amendment 3, with 59.2% of those voting on the amendment voting “no” and 40.8% voting “yes.” Amendment 3 would have increased the cigarette tax each year through 2020, at which point the additional cigarette tax would total an aggregate of 60 cents per pack and would have assessed a fee paid by cigarette wholesalers of 67 cents per pack on nonsettlement cigarettes. Also, the Missouri secretary of state reported that with 98.9% of precincts reporting, voters defeated Proposition A with 55.2% of those voting “no” and 44.8% voting “yes.” Proposition A would have increased the cigarette tax in 2017, 2019 and 2021, at which point the additional cigarette tax would total an aggregate of 23 cents per pack and would also have increased the tax on other tobacco products by 5% of the manufacturer’s invoice price.
North Dakota: The North Dakota secretary of state reported that with 100% of the precincts reporting, voters defeated Measure No. 4 with 61.67% of those voting on the measure voting “no” and 38.33% voting “yes.” Measure No. 4 would have increased the cigarette tax by $1.76 per pack from the current 44 cents per pack to $2.20 per pack and would have raised the tax on other tobacco products from 28% to 56% of the wholesale price.
Thomas A. Briant is the executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets Inc. (NATO).
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