Popular Votes on Tobacco Tax Increases, 2012–2022

Abstract

Abstract Context: Researchers have examined the campaign strategies, messaging, and outcomes of popular votes on tobacco tax increases from 1998-2008, but no study has investigated measures that have appeared since 2008. Methods: The author utilizes state newspaper archives, voter pamphlets, academic reports, advocacy websites, and personal interviews to obtain information about the 11 tobacco tax increase ballot measures that appeared from 2012-2022. Findings: Winning proposals featured sufficient financial resources, collaboration with influential stakeholders, and early public support. Two of the 3 successful measures offered significant concessions to the tobacco industry, and both were designed as legislatively-referred statutes. Elsewhere, proponents sought unsuccessfully to enact citizen-led initiatives that would allocate revenue to progressive policy priorities. In contrast to previous eras, tobacco industry arguments often centered around anti-tax, anti-government rhetoric, which was viewed as especially compelling in conservative states. The industry's success rate was higher than in the past and it continued to outspend its opponents, sometimes by staggering margins. Conclusions: Campaign spending and early support remain critical to the success of tobacco tax ballot measures. Big Tobacco can extract significant concessions even in defeat, and direct democracy is an effective but imperfect ally to tobacco control advocates.