Question 2 of 2000 and 2002 is a ballot measure that amended the

Nevada Constitution The Constitution of the State of Nevada is highest law within the U.S. state of Nevada and defines the structure, power, and limits of the state government and enumerates the basic rights and responsibilities of Nevada citizens, ratified. Subordi ...

by adding a definition of

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

that prevented same-sex marriages from being conducted or recognized in

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

. The amendment was passed by voter

referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...

by a margin of 67%-33% on November 5, 2002. It was previously approved by 69.6% to 30.4% of voters in 2000; the Nevada Constitution requires two ballot votes for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. In 2020 the amendment was repealed by ballot measure Question 2 that recognized marriage as between couples regardless of gender.

Campaign

The measure was heavily influenced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (

LDS church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian restorationist Christian denomination and the largest denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement. Founded during ...

). A Nevada Mormon newspaper ''Beehive'' first reported the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage's intent to file an initiative petition in December 1999, and by October 2000 the coalition had raised over $800,000 from mostly Mormon-owned businesses and LDS individuals. Mormon leaders had strongly encouraged members through letters with church letterhead to do campaign work and post yard signs distributed at church buildings.

Text

The text of the adopted amendment, which is found at Article I, section 21 of the Nevada Constitution, states:

Only a marriage between a male and female person shall be recognized and given effect in this state.

Polling

Result

2000

2002

Aftermath

2020 Nevada Question 2 was a ballot measure to replace Article I, section 21 with language that requires the recognition of

same-sex marriage in Nevada Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in Nevada since October 9, 2014, when a federal district court judge issued an injunction against enforcement of Nevada's same-sex marriage ban, acting on order from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appe ...

. It was passed on November 3, 2020, with 62% of the vote, making Nevada the first state to enshrine the right to same-sex marriage in a state constitution.

Notes

References

{{U.S. same-sex unions ballot measures 2002 in LGBTQ history Initiatives in the United States LGBTQ history in Nevada Same-sex marriage ballot measures in the United States U.S. state constitutional amendments banning same-sex unions 2002 Nevada elections 2002 ballot measures in the United States Nevada ballot measures Marriage in Nevada