Explaining the appearance and success of voter referenda for open-space conservation

This paper provides an empirical investigation of the factors that influence the appearance and success of voter referenda to raise public funds for open-space conservation. We take advantage of a data set that includes detailed information on all such referenda that occurred in the United States between 1998 and 2003. Combining these data with information from the U.S. Census and state-specific variables, we conduct a nationwide analysis along with focused studies of referenda that occurred in New Jersey and Massachusetts. The paper provides the first investigation of how funding mechanisms and funding rates affect voter support for public acquisition of open space. We also provide evidence on the relationship between existing patterns of open space and voter support for open-space referenda. As open-space initiatives continue to gain popularity at the ballot box, the descriptive insights of this paper should prove useful for both policy-makers and advocates working in the area of land use management.