I feel a little rickety this morning after staying up late and getting up early. Last night I was of course following the presidential polling but there was no real surprise at the result. I voted early and cast my ballot neither for Barack Obama nor John McCain. Like most of you I wish our new president well, especially as in January he will be my new boss. However I am more interested in the state ballot measures and especially those in favor of traditional marriage. Notice that all the measures passed which demonstrates a broad based support for traditional marriage. The Florida amendment 2 had to get 60% of the vote and it still passed. Here are the results from CNN of the pro-family ballot measures:

Arizona Proposition 102

Ban on Gay Marriage

This measure would amend the state constitution so that only a union between one man and one woman would be valid or recognized as a marriage in the state. A similar measure was on the ballot in 2006 but failed.

Yes	1,157,979	56%
No	900,185	44%

100% Reporting. PASSED.

Arkansas Initiative 1

Ban on Gay Couples Adopting Children

This measure would prohibit unmarried “sexual partner[s]” from adopting children or from serving as foster parents. The measure specifies that the prohibition applies to both opposite-sex as well as same-sex couples.

Yes	579,695	57%
No	437,720	43%

100% Reporting. PASSED.

California Proposition 8

Ban on Gay Marriage

This measure would amend the state constitution to specify that only marriages between one man and one woman would be recognized as valid in the state. If passed, the measure would trump a May 2008 ruling by the California Supreme Court that legalized same-sex marriage.

Yes	7,001,084	52%
No	6,401,483	48%

100% Reporting. PASSED.

Florida Amendment 2

Ban on Gay Marriage

This measure would amend the state constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. In order to amend the Florida constitution, 60 percent of voters must vote in favor of the amendment.

Yes	4,755,789	62%
No	2,913,740	38%

100% Reporting. PASSED.

Update

I have been asked where Barack Obama stands on marriage. He has said on a radio program in his 2004 race for Senate:

I’m a Christian and so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman. (“Hopefuls Differ as They Reject Gay Marriage“, The New York Times October 31, 2008)