Trial lawyers, gays and bears all had something extra at stake in this week's election returns, as voters in 34 states decided 163 ballot measures. Some--like proposed constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage--helped woo a party's base to the polls. Other ballot measures--like laws against baiting bears--forced voters to tackle local issues too grisly for legislators to handle on their own. --By Rebecca Winters
GAY MARRIAGE Voters resoundingly rejected gay marriage, supporting constitutional bans in 11 states
ELECTORAL COLLEGE Colorado rejected a measure that would have let the state divide its electoral votes among candidates
LIQUOR BOTTLES Urged by MADD, South Carolina voters repealed a law that required bars to serve liquor in sealed mini-bottles
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE Nevada imposed a cap on pain-and-suffering awards; Wyoming voters rejected a similar cap
BEAR BAITING Voters in two states--Alaska and Maine--defeated proposals to outlaw bear hunters' use of bait
IMMIGRATION Arizona will now require proof of immigration status when obtaining government services
SCHOOLS Washington approved a measure (backed by teachers) to repeal a law creating charter schools
STEM-CELL RESEARCH Californians endorsed a popular plan to devote $3 billion to experiments on human embryonic stem cells