In addition to picking office holders from the president down to the members of the local water board, voters Tuesday voted on 163 state ballot measures on topics ranging from marriage to liquor to medical research.

Same-Sex Marriage

Constitutional bans on same-sex marriage were approved in 11 states in Tuesday's election. Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. Full Story

Some of the measures also ban same-sex civil unions or granting the rights of marriage to domestic partners.

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Voters in Ohio approved what is described as one of the toughest laws banning gay marriage by a reported 3-to-2 ratio. The measure denies legal status to any unmarried couple.

In Georgia, voters across all demographics supported banning gay marriage and civil unions 3-to-1.

In Kentucky, the margin was greater than 2-to-1 in favor of an amendment that also bans civil unions.

Mississippi voters OK'd an amendment that supports the state's existing law banning gay marriage, but goes further by prohibiting the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Oklahoma, which also has a state law banning gay marriage, has approved a measure banning same-sex marriages with supporters saying they want to protect that law from being invalidated by a court ruling.

Michigan residents also voted to change the state constitution to define a marriage as being only between a man and a woman.

Montana voters OK that state's same-sex ban by a more than 2-to-1 margin.

Arkansas voters easily passed their own amendment banning same-sex marriages.

Utah voters have joined voters in the other states in changing the state constitution to ban same-sex marriages.

North Dakota voters also added a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage by a more than 2-to-1 margin.

Oregon voters gave a sweep to ballot measures declaring that a marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

The idea of a Federal Marriage Amendment failed in the U.S. Senate this year, but Tuesday's election could see many states enacting their own definitions of marriage.

Many states have laws that address the issue, but some worry that those could be overturned as unconstitutionally discriminatory.

Stem-Cell Research

California voters approved measure to allocate $3 billion in state money for stem-cell research.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger backed the measure in opposition to the national Republican Party, saying the funding is needed to secure California as a leader in biotechnology.

Electoral Vote Reform

Colorado voters rejected a measure that would have changed the way the state's electoral votes are allocated in presidential elections. Supporters sought to divide the state's nine electoral votes -- now awarded on a winner-take-all basis -- on a proportional basis.

The measure gained national attention, particularly because it would have affected this year's tight presidential contest.

Nebraska Gambling

Nebraska voters decided two ballot measures to expand gambling in the state. Voters defeated a plan to allow two new casinos anywhere in the state with the OK of the Legislature and a countywide vote once casino sites are chosen.

Two key portions of a four-part package of initiatives to legalize casinos as well as 4,900 video poker and slot machines were losing Wednesday, but they were still deemed too close to call.

Bear-Baiting Ban

Alaska voters rejected a measure on the ballot that would have prohibited hunters from setting out food to attract black bears so they're easier to shoot.

Backers of the ban said the practice is cruel. Opponents claim the measure is just an infringement on the rights of hunters.

Itty-Bitty Bottles O' Booze

Before the election, South Carolina's constitution only allowed bars to serve alcohol from mini-bottles, like the ones you get on airplanes. But voters there approved an amendment giving lawmakers the OK to allow bars to use free-pour bottles of liquor when serving drinks.

The amendment had the support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the South Carolina Baptist Convention, which said the tiny bottles make for a more potent libation than the standard 1- to 1.25-ounce cocktail. Gov. Mark Sanford and the South Carolina Hospitality Association also backed a change.