Groups for and against same-sex marriage have been strengthening their campaigning in recent weeks, spending millions of dollars donated from across the country on television, radio and newspaper ads to persuade voters.

Two supporters of US Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) cheer at a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, October 31, 2008. [Xinhua/Reuters]

In Florida and Arizona, voters will also meet measures about the legality of same-sex marriage on their ballots this year. California became the second state in the country, after Massachusetts, to legalize same-sex marriage in May when the court made the ruling.

Another controversial measure in California is Proposition 10, which allow the state to sell 5 billion dollars in bonds for various renewable energy and air-emissions reduction purposes. The measure is supported by companies promoting the use of natural-gas products, but strongly opposed by consumer rights groups.

Supporters cheer at a campaign rally with US Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in Hanoverton, Ohio October 31, 2008. [Xinhua/Reuters]

Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California, said that the measure was poorly written and would distort the market in favor of natural-gas products.

"There's nothing in the proposition to require these dollars are used in California for the benefit of our air or our residents," he said.

Meanwhile, a Missouri measure would require utilities to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2020 and Colorado voters would decide whether to increase taxes paid by the oil and gas industry for promoting renewable energy sources.

According to NCSL, Colorado leads all the states with 14 measures on the ballot in this year's election, followed by California and Oregon each with 12.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2008)