CALIFORNIANS voted to dismantle the state's affirmative action programmes and legalise marijuana for medical use in two of numerous state referendums.
Floridians rejected a penny per pound tax on sugar to clean up the vast Everglades. Ohio voters turned down a proposal that would have allowed riverboat gambling. And in Kentucky, the state constitution was amended to remove archaic language that called for separate schools for white and "colored" children.
In the nation's most closely watched state referendum, the so called "California Civil Rights Initiative" - which bans preferences based on race or gender in government hiring, contracting and education - was headed for approval by a wide margin of 56 per cent to 44 per cent.
Supporters of Proposition 209 declared victory and vowed to fight off legal action expected to begin as early as this week to block the measure.
The Republican Governor Mr Pete Wilson, hailed its passage, saying it showed that voters want to end "discrimination by government".
President Bill Clinton had opposed the controversial measure, while his defeated Republican challenger, Mr Bob Dole, had embraced it.
Supporters said it was badly needed because affirmative action had imposed on American society the very thing its designers promised it would not racial and gender quotas. But opponents called it a mean spirited attack on a 30 year old pillar of civil rights law, and they contended that Proposition 209 would renege on the promise of a helping hand to minorities and women who have historically faced discrimination.
Because of California's established status as a trend setter on social issues, the decision to scrap affirmative action could catch on elsewhere.
Another California vote expected to have national repercussions was Proposition 215, which calls for legalising the medical use of marijuana for sufferers of AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and other diseases.
The measure - which allows a patient to cultivate and smoke marijuana with only a doctor's "recommendation" - was heading for approval by a margin of 55 per cent to 45 per cent.
Arizona voters overwhelmingly approved a similar medical marijuana proposal.