The measure lost by a 53 percent to 47 percent margin, despite being heavily campaigned for by New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine. It was initially believed the measure would pass easily, the Times reports, but a coalition of anti-abortion activists and conservatives rallied in opposition of the measure late in the day.

In Utah, voters defeated a measure that would have instituted the nation's first statewide school-voucher program, which would have ensured tax dollars for private tuition regardless of how much the family earned, reports FoxNews.com. The proposal was controversial because instead of targeting low-income students in underperforming school districts, the vouchers would have been available to all regardless of income or school performance. The state was largely viewed as a national test case for how the voters would weigh in on school vouchers.