We recently told you about the surge of social issues on the ballot. During this momentous election, voters in 36 states were set to decide on a large number of initiatives which were mostly social in nature and could impact policy nationwide. The propositions tackled divisive issues like abortion, gay marriage, and affirmative action.

The results are in:

• In California, voters approved Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage, thereby overturning the state Supreme Court decision that gave gay couples the right to wed just months ago.
• Florida and Arizona also voted to ban gay marriage outright, joining dozens of other states that define marriage as institution strictly between a man and a woman.
• Attempts to restrict abortion in South Dakota and Colorado met strong voter resistance.
  • Colorado voters rejected a measure that would have made abortion the legal equivalent of murder by defining human life as beginning at conception.
  • And, South Dakota defeated a ban on abortion that, if passed, had been expected to spark a court battle leading to the Supreme Court.
• Michigan voted to allow medical use of marijuana.
• Nebraska ended affirmative action to help minorities.
• Washington voted to allow doctor-assisted suicide.