As US voters went to the polls in a hotly-contested presidential election, they also weighed in on a plethora of local referenda that varied in nature from socially and politically lofty to downright odd.

They included a proposed ban on tempting bears with food in Maine, to a groundbreaking measure adopted in California that allowed $3-billion in state funds to be used for embryonic stem cell research.

The dizzying array of decisions were among 163 referenda and ballot initiatives that were up for a vote in 34 states alongside the US general election in a massive exercise in direct democracy.

Gay marriage

But by far the most wide-spread and disputed local ballot measure across the country was one aimed at outlawing gay marriage that was overwhelmingly adopted in all 11 states where it was up for the vote.

"They've passed across the board by wide margins," said Jennie Drage Bowser, policy analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), which is monitoring state ballot initiatives across the country.

The measures, almost identical in structure, succeeded in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah.

The amendments generally passed with a 3-1 majority, except in Oregon where earlier returns showed it had succeeded by about 55 percent, early figures showed.

The issue drove a wedge between civil rights lobbyists and conservative Christians earlier this year, climaxing in a failed bid, backed by President George W. Bush, to pass a federal constitutional amendment banning the practice.

Alaska won?t legalise marijuana

But in isolated Alaska, voters' attention was not captured by homosexuals, but by drugs.

The state's residents decided by a margin of around 57 percent not to become the first US state to legalise the possession, sale and cultivation of marijuana by anyone over 21.

The measure, which would have allowed the weed to be regulated like alcohol or tobacco, was defeated by 108 467 votes against 81 898, according to early official results with about 55 percent of votes counted.

And voters in the north-western state of Oregon rejected an initiative that would have dramatically expanded its existing medical programme, which allows marijuana to be used for medical purposes.

Stem cell research

The adoption of California's Proposition 71 by a margin of 59 percent to 41, according to early returns, made the liberal US state the first to fund controversial embryonic stem cell research with official funds, and put it at loggerheads with the policies of Bush.

The measure effectively circumvents Bush's 2001 ban on further stem cell research to find cures to diseases from cancer to Alzheimer's disease, prompted by his opposition to the destruction of human embryos in the process.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger broke ranks with Bush and his Republican Party to support the measure, that stars from Brad Pitt, to the late Christopher Reeve, to Michael J. Fox and former first lady Nancy Reagan all backed.

But opponents also say that cash-strapped California can ill-afford the measure, which will cost around $6-billion including interest.

Anti-immigrant law

Arizonans adopted an explosive measure that has been branded by opponents as "anti-immigrant" in a state that borders Mexico, by 55.9 percent of votes in favour to 44.1 against.

The measure, among other stipulations, requires public employees to report any person applying for "public benefits" without proper immigration status to federal authorities.

Mini-alcohol bottles

But as some Arizona folks lamented their state's choice in immigration policy, South Carolina residents were toasting ? literally.

Voters there swept away a 30-year-old ban on bartenders pouring alcohol from regular-sized bottles, which had forced them to use finicky airline-style mini-bottles instead.

South Carolina was the last US state to use the small bottles, which in fact contain more alcohol than a regular bar shot and have been blamed for drunk-driving accidents.