--- - |2+ Objective Our objective is to illustrate the need to differentiate specific issue types within broad policy categories by showing the exceptional support in American politics for open space issues. Methods We test this assertion with econometric analyses of outcomes from over 600 state ballot measures on environmental and energy issues. Results We find exceptional support for open space ballot measures in simple comparisons and in fuller models of ballot measure passage. As one example, over 80 percent of the open space measures pass, whereas 50 percent of all the other measures pass. Conclusion Exceptional support for open space is important for this policy area specifically but also as an illustration of the need to differentiate broad policy categories into specific issues. - 'Social Science Quarterly, Volume 99, Issue 4, Page 1363-1376, December 2018. '