A proposed tax increase to pay for outdoors and arts programs in Minnesota continues to lead with more than half the precincts reporting.

The proposed constitutional amendment would raise the sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent to provide a new pool of funding for outdoors, environmental, arts and cultural programs.

The Clean Water, Wildlife, Cultural Heritage and Natural Areas Amendment requires a “yes” from a majority of all voters to pass. Leaving that box on the ballot blank counted as a “no” note.

With 51 percent of precincts reporting, 54 percent voted yes, while 39 percent voted no, and an estimated 8 percent left that part of the ballot blank. The no and non-votes so far add up to an estimated 47 percent.

The Secretary of State’s Office reports 1,356,935 votes in favor and 960,091 votes against, with an estimated 121,106 blanks, which count as no votes.