Ballot initiative
Initiated |
• Initiated constitutional amendment |
• Initiated state statute |
• Veto referendum |
Legislative |
• Legislative constitutional amendment |
• Legislative state statute |
• Legislative bond issue |
• Advisory question |
Other |
• Automatic ballot referral |
• Commission-referred measure |
• Convention-referred amendment |
Select a state from the menu below to learn more about that state's types of ballot measures. |
A ballot initiative is a citizen-initiated ballot measure. The ballot initiative process allows citizens to propose statutes or constitutional amendments, depending on the state, and collect signatures to place their proposals on the ballot for voters to decide. Some states have an indirect process in which legislatures have the option to approve the proposals outright.
Other names for ballot initiatives include popular initiatives, citizen initiatives, and citizen referendums.
A citizen-initiated ballot measure can be an initiated state statute, initiated constitutional amendment, or a veto referendum. A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law.
There are 26 states that allow for citizen-initiated ballot measures.
- 18 allow for initiated constitutional amendments.
- 21 allow for initiated state statutes.
- Two — Maryland and New Mexico — allow for veto referendums but not initiated statutes or initiated amendments.
Legislatures can also put laws on the ballot for voters to decide. These ballot measures are called legislative referrals.
Initiatives on the ballot
Current year
- See also: 2024 ballot measures
The following is a list of citizen-initiated ballot measures certified for the current year:
- Alaska Ballot Measure 1, Minimum Wage Increase and Paid Sick Leave Initiative (2024)
- Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
- Arizona Proposition 139, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
- Arizona Proposition 140, Single Primary for All Candidates and Possible RCV General Election Initiative (2024)
- Arkansas Countywide Voter Approval for New Casino Licenses and Repeal Casino Licenses in Pope County Initiative (2024)
- California Proposition 32, $18 Minimum Wage Initiative (2024)
- California Proposition 33, Prohibit State Limitations on Local Rent Control Initiative (2024)
- California Proposition 34, Require Certain Participants in Medi-Cal Rx Program to Spend 98% of Revenues on Patient Care Initiative (2024)
- California Proposition 35, Managed Care Organization Tax Authorization Initiative (2024)
- California Proposition 36, Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandated Felonies Initiative (2024)
- Colorado Constitutional Right to School Choice Initiative (2024)
- Colorado Parole Eligibility Initiative (2024)
- Colorado Peace Officer Training and Support Fund Initiative (2024)
- Colorado Prohibit Hunting of Mountain Lion, Bobcat, and Lynx Initiative (2024)
- Colorado Property Tax Revenue Cap Initiative (2024)
- Colorado Property Tax Valuation Reduction Initiative (2024)
- Colorado Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative (2024)
- Colorado Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
- Colorado Veterinary Professional Associate Initiative (2024)
- Florida Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)
- Florida Amendment 4, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
- Idaho Proposition 1, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
- Maine Question 1, Limit Contributions to Super PACs Initiative (2024)
- Massachusetts Question 1, Authorization of State Auditor to Audit General Court Initiative (2024)
- Massachusetts Question 2, Repeal Competency Assessment Requirement for High School Graduation Initiative (2024)
- Massachusetts Question 3, Unionization and Collective Bargaining for Transportation Network Drivers Initiative (2024)
- Massachusetts Question 4, Regulated Access to Psychedelic Substances Initiative (2024)
- Massachusetts Question 5, Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Initiative (2024)
- Missouri Amendment 2, Sports Betting Initiative (2024)
- Missouri Amendment 3, Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative (2024)
- Missouri Amendment 5, Osage River Gambling Boat License Amendment (2024)
- Missouri Proposition A, Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Initiative (2024)
- Montana CI-126, Top-Four Primary Initiative (2024)
- Montana CI-127, Majority Vote Required to Win Elections Initiative (2024)
- Montana CI-128, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
- Nebraska Paid Sick Leave Initiative (2024)
- Nebraska Prohibit Abortions After the First Trimester Amendment (2024)
- Nebraska Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
- Nevada Question 3, Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
- Nevada Question 6, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
- Nevada Voter Identification Initiative (2024)
- North Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Congressional Age Limits Initiative (June 2024)
- North Dakota Initiated Measure 4, Prohibit Taxes on Assessed Value of Real Property Initiative (2024)
- North Dakota Initiated Measure 5, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)
- Ohio Issue 1, Establish the Citizens Redistricting Commission Initiative (2024)
- Oregon Measure 118, Corporate Tax Revenue Rebate for Residents Initiative (2024)
- Oregon Measure 119, Unionization of Cannabis Workers Initiative (2024)
- South Dakota Constitutional Amendment G, Right to Abortion Initiative (2024)
- South Dakota Constitutional Amendment H, Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative (2024)
- South Dakota Initiated Measure 28, Prohibit Food and Grocery Taxes Initiative (2024)
- South Dakota Initiated Measure 29, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)
- South Dakota Referred Law 21, Regulation of Carbon Dioxide Pipelines Referendum (2024)
- Washington Initiative 2066, Natural Gas Policies Measure (2024)
- Washington Initiative 2109, Repeal Capital Gains Tax Initiative (2024)
- Washington Initiative 2117, Prohibit Carbon Tax Credit Trading and Repeal Carbon Cap-and-Invest Program Measure (2024)
- Washington Initiative 2124, Opt-Out of Long-Term Services Insurance Program Initiative (2024)
Next year
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
The following is a list of citizen-initiated ballot measures certified for next year:
There are no ballot initiatives certified for next year's ballot.
States with initiative or veto referendum processes
- See also: States with initiative or referendum
There are 26 states that provide for at least one type of citizen-initiated ballot measure at the state level. Washington, D.C., also has an initiative and referendum process.
List of states
The following is a list of the 26 states and the different types of citizen-initiated measures in these states:
Current signature requirements for citizen-initiated measures
There are 26 states that provide citizens with the power of initiative, referendum, or both. The following table shows the type of citizen-initiated ballot measures in each of those states. The table also provides the signature requirements for each type of measure for the 2023-2024 election cycle.
States that provide for types of citizen-initiated measures and current signature requirements | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Constitutional | Signatures | Statute | Signatures | Referendum | Signatures | |
Alaska | No | K.A. | Yes | 26,705 | Yes | 26,705 | |
Arizona | Yes | 383,923 | Yes | 255,949 | Yes | 127,975 | |
Arkansas | Yes | 90,704 | Yes | 72,563 | Yes | 54,422 | |
California | Yes | 874,641 | Yes | 546,651 | Yes | 546,651 | |
Colorado | Yes | 124,238 | Yes | 124,238 | Yes | 124,238 | |
Florida | Yes | 891,589 | No | K.A. | No | K.A. | |
Idaho | No | K.A. | Yes | 62,895 | Yes | 62,895 | |
Illinois | Yes | 328,371 | No | K.A. | No | K.A. | |
Maine | No | K.A. | Yes | 67,682 | Yes | 67,682 | |
Maryland | No | K.A. | No | K.A. | Yes | 60,157 | |
Massachusetts | Yes | 74,490 | Yes | 74,490 | Yes | 37,245[3] | |
Michigan | Yes | 446,198 | Yes | 356,958 | Yes | 223,099 | |
Mississippi[4] | Yes | 106,190 | No | K.A. | No | K.A. | |
Missouri | Yes | 171,592[5] | Yes | 107,246[5] | Yes | 107,246[5] | |
Montana | Yes | 60,359 | Yes | 30,179 | Yes | 30,179 | |
Nebraska | Yes | 126,838 | Yes | 88,787 | Yes | 63,419[6] | |
New Mexico | No | K.A. | No | K.A. | Yes | 71,475[7] | |
Nevada | Yes | 102,362 | Yes | 135,561 | Yes | 102,362 | |
North Dakota | Yes | 31,164 | Yes | 15,582 | Yes | 15,582 | |
Ohio | Yes | 413,487 | Yes | 248,092[8] | Yes | 248,093 | |
Oklahoma | Yes | 172,993 | Yes | 92,263 | Yes | 57,664 | |
Oregon | Yes | 156,231 | Yes | 117,173 | Yes | 78,115 | |
South Dakota | Yes | 35,017 | Yes | 17,508 | Yes | 17,508 | |
Utah | No | K.A. | Yes | 134,298 | Yes | 134,298 | |
Washington | No | K.A. | Yes | 324,516 | Yes | 162,258 | |
Wyoming | No | K.A. | Yes | 29,730 | Yes | 29,730 |
List of state ballot measures to provide for an initiative or referendum process
List of state ballot measures to provide an initiative or referendum process | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Year | Status | Yes (votes) | Yes (percent) | No (votes) | No (percent) |
South Dakota | 1898 | Approved | 23,816 | 59% | 16,483 | 41% |
Utah | 1900 | Approved | 19,219 | 71% | 7,786 | 29% |
Oregon | 1902 | Approved | 62,024 | 92% | 5,688 | 8% |
Illinois[9] | 1902 | Approved | 428,469 | 83% | 87,654 | 17% |
Missouri | 1904 | Defeated | 115,741 | 41% | 169,281 | 59% |
Nevada | 1905 | Approved | 4,393 | 85% | 792 | 15% |
Montana | 1906 | Approved | 36,374 | 85% | 6,616 | 15% |
Delaware[10] | 1906 | Approved | 17,405 | 89% | 2,135 | 11% |
Oklahoma | 1907 | Approved | 180,333 | 71% | 73,059 | 29% |
Missouri | 1908 | Approved | 177,615 | 55% | 147,290 | 45% |
Maine | 1908 | Approved | 51,991 | 69% | 23,712 | 31% |
Michigan[11] | 1908 | Approved | 244,705 | 65% | 130,783 | 35% |
Illinois | 1910 | Approved | 443,505 | 63% | 127,751 | 37% |
Colorado | 1910 | Approved | 89,141 | 76% | 28,698 | 24% |
Arkansas | 1910 | Approved | 91,363 | 70% | 39,680 | 30% |
California | 1911 | Approved | 138,181 | 75% | 44,850 | 25% |
Arizona | 1911 | Approved | 12,534 | 76% | 3,920 | 24% |
New Mexico[12] | 1911 | Approved | 31,724 | 70% | 13,399 | 30% |
Nebraska | 1912 | Approved | 189,200 | 93% | 15,315 | 7% |
Idaho (I)[13] | 1912 | Approved | 38,918 | 72% | 15,195 | 28% |
Idaho (PR) | 1912 | Approved | 43,658 | 76% | 13,490 | 24% |
Nevada[14] | 1912 | Approved | 9,956 | 91% | 1,027 | 8% |
Ohio | 1912 | Approved | 312,592 | 57% | 231,312 | 43% |
Washington | 1912 | Approved | 110,110 | 71% | 43,905 | 29% |
Wyoming[15] | 1912 | Defeated | 20,579 | 86% | 3,446 | 14% |
Mississippi[15] | 1912 | Defeated | 25,153 | 65% | 13,383 | 35% |
Michigan (C) | 1913 | Approved | 204,796 | 56% | 162,392 | 44% |
Michigan (S) | 1913 | Approved | 219,057 | 59% | 152,388 | 41% |
Mississippi | 1914 | Approved | 19,118 | 69% | 8,718 | 31% |
North Dakota | 1914 | Approved | 43,111 | 66% | 21,815 | 44% |
North Dakota | 1914 | Approved | 48,783 | 71% | 19,964 | 29% |
Minnesota[15] | 1914 | Defeated | 162,951 | 77% | 47,906 | 23% |
Wisconsin | 1914 | Defeated | 84,934 | 36% | 148,536 | 64% |
Texas | 1914 | Defeated | 62,371 | 48% | 66,785 | 52% |
Maryland | 1915 | Approved | 33,150 | 77% | 10,022 | 23% |
Minnesota[15] | 1916 | Defeated | 187,713 | 78% | 51,546 | 22% |
Massachusetts | 1918 | Approved | 170,646 | 51% | 162,103 | 49% |
North Dakota | 1918 | Approved | 47,447 | 59% | 32,598 | 41% |
Alaska | 1956 | Approved | 17,447 | 68% | 8,180 | 32% |
Florida | 1968 | Approved | 645,233 | 55% | 518,940 | 45% |
Wyoming | 1968 | Approved | 72,009 | 75% | 24,299 | 25% |
Illinois | 1970 | Approved | 1,122,425 | 57% | 838,168 | 43% |
Washington, DC | 1977 | Approved | 27,094 | 83% | 5,627 | 17% |
Minnesota[16] | 1980 | Defeated | 970,407 | 53% | 854,164 | 47% |
Rhode Island[17] | 1986 | Defeated | 129,309 | 48% | 139,294 | 52% |
Mississippi | 1992 | Approved | 592,536 | 70% | 251,276 | 30% |
Rhode Island | 1996 | Approved | 165,347 | 53% | 145,808 | 47% |
Types of ballot measures
- See also: Ballot measure
Most ballot measures are placed on the ballot through citizen initiatives or legislative processes. Others are placed on the ballot automatically, by a special commission, or by a state constitutional convention. The following is a list of different types of state ballot measures:
See also
- Forms of direct democracy in the American states
- States with initiative or referendum
- Types of ballot measures
- Types of citizen-initiated ballot measures
Footnotes
- ↑ Mississippi has an initiated constitutional amendment process, including a signature distribution requirement based on five congressional districts. However, the requirements cannot be met, according to the Mississippi Supreme Court, because the state has four congressional districts following reapportionment in 2001.
- ↑ In 1898, voters approved an amendment providing for initiated state statutes and veto referendums. In 1972, voters approved a revised constitution, which included a process for initiated constitutional amendments.
- ↑ This was the number of signatures required to put a targeted law before voters. To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement was 49,660 valid signatures.
- ↑ On May 14, 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision stating that it is impossible for any petition to meet the state's distribution requirement and has been impossible since congressional reapportionment in 2001. The six justices wrote, "... Whether with intent, by oversight, or for some other reason, the drafters of [the constitutional signature distribution requirement] wrote a ballot initiative process that cannot work in a world where Mississippi has fewer than five representatives in Congress. To work in today’s reality, it will need amending—something that lies beyond the power of the Supreme Court."
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 This is the minimum required if signatures are collected in the congressional districts with the lowest numbers of votes cast in 2020. The signature requirement varies based on what districts are targeted for signature collection.
- ↑ To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement is 126,838 valid signatures.
- ↑ This was the number of signatures required to put a targeted law before voters. To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement was 178,689 valid signatures.
- ↑ This is the requirement for two rounds of signatures to get an initiated statute on the ballot; half the number of signatures—124,046—is required to place the initiative before the legislature.
- ↑ Illinois’ 1902 and 1910 votes were advisory—not binding on the legislature. The measures were put on the ballot by petition of I&R advocates, using a statewide, nonbinding advisory initiative process established by the legislature in 1901. The legislature never followed the people’s mandate. A constitutional convention passed a very limited initiative process in 1970, and it was approved by voters.
- ↑ Delaware voted on an advisory referendum, placed on the ballot by the legislature, asking voters whether they wanted the initiative process. Their reply was overwhelmingly "yes," as shown here, but the legislature never followed that mandate. Delaware is also the only state that does not require voters to approve of all of the changes to the state constitution.
- ↑ The initiative procedures put in place in Michigan in 1908 were complex, making it difficult for citizens to put initiatives on the ballot. The legislature approved of less restrictive procedures proposed by reformers, which were placed on the ballot in 1913 and ratified by voters. There were two separate initiative amendments on the ballot: one giving voters the power to propose and enact initiative statutes (laws) and the other giving voters the power to propose and enact initiative amendments to the state constitution.
- ↑ New Mexico’s constitution was ratified by the voters in a single vote—not provision by provision—and included the popular referendum process, but not the initiative process.
- ↑ There were separate amendments for initiative and popular referendum in Idaho.
- ↑ Nevada’s 1905 amendment secured only the popular referendum process. The initiative process was secured by Nevada’s 1912 amendment.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 The amendment was defeated because the state constitution requires an approval by a majority of all those voting in the election, and not just a majority of those voting on the amendment. Blank votes count as a no vote against the amendment.
- ↑ The amendment was defeated because the state constitution requires an approval by a majority of all those voting in the election and not just a majority of those voting on the amendment. Blank votes count as a no vote against the amendment.
- ↑ An amendment establishing statewide I&R was approved in Rhode Island’s 1986 Constitutional Convention, but when placed on the ballot, it was narrowly defeated by voters. In 1996, the legislature put a non-binding advisory question on the ballot asking voters if they would like to adopt I&R. Voters said "yes," but no change was made by the legislature.
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