For 2024, 88 statewide ballot measures have been certified for the ballot in 33 states, one more measure than the average (87) for this point in the election cycle from 2012 to 2022. The average number of statewide ballot measures certified for an even-numbered year during this period was 157.
Here’s an update on the ballot measure activity during the past two weeks.
One ballot measure was certified in Hawaii:
Voters in Hawaii join those in California in deciding on a constitutional amendment related to same-sex marriage in Nov. 2024. Both states follow Nevada, which decided a constitutional amendment in 2020.
Signatures have been submitted and are pending verification for three initiatives, two in California and one in Colorado:
- California Require Certain Participants in Medi-Cal Rx Program to Spend 98% of Revenues on Patient Care Initiative
- California Require Personal Finance Course for High School Graduation Initiative
- Colorado Economic Impact Statements Shown with Ballot Question Initiative (2024)
In Maine and Massachusetts, enough signatures were verified for seven indirect ballot initiatives for them to appear before their respective state legislatures:
- Maine Limit Contributions to Super PACs Initiative
- Massachusetts App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative
- Massachusetts Authorization of State Auditor to Audit General Court Initiative
- Massachusetts Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Initiative
- Massachusetts Regulated Access to Psychedelic Substances Initiative
- Massachusetts Repeal Competency Assessment Requirement for High School Graduation Initiative
- Massachusetts Unionization and Collective Bargaining for Transportation Network Drivers Initiative
In Maine and Massachusetts, initiated state statutes are indirect. This means the legislature has the option to pass the initiative outright. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. In Maine, when legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide. In Massachusetts, petitioners collect a second round of signatures to place the initiative on the ballot.
The most recent signature deadline for citizen-initiated ballot measures was Feb. 15, 2024, in Utah. Signatures were filed for one initiative, but the number of signatures filed was below the requirement.
The next signature deadline is May 1, 2024, in Idaho, where two ballot initiatives have been proposed—one to legalize medical marijuana, and another to create a top-four ranked-choice voting (RCV) system.
The following chart shows the number of ballot measures certified each week of an even-numbered year.
Additional reading: