For 2024, 127 statewide ballot measures have been certified for the ballot in 36 states, five more measures than the average (123) 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.
Ten ballot measures were certified in four states—Arizona, California, New York, and Rhode Island:
- Arizona End Term Limits and Retention Elections for Supreme Court Justices and Superior Court Judges Amendment
- Arizona Legal Challenges to Constitutionality of Initiatives Amendment
- Arizona Legislative Ratification of Rules that Increase Regulatory Costs Measure
- Arizona Wages for Tipped Workers Amendment
- California Changes to the State Children’s Services Program Initiative
- New York Equal Protection of Law Amendment
- Rhode Island Cultural Arts and Economy Grant Program Bond Measure
- Rhode Island Environmental and Recreational Infrastructure Bond Measure
- Rhode Island Higher Education Facilities Bond Measure
- Rhode Island Housing Acquisition, Development, and Infrastructure Bond Measure
In California, one ballot measure, the Two-Thirds Legislative Vote and Voter Approval for New or Increased Taxes Initiative, was disqualified after the state Supreme Court ruled that the proposal was a constitutional revision, not a constitutional amendment. Therefore, a citizen-initiated ballot measure can not be used to make the proposed change.
Signatures have been submitted and are pending verification for 11 initiatives—one in Idaho, four in Missouri, three in Montana, two in Nevada, and one in South Dakota.
- Idaho Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative
- Missouri Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Initiative
- Missouri Osage River Gambling Boat License Amendment
- Missouri Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment
- Missouri Sports Betting Amendment
- Montana Majority Vote Required to Win Elections Initiative
- Montana Right to Abortion Initiative
- Montana Top-Four Primary Initiative
- Nevada Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment
- Nevada Voter Identification Initiative
- South Dakota Regulation of Linear Transmission Facilities Referendum
In Massachusetts, enough signatures were verified for six indirect ballot initiatives for them to appear before state legislatures:
- 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 Massachusetts, initiated state statutes are indirect. This means the legislature had the option to pass the initiatives outright. The legislative deadline was May 1, 2024. As the legislature did not pass any of the initiatives, campaigns must gather a second round of 12,429 signatures by July 3, 2024.
The most recent signature deadline for citizen-initiated ballot measures was June 21, 2024, in Montana. Signatures were submitted for three initiatives, two related to electoral systems and one related to abortion.
The next signature deadline is June 26, 2024, in Nevada. Signatures were submitted for at least two initiatives, one related to abortion and one to enact a voter ID. In California, the deadline for ballot measures, citizen-initiated and legislative, is June 27.
The following chart shows the number of ballot measures certified each week of an even-numbered year.
Additional: