As of May 28, 2019, 15 statewide ballot measures were certified for 2019 ballots in four states. Fourteen were referred to voters by their state legislature and one was qualified for the ballot by a citizen initiative petition. Measures can still be added or removed from 2019 ballots.
Four of the 26 states with a process for citizen-initiated measures allow for ballot initiatives or veto referendums in any odd-numbered year: Colorado, Maine, Ohio, and Washington.
These four states also allow legislatively referred measures in odd years. Other states that tend to feature legislatively referred statewide measures in odd-numbered years include Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.
About 50 potential ballot measures in seven states could appear on state ballots in 2019 if (for citizen initiatives) signature requirements and deadlines are met; or if (for legislatively referred measures) state legislatures give final approval before they adjourn.
Upcoming signature deadlines for citizen initiatives include:
- Ohio: July 3, 2019
- Washington: July 5, 2019
- Colorado: August 5, 2019
In odd-numbered years from 2007 to 2017, about 33 statewide measures were on the ballot in 8 states, on average.
A seven-decade record for the lowest number of statewide ballot measure certifications was set in 2017, continuing a general trend toward fewer statewide measures. The last year in which there were fewer than 27 statewide measures was 1947.
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