For 2024, 118 statewide ballot measures have been certified for the ballot in 35 states, six more measures than the average (112) 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.
Eight ballot measures were certified in five states—Arizona, California, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and South Dakota:
- Arizona Immigration and Border Law Enforcement Measure
- California Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandated Felonies Initiative
- California Managed Care Organization Tax Authorization Initiative
- Louisiana Judiciary Commission Investigation of Sitting Judges Amendment
- Louisiana Outer Continental Shelf Revenues for Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund Amendment
- Louisiana Property Tax Sales Administration Amendment
- Oklahoma Citizenship Requirement for Voting Amendment
- South Dakota Initiated Measure 29, Marijuana Legalization Initiative
Signatures have been submitted and are pending verification for seven initiatives, one in California, one in Idaho, four in Missouri, and one in Nevada.
- California Changes to the State Children’s Services Program Initiative
- 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
- Nevada Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment
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 May 29, 2024, in Michigan. Signatures were not submitted for any proposed initiatives.
The next signature deadline is June 21, 2024, in Montana. There are seven potential ballot initiatives in Montana, including proposals addressing abortion, electoral systems, and hunting.
The following chart shows the number of ballot measures certified each week of an even-numbered year.
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