Twenty-six states permit citizen-initiated ballot measures, with each state setting its own rules for signature collection and filing deadlines. 

In Nevada, where the citizens can collect signatures for indirect initiated state statutes that require the state legislature to first consider the proposal before it heads to voters, the deadline was Nov. 20, 2024. One indirect initiative in Nevada to exempt teachers and certain other school employees from state laws that prohibit strikes by public employees submitted signatures and qualified for the ballot by the deadline.

The next signature deadline is in Utah on Nov. 15, 2025, for indirectly initiated state statutes. The signature requirement is equal to 4% of active voters, which is 70,374 signatures for 2026 measures. There are currently no indirect initiatives circulating in Utah.

Massachusetts and Ohio also have deadlines for indirect initiatives in 2025—Nov. 19 and Dec. 26, respectively. Both states also require a second round of signatures if the state legislature does not take action on the initiative. Those deadlines are June 17 in Massachusetts and July 1 in Ohio.

The deadlines in six states—Ohio, Washington, Alaska, Maine, Wyoming, and Mississippi—are tied to the start of the next regular legislative session. The deadlines in the other 20 states are related to specific dates or a certain number of days before the general election.

Florida, Maine, and Washington have deadlines in the first week of February.

Most of the deadlines occur during the summer months.

Five states have deadlines in May:

• Idaho (May 1)
• Illinois (May 3)
• Missouri (May 3)
• South Dakota (May 5)
• Michigan for indirect initiated state statutes (May 27)

Three states have deadlines in June:

• Montana (June 21)
• Nevada for initiated constitution amendments (June 24)
• California (June 25)

Eight states have deadlines in July:

• Ohio for initiated constitutional amendments (July 1)
• Arizona (July 2)
• Nebraska (July 2)
• Oregon (July 2)
• Washington (July 2)
• Arkansas (July 3)
• Michigan for initiated constitutional amendments (July 3)
• North Dakota (July 6)

Two states have initiative deadlines in August. Colorado’s deadline is August 3. In Oklahoma, the final verification deadline for statewide ballot initiatives is August 25. State law requires signatures to be verified at least 70 days before the general election.

As of Sept. 10, 55 statewide ballot measures were certified in 28 states for ballots in 2026, including eight citizen initiatives. The average number of ballot initiatives on the ballot in even-numbered years between 2010 and 2024 was 108.

To view the complete list of ballot measure deadlines and signature requirements, click here.