As of Feb. 4, 65 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 32 states, eight more measures than the average number certified at this point in other even-numbered years over the past decade (2014 to 2024).
Here’s an update on the latest ballot measure activity during the past two weeks:
- Three new measures were certified for the ballot in Colorado and Wisconsin:
- Colorado Notification of U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Certain Criminal Charges and Immigration Status Initiative
- Wisconsin Prohibit Government Closure of Places of Worship During Emergencies Amendment
- Wisconsin Prohibit Government Discrimination or Preferential Treatment Amendment
- Signatures have been submitted and are pending verification for four initiatives in Alaska, Maine, Missouri, and Oklahoma:
- Alaska Citizenship Requirement for Voting Initiative
- Maine Birth Certificate Sex Requirement for Public School Sports Initiative
- Missouri Congressional Map Referendum
- Oklahoma State Question 836, Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative
- Enough signatures were verified for 13 indirect initiatives—11 in Massachusetts and two in Washington—to certify them to the legislature:
- Massachusetts Change State Tax Revenue Limit Initiative
- Massachusetts Decrease State Income Tax Rate to 4% Initiative
- Massachusetts Eliminate Recreational Marijuana Sales and Allow Limited Possession Initiative
- Massachusetts Establish the Nature for All Fund Initiative
- Massachusetts Legislative Stipend Calculation and Payment Rules Initiative
- Massachusetts Limit on Required Lot Size for Single-Family Homes Initiative
- Massachusetts Permit Collective Bargaining for Committee for Public Counsel Services Employees Initiative
- Massachusetts Permit Same-Day Voter Registration Initiative
- Massachusetts Public Records Requirements for Legislature and Governor’s Office Initiative
- Massachusetts Rent Control Initiative
- Massachusetts Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative
- Washington Limit Participation in Female Sports to Students Verified as Biologically Female Initiative
- Washington Parental Right to Review Education Materials, Receive Notifications, and Opt Out of Sexual-Health Education Initiative
One constitutional amendment, the Virginia Use of Legislative Congressional Redistricting Map Amendment, has been blocked from appearing on the ballot by a circuit court. Legislative leaders have appealed that ruling. The measure is included in the count of 65 pending the outcome of the appeals process.
The last signature deadlines for ballot initiatives were Feb. 1, 2026, in Florida, and Feb. 2, 2026, in Maine. In Florida, 783,592 signatures were verified for a marijuana legalization initiative. However, 880,062 needed to be verified by Feb. 1. In Maine, signatures were submitted for one initiative, the Birth Certificate Sex Requirement for Public School Sports Initiative.
The next signature deadlines are Feb. 6 in Wyoming, where no initiatives are pending, and Feb. 15 in Utah, where signatures could be submitted for one initiative to repeal the state's non-politician redistricting commission.
From 2014 to 2024, the average number of statewide ballot measures certified in an even-numbered year was 153. By this time during even-numbered years from 2014 through 2024, an average of 57 statewide measures had been certified for the ballot.
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