As of April 28, 99 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 36 states, 10 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:
- Seven new measures were certified for the ballot — three in California, one in Missouri, and three in Oklahoma. The three in California are citizen-initiated ballot measures, while the other four are legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
- Signatures have been submitted and are pending verification for nine citizen-initiated measures in four states:
- California Expedited Environmental Review Process for Certain Projects Initiative
- California Limit Compensation of Healthcare Executives Initiative
- California One-Time Wealth Tax for State-Funded Healthcare, Education, and Food Assistance Programs Initiative
- California Renew State Income Tax Increase for Education Funding Initiative
- California Require Background Checks and Sexual Assault Reporting by Rideshare Companies Initiative
- California Spending Requirements for Federally Qualified Health Centers Initiative
- Michigan Citizenship Verification and Voter Identification Initiative
- Missouri Congressional Map Referendum
- North Dakota Free School Meals Initiative
- Enough signatures were verified for 11 indirect initiatives in Massachusetts 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
The most recent signature deadline for ballot initiatives was Feb. 15, 2026, in Utah. Signatures were submitted for the Utah Eliminate the Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative, which failed to make the ballot after enough signatures were withdrawn.
The signature deadlines within the next two weeks are:
- May 1 in Idaho, where campaigns for initiatives related to abortion and medical marijuana have announced plans to submit signatures.
- May 3 in Missouri, where 18 citizen-initiated ballot measures were approved for signature gathering, with at least one campaign announcing an intent to file signatures.
- May 5 in South Dakota, where three citizen-initiated ballot measures were approved for signature gathering.
By this time during even-numbered years from 2014 through 2024, an average of 89 statewide measures had been certified for the ballot. During this period, the average total number of statewide ballot measures certified in an even-numbered year was 153.
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