Two Nebraska sports-betting initiatives and three initiatives in Colorado were certified, bringing the nationwide total for 2026 to 157 measures. This exceeds the average of 153 measures certified per even-numbered year.

The average is based on the past six even-numbered election cycles, from 2014 through 2024. During this period, 2018 had the most statewide ballot measures, with 167. At this point in 2018, however, 155 measures had been certified—two fewer than the current 2026 total. Because measures could still qualify in several states, the final 2026 total may increase. For example, 10 citizen-initiated measures are still pending signature verification or judicial rulings.

Louisiana and Massachusetts have more measures on the ballot in 2026 than their annual averages between 2014 and 2024. Louisiana voters will decide 15 measures, compared with an average of 8.3, while Massachusetts voters will decide nine, compared with an average of 3.7. Meanwhile, Maine has no measures on the ballot, compared with an average of 4.5, and Oregon has one, compared with an average of 5.5.

There are also more legislatively referred measures on the ballot in 2026 than in recent even-numbered years: 111, compared with an average of 108.

Both measures certified in Nebraska relate to sports betting—Tax Relief Nebraska is leading the campaign behind both measures. One measure would amend the constitution to allow the state legislature to enact laws authorizing online sports betting. The other measure would amend the state statute, providing a legal framework to authorize online sports betting and authorizing the state gaming commission to adopt rules and regulations governing the gaming operators.

In Nebraska, legalized forms of gambling include the state lottery, certain charitable gaming, wagering on horse races, and games of chance conducted by authorized gaming operators within licensed racetracks. Sports wagering is permitted for individuals 21 and over, but must be placed in person at an approved window or kiosk within a designated sports wagering area at a licensed racetrack. 

Tax Relief Nebraska submitted signatures for each measure at the secretary of state’s office on June 26, 2026. Signature requirements for an initiated constitutional amendment and an initiated state statute are different in the state—for the amendment, the organization needed to submit signatures equal to 10% of registered voters in the state at the time of the petition filing deadline, as well as having a distribution requirement of 5% of the registered voters in two-fifths (38) of Nebraska's 93 counties. For the statute, they needed signatures equal to 7% of registered voters, with the same distribution requirement as the amendment. Tax Relief Nebraska submitted at least 138,473 valid signatures for the amendment and at least 96,918 valid signatures for the statute, meeting the signature requirement for both to be certified to the ballot. Officials stopped verification after reaching 110% of the required totals.

Two potential citizen initiatives could still make the ballot in Nebraska—both constitutional amendments. One amendment would require a four-fifths legislative vote to change, impair, or repeal an approved ballot initiative, while the other would require schools to designate sports teams as male, female, or co-ed and prohibit male participation on female sports teams. The certification deadline in Nebraska is Sept. 11, 2026.