As of Jan. 21, 62 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 31 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:
- Four new measures were certified for the ballot in Virginia:
- Signatures have been submitted and are pending verification for five initiatives in Alaska, Colorado, Missouri, and Washington:
- Alaska Citizenship Requirement for Voting Initiative (2026)
- Colorado Notification of U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Certain Criminal Charges and Immigration Status Initiative (2026)
- Missouri Congressional Map Referendum (2026)
- Washington Limit Participation in Female Sports to Students Verified as Biologically Female Initiative (2026)
- Washington Parental Right to Review Education Materials, Receive Notifications, and Opt Out of Sexual-Health Education Initiative (2026)
- Enough signatures were verified for 11 initiatives in Massachusetts to certify them to the legislature:
- Massachusetts Change State Tax Revenue Limit Initiative (2026)
- Massachusetts Decrease State Income Tax Rate to 4% Initiative (2026)
- Massachusetts Eliminate Recreational Marijuana Sales and Allow Limited Possession Initiative (2026)
- Massachusetts Establish the Nature for All Fund Initiative (2026)
- Massachusetts Legislative Stipend Calculation and Payment Rules Initiative (2026)
- Massachusetts Limit on Required Lot Size for Single-Family Homes Initiative (2026)
- Massachusetts Permit Collective Bargaining for Committee for Public Counsel Services Employees Initiative (2026)
- Massachusetts Permit Same-Day Voter Registration Initiative (2026)
- Massachusetts Public Records Requirements for Legislature and Governor’s Office Initiative (2026)
- Massachusetts Rent Control Initiative (2026)
- Massachusetts Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative (2026)
The next signature deadlines for ballot initiatives are Feb. 1, 2026, in Florida, and Feb. 2, 2026, in Maine.
- In Florida, the campaign for a marijuana legalization ballot initiative has been submitting signatures to local officials. Signatures must be verified by February 1 of the general election year.
- In Maine, three ballot initiatives were proposed for 2026, including repealing the state's law that legalized recreational marijuana; requiring student athletes to participate on teams that align with their sex recorded at birth; and requiring the legislature to establish a publicly funded healthcare system.
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 2010 through 2020, an average of 54 statewide measures had been certified for the ballot.
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