Author: Alexis Thacker
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Virginia 2025 House of Delegates elections could affect the outcome of three proposed constitutional amendments related to abortion, same-sex marriage, and voting
Virginia’s 2025 House of Delegates election could decide the fate of three proposed constitutional amendments. One would remove a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, one would create a constitutional right to reproductive freedom, and one would allow persons convicted of felonies to vote following their release from incarceration. The constitutional amendment process in Virginia requires…
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Massachusetts attorney general approves 44 initiatives to gather signatures for the 2026 and 2028 ballots
The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General announced on Sept. 3 that 44 separate initiative petitions have been approved to begin gathering signatures in support of the proposed laws. The attorney general’s approval to gather signatures does not indicate support for the initiatives or a guarantee that the initiative will be placed on the ballot.…
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Utah district court rules legislature unconstitutionally repealed Proposition 4, strikes down 2021 congressional map
Judge Dianna Gibson of the Utah Third District Court ruled on Aug. 25 that the state’s congressional districts map, adopted in 2021, violated the state constitution. Gibson ordered that a non-politician redistricting commission, in accordance with the requirements of Proposition 4, draft new maps. The ruling followed legislative changes to Proposition 4 in 2020, and…
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On this date in 1974, Alaska voters approved an initiative to change the state’s capital city, which did not occur
Fifty-one years ago, on August 27, 1974, Alaskan voters approved Initiative 1, a ballot measure that began the process to move the state capital from Juneau to a city in Western Alaska. It was the third measure on the ballot in fourteen years that would have required a change in the capital city. Alaskans have…
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Initiative sponsors in Massachusetts filed a total of 47 measures by the Aug. 6 deadline, the second most since 2012
In Massachusetts, the initiative filing deadline for the 2026 ballot was Aug. 6. Initiative sponsors filed 47 measures (42 initiated state statutes and five initiated constitutional amendments) by the deadline. The 42 initiated state statutes could be placed on the 2026 ballot. Constitutional amendments require a longer approval process, meaning the five initiated constitutional amendments…
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Massachusetts voters have decided on 231 ballot measures since 1910
Ballotpedia completed an inventory of all Massachusetts ballot measures dating back to 1910. Massachusetts voters have voted on 231 ballot measures between 1910 and 2024. Of those, 161 (70%) were approved and 70 (30%) were defeated. In Massachusetts, citizens have the power to indirectly initiate state statutes, veto referendums, and constitutional amendments. While a direct…
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State legislatures approved 10 of 33 indirect initiated state statutes between 2018 and 2025
Between 2018 and 2025, state legislatures approved 10 of the 33 indirect initiated state statutes (30.3%) that qualified for the ballot, with voters deciding the remaining 23. An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes. While…
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On this date in 1933, Oregon voters repealed a tax on the sale of oleomargarine, the fourth veto referendum to repeal margarine laws in 13 years
Ninety-two years ago, on July 21, 1933, Oregon voters decided a veto referendum against legislation proposing a tax on the sale of oleomargarine. Voters repealed the tax. The contested legislation would have created a sales tax of four cents per pound on the sale of all oleomargarine, commonly known as margarine, sold in the state of…
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Voters in San Tan Valley, Arizona, will decide whether to incorporate a new 100,000-person town on Aug. 5
Voters in San Tan Valley, Arizona, an unincorporated area of Pinal County, will decide Proposition 495, which would incorporate the town, on August 5. San Tan Valley is situated southwest of the Phoenix metropolitan area, between the towns of Queen Creek and Florence, with a population exceeding 100,000 residents. If the measure is approved, San…
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Utah voters have decided 220 ballot measures since 1895, beginning with constitution ratification ahead of statehood
Ballotpedia completed an inventory of all Utah ballot measures dating back to 1895, when voters approved the state constitution. Between 1895 and 2024, Utahns voted on 220 ballot measures—140 (63.6%) were approved and 80 (36.4%) were defeated. This count includes the ratification of the state constitution by voters in 1895, two months before the United States…