Author: Alexis Thacker
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Minnesota voters have decided 218 ballot measures since 1857, beginning with the ratification of the state constitution
Ballotpedia completed an inventory of all Minnesota ballot measures dating back to 1857, the year Minnesota voters ratified the state constitution and the year before Minnesota was admitted to the union. Between 1857 and 2025, Minnesota voters decided on 218 ballot measures. In total, 123 measures were approved (56.4%), and 95 were defeated (43.6%). Two…
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Maine ballot initiative requiring public school sports teams designated for girls or boys to be limited to students of the corresponding sex is certified to go before the legislature
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) announced on March 17 that Protect Girls Sports in Maine had submitted a sufficient number of signatures to qualify its initiative for the ballot. The initiative would require that public school sports teams designated for girls or boys be limited to students of the corresponding sex, as recorded…
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Delaware voters have decided five ballot measures since 1850, less than any other state
Ballotpedia completed an inventory of all Delaware ballot measures dating back to 1850. Between 1850 and 2025, Delaware voters decided on five ballot measures—the fewest of any state. Of those, three were approved, and two were defeated. Delaware is one of 24 states with no form of citizen-initiated ballot measures. Additionally, Delaware is the only…
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Virginia redistricting constitutional amendment would shift four Republican-held congressional districts towards Democrats, based on 2025 gubernatorial results
Virginia has 11 congressional districts. Voters in each district elect one member to the U.S. House of Representatives. As of February 2026, Virginia’s delegation includes six Democrats and five Republicans. On April 21, at a special referendum election, voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would allow the state legislature to draw congressional district…
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Supporters of a Utah initiative to eliminate the non-politician redistricting commission submitted more than 200,000 signatures to election officials
Supporters of a Utah initiative to repeal Proposition 4 announced on Feb. 15 that they submitted more than 200,000 signatures in support of the measure. If the signatures are validated by election officials, voters would decide the initiative on Nov. 3, 2026. The initiative would repeal Prop 4, approved by voters in 2018, eliminating the…
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Voters in 39 states have decided 57 crime victims' rights constitutional amendments since 1982
Since 1982, voters in 39 states have voted on 58 ballot measures concerning crime victims' rights. These measures include those related to the legal rights and protections of crime victims. They address a right to restitution, notification, participation in legal proceedings, and victim support services, among other rights guaranteed to victims of crimes. Of the…
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Maine is one of four states that could see a ballot initiative requiring public school sports teams designated for girls or boys to be limited to students of the corresponding sex
The campaign Protect Girls Sports in Maine submitted more than 82,000 signatures in support of a ballot initiative that would require that public school sports teams designated for girls or boys be limited to students of the corresponding sex, as recorded on their original birth certificate. On Feb. 2, the campaign submitted petitions with Maine…
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Oklahoma campaign submits signatures for ballot initiative to establish top-two primaries in the state
The campaign behind Oklahoma State Question 836 (SQ 836), Vote Yes 836, submitted more than 200,000 signatures on Jan. 26 to the Oklahoma secretary of state. If approved, the initiative would create a top-two primary system in the state. A top-two primary is a type of primary election where all candidates are listed on the…
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Virginia General Assembly places constitutional amendments on same-sex marriage, abortion, voting rights following criminal convictions on the Nov. 2026 ballot
The Virginia General Assembly approved four constitutional amendments on Jan. 16 that will be placed on the 2026 ballot for voters to decide. The amendments address policies on abortion, voting rights for persons with criminal convictions, same-sex marriage, and congressional redistricting. This was the second time the amendments were approved by the Virginia General Assembly.…
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Virginia voters to decide constitutional amendment allowing legislative congressional redistricting amid recent map changes in six other states
The Virginia General Assembly passed a constitutional amendment that would allow legislators to adopt a new congressional district map. Voters must approve the amendment. House Joint Resolution 4 (HJR 4), the constitutional amendment, would allow the Virginia General Assembly to redraw congressional districts between 2025 and 2030 if other states have conducted mid-decade congressional redistricting. …