Author: Jackie Mitchell
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Washington voters have decided on 510 ballot measures since statehood in 1889
Since Washington became the 42nd state in 1889, voters have decided on 510 ballot measures. The state adopted a process for citizen initiatives and referendums in 1912. Of the 510 measures, 268 measures were approved (52.5%), and 242 measures were defeated (47.5%). Washington provides initiated state statutes, including indirect initiated state statutes, and veto referendums.…
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Arkansas governor signs four bills revising initiative and referendum rules, including signature gathering period, ballot language approval, and circulator requirements
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed four bills into law, changing state and local initiative and referendum processes. The bills are Senate Bill 102, Senate Bill 207, House Bill 1221, and House Bill 1222. Senate Bill 102 (SB 102) applies state initiative requirements to local initiative petitions. Changes include: SB 102 passed with support…
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Voters to decide on creating city of Starbase, Texas, home of SpaceX, on May 3
Voters in the unincorporated area of Cameron County, Texas, known as Starbase—home to SpaceX—will decide on May 3 whether to incorporate it as a city. If approved, Starbase would become a Type C general law municipality with a commission form of government comprising a mayor and two commissioners. Elections for mayor and commissioner will be…
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Virginia legislature advances three constitutional amendments on abortion, same-sex marriage, and felon voting rights restoration to the 2026 legislative session
The Virginia State Legislature gave final approval to three constitutional amendments, advancing them for approval by the legislature during its 2026 session. If the amendments are approved by the legislature in 2026, they will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. In Virginia, for a constitutional amendment to qualify for the ballot, it must pass the…
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Virginia legislature advances three constitutional amendments on abortion, same-sex marriage, and felon voting rights restoration to the 2026 legislative session
The Virginia State Legislature gave final approval to three constitutional amendments, advancing them for approval by the legislature during its 2026 session. If the amendments are approved by the legislature in 2026, they will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. In Virginia, for a constitutional amendment to qualify for the ballot, it must pass the…
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Voters to decide 15 ballot measures on March 4 Town Meeting Day in Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier voters will decide on 15 measures on the Town Meeting Day ballot on March 4, including three measures relating to the Montpelier Roxbury School District. Town Meeting Day is held at Montpelier City Hall on the first Tuesday of March. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Vermont law makes Town Meeting…
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Oklahoma voters have decided on 454 ballot measures since statehood in 1907
Oklahoma’s constitution, adopted in 1907, includes rights for citizens to propose new laws and change existing laws through the initiative and referendum process. Since 1907, Oklahomans have decided on 454 ballot measures placed on the ballot by successful citizen initiatives and the Oklahoma State Legislature. The types of measures decided have included advisory questions (1),…
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Fourteen bills that could make the initiative process more difficult were passed in 2024, tying with 2021 for the highest total since 2018
In the 2024 legislative sessions, 40 bills and resolutions concerning direct democracy—such as ballot initiatives, referendums, and recall petitions—were passed. This exceeded the annual average of 34 bills enacted between 2018 and 2023. In 2024, state legislatures passed 14 bills that could make the initiative process more difficult and four bills that could make it…
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Legislatures considered 334 proposals related to initiative, referendum, and recall in 2024 and passed 40 of them
Twenty-six states provide for an initiative or referendum process that allows citizens to collect signatures to place an initiative on the ballot to propose a new law, amend an existing law, or reject a law passed by their state legislature. State constitutions and statutes provide the frameworks that govern a state’s direct democracy process, including…