Author: Ryan Byrne
-
When legislative party control changes, 81% of constitutional amendments failed in legislatures with two-session vote requirements
Amending a state constitution requires voter approval, except in Delaware. There are various ways a constitutional amendment can reach the ballot for voter consideration. States have different rules and procedures for how legislatures can place constitutional amendments on the ballot. There are two main differences for legislative actions: (a) the number of legislative sessions that…
-
Voters have addressed ballot measures on religion in public schools at least nine times during the past 100 years
Voters have decided on at least nine ballot measures related to religion in public schools during the past 100 years. The decade with the highest number was in the 1970s, when voters decided on four between 1970 and 1972. Topics included the Ten Commandments, the Bible, prayer and contemplation, religious clothing, excused absence for religious…
-
Arizona voters to consider competing measures, Propositions 133 and 140, on election systems
Voters in Arizona will decide on competing measures related to electoral systems—the methods used to conduct elections and count votes to determine winners. Republicans in the Arizona State Legislature voted to place Proposition 133 on the ballot, while Proposition 140 is a citizen-initiated ballot measure from the Make Elections Fair PAC. Proposition 133 would add…
-
Ballot measure campaign contributions top $1.12 billion for 2024
For 2024, 159 statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot, including 146 for Nov. 5. As of October 30, Ballotpedia identified $1.12 billion in contributions to support or oppose this year’s statewide measures. In 2022, for comparison, $1.10 billion was raised through December 31, 2022, to support or oppose 140 state ballot measures. This…
-
2024 statewide ballot measures written at college reading level, a three-year decline from last cycle
The language for the 159 statewide ballot measures in 41 states in 2024 is written at an average reading level of 16, equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. This is a decrease from the average reading level of 19 in 2023 and 2022. Sixty-nine (69) of the ballot measures included additional information, known as a ballot summary,…
-
Voters in Amarillo, Texas, and San Francisco, California, to decide on abortion-related local ballot measures
Abortion isn’t just an issue for state ballot measures. Voters in at least two cities, Amarillo, Texas, and San Francisco, California, will decide on abortion-related local ballot initiatives on Nov. 5. Both address an issue that the state ballot measures do not—how governments address abortion beyond their jurisdictions. In Amarillo, voters will decide on Proposition…
-
Over the past decade, courts have disqualified 16 state ballot measures after certification, including two this year
After a ballot measure is certified to appear before voters, state courts can still invalidate the measure for various reasons, even after officials have printed the ballots. Lawsuits against ballot measures are common and often result in several being disqualified after certification during each election cycle. Since 2014, state courts removed or disqualified 16 state…
-
Update on 2024 state ballot measure certifications: three certifications in Nebraska, one last initiative in Arkansas pending signature verification
For 2024, 160 statewide ballot measures have been certified for the ballot in 41 states, which is two above the average (158) for this point in the election cycle from 2012 to 2022. The average number of statewide ballot measures certified for an even-numbered year during this period was 157. The final average, 157, is…
-
Florida Amendment 3 exceeds previous records for marijuana legalization campaign contributions
Marijuana has been a recurring trend for ballot measures since at least 2010, though there were a few before then. From 2010 to 2023, there were 24 ballot measures to legalize the recreational or personal use of marijuana. More than $174.83 million was raised between supporters ($146.98 million) and opponents ($27.85 million) of these ballot…
-
Statewide ballot measures in 2024: abortion, citizenship, electoral systems, criminal justice, and more trends across 41 states
In November, voters will decide on 147 statewide ballot measures in 41 states. Earlier in 2024, voters in five states decided on nine ballot measures. In December, voters in Louisiana will decide on four more. That’s a total of 160 statewide ballot measures for 2024. There is one ballot initiative still pending signature verification in…