Author: Ryan Byrne
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Update on 2025 and 2026 ballot measure certifications: Ohio certifies one for 2025, Wyoming certifies one for 2026
The number of certified ballot measures for 2025 and 2026 is trending above the average as of Jan. 7, 2025. For 2025, five statewide ballot measures have been certified in two states—Louisiana and Ohio. Five is two measures above the average (three) for this point in an odd-numbered year election cycle since 2010. For 2026,…
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Ohio voters to decide $2.5 billion infrastructure bond on May 6, the fifth for the program since 1987
Voters in Ohio will decide on a $2.5-billion bond measure at a special election on May 6, 2025. The general obligation bond, limited to $250 million per year over 10 years, would fund the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) through the Ohio Public Works Commission. SCIP provides local governments with grants, loans, loan assistance, and…
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Voters in San Mateo County, California, to decide on charter amendment to allow supervisors to remove elected sheriff for cause
Voters in San Mateo County, California, will decide on a charter amendment to allow the County Board of Supervisors to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus from office for cause through a four-fifths (4 of 5) vote. The charter amendment would expire on December 31, 2028. Voters will decide on the charter amendment at a special election…
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State ballot measure update: Four ballot measures certified for 2025, one for 2026, during the past two weeks
Four statewide measures are certified for the 2025 ballot in one state—Louisiana—as of Nov. 26, 2024. For 2026, eight statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in six states. 2025 ballot measures During the past two weeks, four constitutional amendments were certified in Louisiana for a special election on March 29, 2025: 2026 ballot…
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Massachusetts voters to decide on firearm regulations veto referendum in 2026, which is the state’s second ballot measure, first veto referendum on firearms
Voters in Massachusetts will decide on a veto referendum to repeal House Bill 4855 (H. 4855), also known as Acts of 2024 Chapter 135, An Act Modernizing Firearm Laws. H. 4855 is an omnibus-style bill that made several changes to the state’s firearm regulations. On Nov. 22, the veto referendum was certified for the general…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…