Author: Ryan Byrne
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Nearly two-thirds of 2026 legislative referrals were driven by one political party
State legislatures in 32 states referred 109 constitutional amendments and statutes to statewide ballots in 2026. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of those referrals reflect partisan divisions in the legislative votes that sent them to the ballot. Ballotpedia analyzed how Democrats and Republicans voted on each referral. Of the 109 legislatively referred measures on the ballot this…
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Ohio leads states in number of local ballot measures on data centers for 2026
Voters in eight states—Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, California, Michigan, Nevada, and Florida—will decide on 38 data center-related ballot measures in 2026. The ballot measures span 35 jurisdictions in 30 counties. Ohio accounts for 20 measures across 17 jurisdictions, more than half of the total. Illinois has seven measures, including four in Madison County. The remaining…
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Three measures certified in the past two weeks, bringing the 2026 statewide total to 164 — 11 above the decade average
As of Sept. 15, 164 statewide measures had been certified in 40 states — 11 more than the average at this point in even-numbered years from 2014 through 2024. With no additional measures eligible for the November ballot, the final 2026 total is 164: 145 on the November ballot and 19 decided earlier in the…
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Over the past two weeks, 10 new ballot measures certified across Colorado and Nebraska, and one removed from the ballot in Colorado
As of Sept. 1, 161 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 40 states, 12 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other even-numbered years over the past decade (2014 to 2024). Over the past two weeks: By this point in even-numbered years from 2014 through 2024, an average…
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Fourteen states require periodic votes on a constitutional convention question, but officials disagree over who can call the vote in one state — Oklahoma
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) ordered a statewide vote on whether the legislature should call a constitutional convention. The Oklahoma Constitution requires the question to be submitted to voters at least once every 20 years, but it was last submitted in 1970. Stitt issued an executive proclamation on Aug. 25, scheduling the question for a…
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Over the past two weeks, four new ballot measures in Colorado and Montana, and one removed in Arizona
As of August 18, 152 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 40 states, 10 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other even-numbered years over the past decade (2014 to 2024). Over the past two weeks: The most recent signature deadline for ballot initiatives was August 3, 2026,…
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Six housing policy measures are on the ballot in four states — the most in at least two decades
Voters in four states will decide six statewide ballot measures related to housing policy on Nov. 3 — the most in a single election year between 2006 and 2026. Three of the measures are on the ballot in California, while Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island each have one. Three were referred to the ballot by…
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Voters in Washington, D.C., and Denver, Colorado, will decide on foie gras ban ballot initiatives in November
Voters in Washington, D.C., and Denver, Colorado, will decide similar ballot initiatives on November 3, 2026, concerning the force-feeding of birds and the sale of foie gras. Foie gras means fatty liver in French. The USDA defines goose- and duck-liver foie gras as liver “obtained exclusively from specially fed and fattened geese and ducks.” Pro-Animal…
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Over the past two weeks, one new ballot measure in Maryland, one removed in Arizona
As of August 4, 149 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 39 states, 14 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other even-numbered years over the past decade (2014 to 2024). Over the past two weeks: The most recent signature deadline for ballot initiatives was August 3, 2026,…
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Over the past two weeks, 10 new ballot measures were certified in three states—Idaho, Massachusetts, and Washington
As of July 22, 149 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 39 states, 21 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other even-numbered years over the past decade (2014 to 2024). Here’s an update on the latest ballot measure activity during the past two weeks: Signatures have been…