Author: Ryan Byrne
-
North Dakota enacts a plain language requirement for ballot measure summaries
The North Dakota State Legislature passed a bill, Senate Bill 2163 (SB 2163), to require the language that voters see on a ballot for a statewide measure to be written in “plain, clear, understandable language using words with common, everyday meaning.” Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signed SB 2163 on March 23. In North Dakota, the…
-
Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of March 21, 2023, five statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in three states for elections in 2023. That’s the same as the average number certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 19 statewide measures have been certified in five states. That’s seven more than…
-
Arkansas increases the signature distribution requirement for citizen-initiated ballot measures
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed House Bill 1419 (HB 1419), which increases the signature distribution requirement for citizen-initiated ballot measures, on March 7. Under HB 1419, campaigns will be required to collect signatures from 50 of 75 (67%) counties. Previously, the requirement was 15 of 75 (20%) counties. For citizen-initiated state statutes, the…
-
Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of March 7, 2023, five statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in three states for elections in 2023. That’s the same as the average number certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 16 statewide measures have been certified in five states. That’s double the average…
-
Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of Feb. 21, 2023, five statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in three states for elections in 2023. That’s the same as the average number certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 11 statewide measures have been certified in five states. That’s the same as…
-
Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
As of Feb. 7, 2023, five statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in three states for elections in 2023. That’s the same as the average number certified at this point in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. For 2024, 10 statewide measures have been certified in four states. That’s four more than…
-
Fewer bills passed in 2022 to change ballot initiative processes compared to 2021
In 2022, state legislators introduced at least 232 bills to change citizen-initiated ballot measure processes. Of the 232 legislative proposals, 23 (9.91%) were enacted into law. In 2021, for comparison, 226 bills were introduced and 36 (15.93%) were enacted. While the number of bills introduced in 2022 was higher than each year from 2014 to…
-
Two veto referendum campaigns and California executive departments disagree on when referendums suspend fast food workers and oil and gas laws
The campaign Save Local Restaurants filed 1 million signatures for a veto referendum to overturn California Assembly Bill 257 (AB 257), also known as the FAST Act, on Dec. 5, 2022. At least 623,212 signatures must be valid. Counties have until Jan. 25, 2023, to check a random sample of signatures. In California, a veto…
-
Signatures required for ballot initiatives decreased by 7.34% on average following the 2022 election
Signatures required for ballot initiatives decreased by 7.34% on average following the 2022 election. Heading into 2023, signature requirements for citizen-initiated measures will change in 20 states. There are 26 states that allow for initiatives or referendums, and in each of these states, the number of signatures required is tied to another number. The most…
-
Voters addressed 132 statewide ballot measures on Nov. 8
On Nov. 8, voters in 37 states decided on 132 statewide ballot measures. As of Nov. 14, voters approved 87 (66%) and defeated 38 (29%). Seven (5%) remained uncalled; five were leaning ‘No’ and two were leaning ‘Yes.’ In 2020, 120 measures were on the ballot in November. Voters approved 88 (73%) and defeated 32…