Author: Ryan Byrne
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A look at Arizona’s 459 ballot measures since statehood
Since 1911, there have been 459 state ballot measures in Arizona. Voters approved 237 (51.63%) and defeated 222 (48.37%). Ballotpedia has a complete dataset of state ballot measures for Arizona, which became a state in 1912. The initiative and referendum were included in the state’s constitution, ratified in 1911, two months before statehood. Between 1911…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
For 2024, 55 statewide ballot measures have been certified for the ballot in 25 states, which is equivalent to the average 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. In Alaska, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington,…
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More legislative changes to the ballot measure process and direct democracy in 2023 than previous five years
Legislatures enacted more pieces of legislation related to direct democracy—ballot initiatives, referendums, and recall petitions—in 2023 than the previous five years. In 2023, 45 bills and resolutions were enacted, which exceeds the annual average of 32 for this period. The previous largest number of bills enacted was 44 in 2019. While there was an increase…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
In 2023, 41 statewide measures were certified for the ballot in eight states, 10 more measures than the average number certified in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. There are no more pending state ballot measures for 2023. The final election for state ballot measures was on Sat., Nov. 18 in Louisiana, where voters approved…
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2023 had the most state ballot measures for an odd-numbered year since 2007
In 2023, voters in eight states decided on 41 statewide ballot measures—the highest number of state ballot measures for an odd-numbered year since 2007. Voters approved 33 (80.49%) and rejected eight (19.51%). The average number of statewide measures on the ballot in odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021 was 33. The approval rate for legislative…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
In 2023, 41 statewide measures were certified for the ballot in eight states, 10 more measures than the average number certified in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. There are no more pending state ballot measures for 2023. The final election for state ballot measures was on Sat., Nov. 18 in Louisiana, where voters approved…
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Eugene, Oregon, to vote on STAR voting initiative at May primary election
Voters in Eugene, Oregon, will decide on an initiative to adopt a new electoral system, STAR voting, on May 21, 2024. STAR is an acronym for Score-Then-Automatic-Runoff. If approved, Eugene, Oregon, would be the first jurisdiction to adopt STAR voting. In 2018, voters in Lane County, Oregon, which includes Eugene, defeated Measure 20-290, which would…
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New York will require ballot measure questions to not exceed an eighth-grade reading level
Starting in 2024, New York will implement new language requirements for state ballot questions. On Nov. 17, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed Senate Bill 1381 (SB 1381), which requires state ballot measure questions to be written using clear language and not exceed an eighth-grade reading level. In the Legislature, SB 1381 received a unanimous…
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Update on this year’s and next year’s ballot measure certifications
In 2023, 41 statewide measures were certified for the ballot in eight states, 10 more measures than the average number certified in other odd-numbered years from 2011 to 2021. There are no more pending state ballot measures for 2023. The next—and final—election for state ballot measures is on Sat., Nov. 18 in Louisiana, where voters will…
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More than $169 million has been raised for and against state ballot measures in 2023, surpassing the three previous odd-numbered-year election cycles
A total of $169.48 million has been contributed to either support or oppose 41 statewide ballot measures in eight states in 2023, surpassing the previous three odd-numbered-year election cycles. Campaigns received $107.41 million in 2021. In 2019, $28.36 million was received. In 2017, $108.76 million was received. In 2023, one state—Ohio—accounts for 63.23% of the…