Author: Victoria Antram
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Montana voters have decided on 266 ballot measures since statehood in 1889
Between 1889, when Montana became a state, and 2025, Montana voters decided on 266 ballot measures. Of those, 165 (62%) were approved, and 101 (38%) were defeated. The Montana State Legislature voted to refer 163 ballot measures to the state ballot between 1889 and 2025, while 99 citizen initiatives were on the statewide ballot. Additionally,…
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Campaign behind initiative to criminalize hunting, fishing, and any intentional injury to animals in Oregon submits required number of signatures
The campaign behind a ballot initiative to criminalize hunting, fishing, and any intentional injury to animals in Oregon submitted over 120,000 signatures as of May 20. The initiative, referred to by the sponsors as the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, would amend Chapter 167 of the Oregon Revised Statutes to…
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SEIU-UHW sponsored initiative that would set spending requirement on patient care for health clinics qualifies for ballot in California
A ballot initiative to require nonprofit federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and FQHC Look-Alikes to spend at least 90% of their annual total revenue on expenses that advance the health center's mission qualified for the general election in California. The initiative defines the spending requirement as a mission spend ratio. A FQHC is defined in…
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California initiative to limit compensation for healthcare executives qualifies for the ballot
A California ballot initiative to establish a $450,000 compensation limit for healthcare executives qualified for the 2026 ballot on May 12. The limit would be increased by 3.5% or the annual rate of change in the U.S. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (U.S. CPI-W), whichever is lower. The initiative would…
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California ballot initiative proposed for 2028 to repeal the top-two primary system adopted by voters in 2010
Steve Maviglio, a Democratic political consultant and strategist known for his work on California ballot measure campaigns, filed a ballot initiative on May 8 for the 2028 ballot proposing to repeal the top-two primary system adopted with the approval of Proposition 14 in June 2010. The top-two system provides that all candidates are listed on…
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Signatures submitted for California initiatives to prohibit taxes on personal savings and assets, require audits for new special taxes, and challenge proposed billionaire tax measure
Campaigns behind two ballot initiatives in California designed to challenge provisions of the proposed billionaires' tax initiative filed signatures for verification on May 4. The initiatives are constitutional amendments that would: Californians to Protect Retirement and Life Savings, sponsored by Building a Better California, is leading the Yes to Protect Retirement and Life Savings campaign…
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Campaign behind a California initiative to require healthcare union members to approve of union political spending files signatures
The California Hospital Association is sponsoring a citizen-initiated state statute that would require healthcare labor unions to inform members annually how member dues are being spent on political activities, specifically spending on state and local ballot measures, and require a majority of members to approve such expenditures. The campaign submitted more than 900,000 signatures for…
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Campaign to make permanent additional income tax to fund public education in California submits signatures
A campaign sponsored by the California Teachers Association (CTA) submitted more than 1.6 million signatures on April 28 for a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment that would make permanent the additional income tax enacted with the approval of Proposition 30 in 2012, which funds education and early childhood programs. The additional income tax is set to expire…
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California Secretary of State certifies first ballot initiatives of the 2026 cycle; voters to decide on increasing the vote requirement for initiated special local taxes and a new homeownership loan program
The California secretary of state announced on April 21 that two ballot initiatives had qualified for the November ballot — the first initiatives to qualify this election cycle in California. One is an initiated constitutional amendment that would increase the vote requirement to pass citizen-initiated local special taxes from a simple majority (50%+1) to a…
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Maryland voters to decide on an amendment related to eminent domain for highway or transit purposes in November
The Maryland State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to voters that would authorize the state legislature to pass a law acquiring property on behalf of the state Roads Commission or the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) if the commission or MTA determines it is needed for highway or transit purposes. The owner of the…