Category: Ballot measures
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Court strikes down Washington Initiative 2066, related to natural gas, as violating state’s single-subject rule; ruling will be appealed to state supreme court
Washington Initiative 2066, approved on Nov. 5, 2024, was struck down on March 21 as violating the state constitution’s single-subject rule. A single-subject rule is a state law that requires ballot initiatives to address a single subject, topic, or issue. Judge Sandra Widlan wrote, “… the body of the initiative is so broad and free…
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North Carolina voters have decided on 202 ballot measures since statehood
North Carolina’s first statewide ballot measure appeared in 1835. Since then, North Carolina voters have decided on 202 ballot measures placed on the ballot by the North Carolina State Legislature and constitutional conventions. A total of 147 measures were approved (72.8%) and 55 measures were defeated (27.2%). Constitutional amendments referred to the ballot by the…
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First ranked-choice voting ballot measure of 2025 to be decided in Skokie, Illinois, on April 1
Voters in Skokie, Illinois, will decide on a ballot initiative to adopt ranked-choice voting (RCV) for municipal elections on April 1. This will be the first RCV-related ballot measure decided in 2025. Since 1915, there have been more than 150 ballot measures to adopt or repeal ranked-choice voting systems. Ashtabula, Ohio, was the first jurisdiction…
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Update on 2025 and 2026 ballot measure certifications: Seven new measures in four states for 2026
The number of certified ballot measures for 2025 and 2026 is trending above the average as of March 18, 2025. For 2025, six statewide ballot measures have been certified in three states—Louisiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Six is one more than the average of five for this point in an odd-numbered-year election cycle since 2010. For…
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Maine voters could decide on establishing extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), a type of firearms regulation, in Nov. 2025
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) announced on March 7, 2025, that the signatures for a ballot initiative to create a process for extreme risk protection orders, a firearm regulation policy, were validated, certifying the initiative to the legislature. If the legislature does not approve the measure, it will be placed on the ballot…
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South Dakota voters to decide amendment establishing trust fund for unclaimed property in 2026
In 2026, South Dakota voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to establish a trust fund for unclaimed property. On March 5, 2025, the South Dakota House of Representatives voted 69-0 to place Senate Joint Resolution 505 (SJR 505) on the ballot. Previously, the State Senate voted 35-0 to pass the amendment on Feb. 20.…
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Utah legislature refers a constitutional amendment to 2026 ballot that would require initiatives making tax changes to receive a 60% vote of approval
The Utah State Legislature approved Senate Joint Resolution 2 on March 6, referring a constitutional amendment to the ballot for Nov. 3, 2026. SJR 2 would require citizen-initiated ballot measures to receive at least 60% voter approval to enact certain tax-related changes, including (a) imposing a new tax; (b) expanding an existing tax to apply…
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South Dakota voters to decide on citizenship voting requirement amendment in 2026 after eight states approved similar measures in 2024
The South Dakota State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to the 2026 ballot that would provide that noncitizens of the United States are disqualified from voting in any election in the state. This will be the 15th statewide ballot measure related to citizenship voting requirements since 2018. In 2024, eight states approved similar…
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Wyoming is 10th state to enact a ban on foreign nationals contributing to ballot measure campaigns
Wyoming is the 10th state to enact restrictions on foreign contributions to ballot measure campaigns. On March 6, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed House Bill 337 (HB 337), banning foreign nationals from donating directly or indirectly to ballot measure committees. The other nine states are California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota,…
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Washington voters have decided on 510 ballot measures since statehood in 1889
Since Washington became the 42nd state in 1889, voters have decided on 510 ballot measures. The state adopted a process for citizen initiatives and referendums in 1912. Of the 510 measures, 268 measures were approved (52.5%), and 242 measures were defeated (47.5%). Washington provides initiated state statutes, including indirect initiated state statutes, and veto referendums.…