Tag: ballot initiatives
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Ballot measure update: No new measures certified in November; 11 ballot initiative campaigns in Massachusetts and two initiatives in Alaska and Colorado submit signatures for 2026
No new measures were certified in November for 2026. So far, voters in 28 states will decide on 56 ballot measures next year. At this point in the election cycle, an average of 52 ballot measures were certified between 2010 and 2024. An average of 161 statewide ballot measures—53 initiated measures and 108 referred measures—appeared…
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Voters in eight states could decide on 12 ballot measures related to sex, gender, and LGBTQ issues in 2026
Voters in eight states could decide on 12 ballot measures related to sex, gender, and LGBTQ issues in 2026. Of these 12 measures, one has been certified for the ballot—Missouri Amendment 3. The other 11 are proposed, either citizen-initiated ballot measures that have been cleared for signature gathering or legislative referrals that require additional votes.…
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Signatures submitted for 2026 Colorado ballot initiative related to fentanyl penalties
In Colorado, signatures were submitted on Nov. 20 to the secretary of state for a ballot initiative that would increase the penalties for the manufacturing, sale, and possession of fentanyl. The filing deadline for this measure, referred to as Initiative 85, was Nov. 28. Along with expanding those penalties, Initiative 85 would also establish mandated…
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Marijuana and psychedelics on the ballot in 2026: One ballot measure qualified in Idaho, seven more proposed in six states
In 2026, voters in six states may decide on marijuana and psychedelic-related ballot measures. One measure has been certified to appear on the Idaho ballot next November. There are seven other potential measures in Alaska, Idaho, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, and Washington. As of 2025, 40 states have medical marijuana programs, and 24 have legalized the…
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Signature validity for 2025 Maine initiatives was 93.0%, surpassing the 2017-2025 state average of 88.4%
Two citizen-initiated ballot measures will appear on the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot in Maine—Question 1 and Question 2. Proponents of a ballot initiative collect petition signatures from a certain minimum number of registered voters in a state. For 2025, the average signature validity rate was 93.0%. Sponsors of Question 1 submitted 4,410 petition forms containing…
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On this date 114 years ago, California became the twelfth state to adopt the initiative and referendum process
On October 10, 1911, California became the twelfth state to establish an initiative and referendum process. On that date, California voters approved two constitutional amendments related to direct democracy. The first, Proposition 7, created the initiative and referendum process. It gave Californians the power to propose constitutional amendments, state statutes, and veto referendums. The measure…
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Proponents file recreational marijuana initiative in Nebraska for 2026 ballot—the fifth initiative attempt since 2018
An initiative to amend the Nebraska Constitution to establish a “right to use all plants in the genus Cannabis” for individuals 21 years of age or older was filed on Aug. 18. This is the fifth initiative filed to effectively legalize recreational marijuana since 2018. None has ever submitted enough valid signatures to qualify for…
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Democratic and Republican trifecta states have each averaged 19 ballot initiatives since 2010
Democratic and Republican trifectas each averaged 19 ballot initiatives for even-numbered year elections between 2010 and 2024. States with divided governments averaged 15 initiatives. Twenty-six (26) states provide for a statewide ballot initiative process, where citizens place constitutional amendments, statutes, or veto referendums on the ballot. Following the 2024 elections, 22 of the 26 states…
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State lawmakers enacted 72 bills on ballot measures and direct democracy in 2025, the highest total since at least 2017
States have enacted 72 bills and resolutions concerning the three powers of direct democracy in the U.S.—the ballot initiative, referendum, and recall election—in 2025 through Aug. 8. The average number of bills and resolutions enacted per year from 2018 to 2024 was 35. While most bills are adopted during the first half of the year…
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Two ballot initiatives certified for 2025—lowest since 2019
Sponsors filed 109 ballot initiatives in three states for 2025 statewide ballots with two ultimately certified in Maine—tying 2019 with the fewest number of ballot initiatives certified since at least 2011. In 2019, sponsors filed 107 ballot initiatives, the fewest number filed between 2011 and 2025. The average number filed for odd-numbered election years was…