Tag: ballot initiatives
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State lawmakers enacted 37 bills on ballot measures and direct democracy through mid-2026
States have enacted 37 bills and resolutions concerning the three powers of direct democracy in the U.S. — the ballot initiative, referendum, and recall election — in 2026, through Aug. 5, 2026. The average number of bills and resolutions enacted per year from 2018 to 2025 was 41. While most bills are adopted during the…
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Signatures submitted in Colorado for initiative that would require approval from an independent commission and the state supreme court for mid-decade redistricting maps
In Colorado, signatures were submitted to the secretary of state's office on July 29 for a ballot initiative related to mid-decade redistricting. The measure — known as Initiative 256 — would require any mid-decade redistricting plan to be approved by both the state's independent redistricting commission and the Colorado Supreme Court. The initiative would also…
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2026 will be the first even-numbered year since 1966 without an initiative on the general election ballot in Oregon after an initiative to ban hunting fails to qualify
The Oregon Secretary of State announced on July 24 that an initiative to ban hunting in the state did not submit a sufficient number of valid signatures, missing the signature threshold for the November ballot. No other campaigns submitted signatures this election cycle in Oregon by the July 2 deadline. 2026 will be the first…
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Voters to decide at least six statewide voter ID measures in 2026; most in a single year
Voters will decide at least six ballot measures related to voter identification requirements in 2026. These six measures represent the largest number of statewide ballot measures related to voter identification in a single year. Each ballot measure would establish or expand voter identification requirements in state constitutions, while none would reduce or eliminate existing requirements.…
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Kansas would join 21 other states in electing state Supreme Court justices if amendment passes Aug. 4; if rejected, Kansas would remain the only state with a bar-controlled nominating commission
Kansas voters will head to the polls on Aug. 4 for the state’s primary and are set to also decide on a constitutional amendment that would provide for the election of the Kansas Supreme Court. Currently, the seven justices are selected through assisted appointment and must stand for retention at the next even-year general election…
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Signatures submitted for Colorado initiative requiring ballot questions at an eighth-grade reading level and limiting conflicting language requirements
In Colorado, signatures were submitted to the secretary of state's office on July 20, 2026, for a ballot initiative related to the readability of ballot measure questions. The initiative — known as Initiative 234 — would require ballot questions to be in plain language, at no more than an eighth-grade reading level. It would also…
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Over the past two weeks, 10 new ballot measures were certified in three states—Idaho, Massachusetts, and Washington
As of July 22, 149 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 39 states, 21 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other even-numbered years over the past decade (2014 to 2024). Here’s an update on the latest ballot measure activity during the past two weeks: Signatures have been…
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Five 2026 ballot measures address sex-based school sports eligibility and bans on certain medical procedures for transgender minors; another is pending signature verification
In 2026, voters will decide at least five ballot measures concerning sex-based requirements for school athletics and bans on certain medical procedures for transgender minors, including: Voters in Nebraska could see a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment to prohibit "athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls" from being "open to students of the male…
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U.S. House passes bill banning foreign contributions to state and local ballot measure campaigns
On July 13, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation banning foreign nationals from contributing to state or local ballot measure campaigns. Federal law prohibits federal, state, and local candidates from soliciting, directing, or receiving contributions from individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. The law also bans contributions from…
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Arizona campaign submits 421,451 signatures for initiative to limit Empowerment Scholarship Account eligibility and spending
In Arizona, the Protect Education, Accountability Now campaign submitted 421,451 signatures to the Arizona secretary of state on July 2 for its initiative. It was the only campaign among the six initiatives filed for the November 2026 election to submit signatures for review. Of the six initiatives, two were initiated constitutional amendments, and four were…