In the U.S., 26 states have adopted constitutional amendments for citizen-initiated ballot measures. As state constitutional amendments require voter approval, except in Delaware, creating ballot initiative processes requires ballot measures, either from state legislatures or constitutional convention. Most of these amendments originated during the progressive and populist movements of the 1890s to 1920s. Beginning in…
Wisconsin voters will decide on a constitutional amendment on April 1 to require photo identification to vote. A photo ID is already required by state law. The state legislature took the final vote on Jan. 14 to send the amendment to voters. Currently, 35 states require voters to present identification in order to vote at…
In 2024, voters in 35 states decided on 96 constitutional amendments, approving 60 (63%) and rejecting 36 (38%). The approval rate was the lowest since 2005, when voters approved 14 (54%) of the 26 amendments appearing on statewide ballots. From 2003 through 2024, odd-year election cycles featured a higher average approval rate for proposed constitutional…
The North Carolina State Senate passed two constitutional amendments on Dec. 2, 2024, which voters would decide in Nov. 2026. One amendment, SB 920, would reduce the maximum income tax rate from 7% to 5%. The other, SB 921, would require all voters to provide photo identification to vote. In North Carolina, voter ID is…
Amending a state constitution requires voter approval, except in Delaware. There are various ways a constitutional amendment can reach the ballot for voter consideration. States have different rules and procedures for how legislatures can place constitutional amendments on the ballot. There are two main differences for legislative actions: (a) the number of legislative sessions that…
Voters in Nevada approved two citizen-initiated constitutional amendments on Nov. 5. Question 6 would provide for a state constitutional right to an abortion. Question 7 would establish voter ID requirements in the state. Voters rejected Question 3, which would have established top-five primaries and ranked-choice voting for general elections. Nov. 5 was the second election…
On Tuesday, South Dakota voters approved Amendment F, amending the South Dakota Constitution to allow the state to set work requirements for Medicaid if approved by the federal government. The measure was passed 56% to 44% per the unofficial results. The federal government does not establish work requirements for Medicaid. States that wish to add…
Voters in Utah will decide on a constitutional amendment to provide the Utah State Legislature with explicit power to amend or repeal voter-approved ballot initiatives. The constitutional amendment would also ban foreign individuals, entities, or governments from influencing, supporting, or opposing initiatives and referendums. On Aug. 21, 2024, the Utah State Legislature referred the constitutional…
Voters in Arizona will decide on two constitutional amendments, one from the legislature and one citizen-initiated, related to the state’s electoral system on Nov. 5. The ballot measures are Proposition 133 and Proposition 140, and both would address primary elections. Currently, Arizona has semi-closed partisan primaries in which voters, registered with political parties, choose their…
Voters in Missouri decided on two constitutional amendments on August 6, 2024. Voters rejected Amendment 1 and approved Amendment 4. Amendment 1 would have allowed for childcare establishments to be exempt from property tax. Voters rejected the amendment, with 45% voting for it, and 55% voting against it. Amendment 4 allows the state legislature to…