Tag: constitutional amendment
-
Idaho voters to decide on amendment preempting citizen-initiated marijuana and psychedelics legalization measures in 2026
Idaho voters will decide on a constitutional amendment saying that only the state legislature can legalize or regulate marijuana. This would mean that citizens cannot initiate measures to legalize marijuana in the state. Voters will vote on the amendment at the general election on Nov. 3, 2026. The amendment, House Joint Resolution 4 (HJR 4),…
-
Utah constitutional amendment on publication requirements to appear on 2026 ballot after two amendments were removed for not meeting the requirement in 2024
The Utah State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment on March 7, 2025, regarding constitutional amendment publication requirements to the ballot for Nov. 3, 2026. In Utah, the existing publication requirement for a constitutional amendment requires each measure to be published for two months in at least one newspaper in every county in the state. The…
-
South Dakota voters to decide on constitutional amendment to condition Medicaid expansion on continued federal funding in Nov. 2026
In South Dakota, voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to condition state Medicaid expansion on federal funding remaining at or above 90%. Voters will decide on the amendment in the election on Nov. 3, 2026. If federal funding falls below 90%, the constitutional requirement for Medicaid expansion would no longer apply. Voters adopted this…
-
Virginia legislature advances three constitutional amendments on abortion, same-sex marriage, and felon voting rights restoration to the 2026 legislative session
The Virginia State Legislature gave final approval to three constitutional amendments, advancing them for approval by the legislature during its 2026 session. If the amendments are approved by the legislature in 2026, they will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. In Virginia, for a constitutional amendment to qualify for the ballot, it must pass the…
-
Voters in 30 states have decided on 42 constitutional amendments to create state initiative and referendum processes since 1898
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 to decide on adding voter photo ID requirement to state constitution on April 1
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…
-
Approval rate for constitutional amendments in 2024 hits lowest level since 2005
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…
-
North Carolina Senate Republicans pass two constitutional amendments related to income taxes and voter ID
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…
-
When legislative party control changes, 81% of constitutional amendments failed in legislatures with two-session vote requirements
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 must approve Question 6, related to abortion, and Question 7, related to voter ID, again due to Nevada’s two-election requirement
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…