Tag: referendum
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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 for four 2026 ballot measures that would limit legislative changes to the initiative process in Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, and Nebraska
In four states—Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, and Nebraska—campaigns submitted signatures for ballot initiatives that would limit legislative changes to the initiative process. Voters could decide the measures in Nov. 2026. Each of the 26 states with a citizen initiative and referendum process has laws governing how the process operates and the state legislature’s role in it.…
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Louisiana voters to decide whether to limit governors to two terms for life, rather than two successive terms
The Louisiana State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment related to gubernatorial term limits to the Nov. 3, 2026, statewide general election ballot. Legislators passed the amendment on May 26, 2026. In Louisiana, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during a single session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum…
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Signatures submitted for Missouri initiative requiring voter approval for certain legislative changes to initiative process and voter-approved laws
In Missouri, signatures were submitted for an initiative that would establish the citizen initiative and referendum process as fundamental rights and prohibit the state legislature from “weakening citizens’ initiative and referendum powers.” If enough signatures are found valid, the amendment will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. On May 3, Respect MO Voters, the campaign…
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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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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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Protect Utah Workers submits signatures to the secretary of state for veto referendum
Protect Utah Workers submitted signatures to the secretary of state’s office on April 15 for a veto referendum that would go before voters on Nov. 3, 2026. The referendum would repeal House Bill 267 (HB 267), which is suspended until the election due to the referendum. HB 267, if enacted, would prohibit public employees, such…
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Arkansas governor signs four bills revising initiative and referendum rules, including signature gathering period, ballot language approval, and circulator requirements
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed four bills into law, changing state and local initiative and referendum processes. The bills are Senate Bill 102, Senate Bill 207, House Bill 1221, and House Bill 1222. Senate Bill 102 (SB 102) applies state initiative requirements to local initiative petitions. Changes include: SB 102 passed with support…
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Fourteen bills that could make the initiative process more difficult were passed in 2024, tying with 2021 for the highest total since 2018
In the 2024 legislative sessions, 40 bills and resolutions concerning direct democracy—such as ballot initiatives, referendums, and recall petitions—were passed. This exceeded the annual average of 34 bills enacted between 2018 and 2023. In 2024, state legislatures passed 14 bills that could make the initiative process more difficult and four bills that could make it…