Ballot initiative


Types of ballot measures
Initiated
• Initiated constitutional amendment
• Initiated state statute
• Veto referendum
Legislative
• Legislative constitutional amendment
• Legislative state statute
• Legislative bond issue
• Advisory question
Other
• Automatic ballot referral
• Commission-referred measure
• Convention-referred amendment
Select a state from the menu below to learn more about that state's types of ballot measures.

A ballot initiative is a citizen-initiated ballot measure. The ballot initiative process allows citizens to propose statutes or constitutional amendments, depending on the state, and collect signatures to place their proposals on the ballot for voters to decide. Some states have an indirect process in which legislatures have the option to approve the proposals outright.

Other names for ballot initiatives include popular initiatives, citizen initiatives, and citizen referendums.

A citizen-initiated ballot measure can be an initiated state statute, initiated constitutional amendment, or a veto referendum. A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law.

There are 26 states that allow for citizen-initiated ballot measures.

18 allow for initiated constitutional amendments.
21 allow for initiated state statutes.
Two — Maryland and New Mexico — allow for veto referendums but not initiated statutes or initiated amendments.

Legislatures can also put laws on the ballot for voters to decide. These ballot measures are called legislative referrals.

Initiatives on the ballot

The following is a list of citizen-initiated ballot measures certified for the current year and future years:

2026

Alaska Establish Campaign Contribution Limits for State and Local Elections Initiative (2026) - On the ballot
Alaska Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2026) - On the ballot
Colorado Penalties for Fentanyl Sale and Possession Initiative (2026) - On the ballot
Massachusetts Firearm Regulations Referendum (2026) - On the ballot
Nevada Question 6, Right to Abortion Initiative (2026) - On the ballot
Nevada Question 7, Require Voter Identification Initiative (2026) - On the ballot
Oklahoma State Question 832, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (June 2026) - On the ballot
Oregon Increase to Gas Tax, Payroll Tax, and Vehicle Registration Fees Referendum (2026) - On the ballot
Wyoming Homeowner's Primary Residence Property Tax Exemption Initiative (2026) - On the ballot

States with initiative or veto referendum processes

See also: States with initiative or referendum

There are 26 states that provide for at least one type of citizen-initiated ballot measure at the state level. Washington, D.C., also has an initiative and referendum process.

List of states

The following is a list of the 26 states and the different types of citizen-initiated measures in these states:

States that provide for citizen-initiated ballot measures
State	Types	Year adopted	Constitutional provisions
Alaska	• Initiated state statute (indirect) • Veto referendum	1956	Article 11, Alaska Constitution
Arizona	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1911	Article 4 and Article 21, Arizona Constitution
Arkansas	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1910	Article 5, Arkansas Constitution
California	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1911	Article 2, California Constitution
Colorado	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1910	Article 5, Colorado Constitution
Florida	• Initiated constitutional amendment	1968	Article 11, Florida Constitution
Idaho	• Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1912	Article 3, Idaho Constitution
Illinois	• Initiated constitutional amendment	1970	Article 14, Illinois Constitution
Maine	• Initiated state statute (indirect) • Veto referendum	1908	Article 4, Pt. 3rd, Maine Constitution
Maryland	• Veto referendum	1915	Article 16, Maryland Constitution
Massachusetts	• Initiated constitutional amendment (indirect) • Initiated state statute (indirect) • Veto referendum	1918	Article 48 and Article 74, Massachusetts Constitution
Michigan	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute (indirect) • Veto referendum	1908	Article 2 and Article 12, Michigan Constitution
Mississippi^[1]	• Initiated constitutional amendment (indirect)	1992	Article 15, Mississippi Constitution
Missouri	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1908	Article 3, Missouri Constitution
Montana	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1906	Article 3 and Article 14, Montana Constitution
Nebraska	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1912	Article 3, Nebraska Constitution
Nevada	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute (indirect) • Veto referendum	1905	Article 19, Nevada Constitution
New Mexico	• Veto referendum	1911	Article 4, New Mexico Constitution
North Dakota	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1914	Article 3, North Dakota Constitution
Ohio	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute (indirect) • Veto referendum	1912	Article 2, Ohio Constitution
Oklahoma	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1907	Article 5, Oklahoma Constitution
Oregon	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1902	Article 4, Oregon Constitution
South Dakota	• Initiated constitutional amendment • Initiated state statute • Veto referendum	1898 and 1972^[2]	Article 3 and Article 23, South Dakota Constitution
Utah	• Initiated state statute (direct and indirect) • Veto referendum	1900	Article 6, Utah Constitution
Washington	• Initiated state statute (direct and indirect) • Veto referendum	1912	Article 2, Washington Constitution
Wyoming	• Initiated state statute (indirect) • Veto referendum	1968	Article 3, Wyoming Constitution

Current signature requirements for citizen-initiated measures

There are 26 states that provide citizens with the power of initiative, referendum, or both. The following table shows the type of citizen-initiated ballot measures in each of those states. The table also provides the signature requirements for each type of measure for the 2025-2026 election cycle.

States that provide for types of citizen-initiated measures and current signature requirements
State	Constitutional	Signatures	Statute	Signatures	Referendum	Signatures
Alaska	No	N/A	Yes	34,098	Yes	34,098
Arizona	Yes	383,923	Yes	255,949	Yes	127,975
Arkansas	Yes	90,704	Yes	72,563	Yes	54,422
California	Yes	874,641	Yes	546,651	Yes	546,651
Colorado	Yes	124,238	Yes	124,238	Yes	124,238
Florida	Yes	880,062	No	N/A	No	N/A
Idaho	No	N/A	Yes	70,725	Yes	70,725
Illinois	Yes	328,371	No	N/A	No	N/A
Maine	No	N/A	Yes	67,682	Yes	67,682
Maryland	No	N/A	No	N/A	Yes	60,157
Massachusetts	Yes	74,490	Yes	74,490	Yes	37,245^[3]
Michigan	Yes	446,198	Yes	356,958	Yes	223,099
Mississippi^[4]	Yes	106,190	No	N/A	No	N/A
Missouri	Yes	170,215^[5]	Yes	106,384^[5]	Yes	106,384^[5]
Montana	Yes	60,241	Yes	30,121	Yes	30,121
Nebraska	Yes	126,838	Yes	88,787	Yes	63,419^[6]
New Mexico	No	N/A	No	N/A	Yes	92,829^[7]
Nevada	Yes	102,362	Yes	135,561	Yes	102,362
North Dakota	Yes	31,164	Yes	15,582	Yes	15,582
Ohio	Yes	413,487	Yes	248,092^[8]	Yes	248,093
Oklahoma	Yes	172,993	Yes	92,263	Yes	57,664
Oregon	Yes	156,231	Yes	117,173	Yes	78,115
South Dakota	Yes	35,017	Yes	17,508	Yes	17,508
Utah	No	N/A	Yes	140,748	Yes	140,748
Washington	No	N/A	Yes	308,911	Yes	154,456
Wyoming	No	N/A	Yes	40,669	Yes	40,669

List of state ballot measures establish initiative and referendum processes

See also: History of ballot measures to establish initiative and referendum processes

Constitutional amendments

The table below lists constitutional amendments to establish state initiative and referendum processes in the United States:

Constitutional amendments to establish initiative and referendum processes
State	Year	Measure	Origin	Yes	No	Outcome
Mississippi	1992	Amendment 8: Initiated Constitutional Amendments Measure	Legislature	70.22%	29.78%	a
Rhode Island	1986	Question 5: Citizen-Initiated Ballot Measure Process and Nonpartisan Constitutional Convention Candidates Amendment	Legislature	48.14%	51.86%	d
Minnesota	1980	Amendment 5: Initiative and Referendum Measure^[9]	Legislature	53.19%	46.81%	d
South Dakota	1972	Amendment E: Initiated Constitutional Amendment and Constitution Revision Measure	Legislature	67.14%	32.86%	a
Illinois	1970	Constitution Revision Measure	Convention	57.25%	42.75%	a
Florida	1968	Amendment 1: Constitution Ratification Measure	Legislature	55.42%	44.58%	a
Wyoming	1968	Amendment 2: Initiative and Referendum Process Measure	Legislature	74.77%	25.23%	a
Alaska	1956	Proposition 1: Constitution Ratification Measure	Convention	68.12%	31.88%	a
Massachusetts	1918	Question 1: Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Convention	51.28%	48.72%	a
Minnesota	1916	Amendment 7: Initiative and Referendum Measure^[9]	Legislature	78.46%	21.54%	d
Maryland	1915	Amendment 4: Veto Referendum Process Amendment	Legislature	76.78%	23.22%	a
Minnesota	1914	Amendment 1: Initiative and Referendum Measure^[9]	Legislature	80.16%	19.84%	d
Mississippi	1914	Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Legislature	68.68%	31.32%	a
North Dakota	1914	Initiated Constitutional Amendments Measure	Legislature	66.40%	33.60%	a
North Dakota	1914	Initiated State Statutes and Referendums Measure	Legislature	70.96%	29.04%	a
Texas	1914	Proposition 1: Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Legislature	48.29%	51.71%	d
Wisconsin	1914	Question 8: Initiated Constitutional Amendments Measure	Legislature	36.38%	63.62%	d
Wisconsin	1914	Question 2: Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Legislature	31.30%	68.70%	d
Idaho	1912	SJR 12: Veto Referendum Process Amendment	Legislature	76.39%	23.61%	a
Idaho	1912	SJR 13: Initiative Process Amendment	Legislature	71.92%	28.08%	a
Mississippi	1912	Initiative and Referendum Amendment^[10]	Legislature	65.27%	34.73%	d
Nebraska	1912	Amendment 1: Initiative and Referendum Measure	Legislature	92.51%	7.49%	a
Nevada	1912	Question 3: Initiative Process Amendment	Legislature	90.65%	9.35%	a
Ohio	1912	Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Convention	57.47%	42.53%	a
Washington	1912	Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Legislature	71.49%	28.51%	a
Wyoming	1912	Initiative and Referendum Measure^[11]	Legislature	85.66%	14.34%	d
Arizona	1911	Constitution Ratification Measure (Version 2)	Convention	88.79%	11.21%	a
Arizona	1911	Constitution Ratification Measure (Version 1)	Convention	78.68%	21.32%	a
California	1911	Proposition 7: Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Legislature	76.41%	23.59%	a
New Mexico	1911	Constitution Ratification Measure	Convention	70.32%	29.68%	a
Arkansas	1910	Amendment 10: Initiative and Referendum Measure	Legislature	70.59%	29.41%	a
Colorado	1910	Referendum 3: Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Legislature	76.95%	23.05%	a
Maine	1908	Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Legislature	68.67%	31.33%	a
Michigan	1908	Constitution Ratification Measure	Convention	65.17%	34.83%	a
Missouri	1908	Amendment 3: Initiative and Referendum Measure	Legislature	54.67%	45.33%	a
Oklahoma	1907	State Constitution Ratification Measure	Convention	71.17%	28.83%	a
Montana	1906	Amendment 1: Initiative and Referendum Measure	Legislature	84.61%	15.39%	a
Missouri	1904	Amendment 2: Initiative and Referendum Measure	Legislature	40.61%	59.39%	d
Nevada	1904	Question 1: Veto Referendum Process Amendment	Legislature	84.72%	15.28%	a
Oregon	1902	Measure Nos. 105-106: Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Legislature	91.63%	8.37%	a
Utah	1900	Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Legislature	71.17%	28.83%	a
South Dakota	1898	Initiative and Referendum Amendment	Legislature	59.10%	40.90%	a
Average				68.28%	31.72%

Advisory questions

The table below lists non-binding questions about establishing initiative and referendum processes:

Advisory questions about establishing initiative and referendum processes
State	Year	Measure	Origin	Yes	No	Outcome
Rhode Island	1996	Initiative Process Advisory Question	Legislature	53.14%	46.86%	a
Illinois	1910	Initiative and Referendum Process Advisory Question	Initiative	77.72%	22.28%	a
Delaware	1906	Initiative and Referendum Advisory Question	Legislature	88.86%	11.14%	a
Illinois	1902	Local Initiative and Referendum Process Advisory Question	Initiative	82.42%	17.58%	a
Illinois	1902	State Initiative and Referendum Process Advisory Question	Initiative	83.02%	16.98%	a

Types of ballot measures

See also: Ballot measure

Most ballot measures are placed on the ballot through citizen initiatives or legislative processes. Others are placed on the ballot automatically, by a special commission, or by a state constitutional convention. The following is a list of different types of state ballot measures:

Types of state ballot measures

Citizen-initiated ballot measure

• Initiated constitutional amendment

• Direct initiated constitutional amendment

• Indirect initiated constitutional amendment

• Initiated state statute

• Direct initiated state statute

• Indirect initiated state statute

• Combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute

• Veto referendum

• Statute affirmation (Nevada)

Legislatively referred ballot measure

• Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

• Legislatively referred state statute

• Legislatively referred bond measure

• Advisory question

Other type of state ballot measure

• Automatic ballot referral

• Constitutional convention question

• Commission-referred ballot measure

• Convention-referred constitutional amendment

• Political party advisory question

Footnotes

↑ Mississippi has an initiated constitutional amendment process, including a signature distribution requirement based on five congressional districts. However, the requirements cannot be met, according to the Mississippi Supreme Court, because the state has four congressional districts following reapportionment in 2001. As a result, the process remains part of the state constitution but cannot be carried out in practice.
↑ In 1898, voters approved an amendment providing for initiated state statutes and veto referendums. In 1972, voters approved a revised constitution, which included a process for initiated constitutional amendments.
↑ This was the number of signatures required to put a targeted law before voters. To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement was 49,660 valid signatures.
↑ On May 14, 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision stating that it is impossible for any petition to meet the state's distribution requirement and has been impossible since congressional reapportionment in 2001. The six justices wrote, "... Whether with intent, by oversight, or for some other reason, the drafters of [the constitutional signature distribution requirement] wrote a ballot initiative process that cannot work in a world where Mississippi has fewer than five representatives in Congress. To work in today’s reality, it will need amending—something that lies beyond the power of the Supreme Court."
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 This is the minimum required if signatures are collected in the congressional districts with the lowest numbers of votes cast in 2020. The signature requirement varies based on what districts are targeted for signature collection.
↑ To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement is 126,838 valid signatures.
↑ This is the number of signatures required to put a targeted law before voters. To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement is 232,072 valid signatures.
↑ This is the requirement for two rounds of signatures to get an initiated statute on the ballot; half the number of signatures—124,046—is required to place the initiative before the legislature.
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 In Minnesota, the constitutional amendment needed to receive approval from a majority of all ballots cast in the election, not just a majority of the votes specifically cast on the amendment.
↑ In Mississippi, the constitutional amendment needed to receive approval from a majority of all ballots cast in the election, not just a majority of the votes specifically cast on the amendment.
↑ In Wyoming, the constitutional amendment needed to receive approval from a majority of all ballots cast in the election, not just a majority of the votes specifically cast on the amendment.

[1] Mississippi has an initiated constitutional amendment process, including a signature distribution requirement based on five congressional districts. However, the requirements cannot be met, according to the Mississippi Supreme Court, because the state has four congressional districts following reapportionment in 2001. As a result, the process remains part of the state constitution but cannot be carried out in practice.

[2] In 1898, voters approved an amendment providing for initiated state statutes and veto referendums. In 1972, voters approved a revised constitution, which included a process for initiated constitutional amendments.

[3] This was the number of signatures required to put a targeted law before voters. To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement was 49,660 valid signatures.

[4] On May 14, 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision stating that it is impossible for any petition to meet the state's distribution requirement and has been impossible since congressional reapportionment in 2001. The six justices wrote, "... Whether with intent, by oversight, or for some other reason, the drafters of [the constitutional signature distribution requirement] wrote a ballot initiative process that cannot work in a world where Mississippi has fewer than five representatives in Congress. To work in today’s reality, it will need amending—something that lies beyond the power of the Supreme Court."

[MODisclaimer-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 This is the minimum required if signatures are collected in the congressional districts with the lowest numbers of votes cast in 2020. The signature requirement varies based on what districts are targeted for signature collection.

[6] To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement is 126,838 valid signatures.

[7] This is the number of signatures required to put a targeted law before voters. To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement is 232,072 valid signatures.

[8] This is the requirement for two rounds of signatures to get an initiated statute on the ballot; half the number of signatures—124,046—is required to place the initiative before the legislature.

[minn-9] 9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 In Minnesota, the constitutional amendment needed to receive approval from a majority of all ballots cast in the election, not just a majority of the votes specifically cast on the amendment.

[miss-10] In Mississippi, the constitutional amendment needed to receive approval from a majority of all ballots cast in the election, not just a majority of the votes specifically cast on the amendment.

[wyoming-11] In Wyoming, the constitutional amendment needed to receive approval from a majority of all ballots cast in the election, not just a majority of the votes specifically cast on the amendment.

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Ballot initiative

Contents

Initiatives on the ballot

2026

States with initiative or veto referendum processes

List of states

Current signature requirements for citizen-initiated measures

List of state ballot measures establish initiative and referendum processes

Constitutional amendments

Advisory questions

Types of ballot measures

See also

Footnotes

Information about voting

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