Ballot measure petition deadlines and requirements, 2023

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Initiatives filed

An initiated ballot measure, including a veto referendum, requires a sufficient number of valid signatures to appear on the ballot. Proponents of initiatives must file signatures before specific dates. Requirements related to signatures and deadlines are state-specific.

Across the U.S., 26 states provide for some form of statewide initiative and/or referendum process. However, most of these states do not allow for initiatives and referendums to be featured on odd-year ballots.

In 2023, the five states where initiatives could appear on the ballot are Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, and Washington.

See also: 2023 ballot measures

Deadlines and requirements

The table below shows the signatures deadlines for each state that provides for initiatives, veto referendums, or both. The table also gives an explanation of the deadline as dates are state-specific and differ depending on the type of citizen-initiated ballot measure.

Note:

  • The following dates are projections based on legal requirements.
  • Red padlock.png This symbol signifies that a signature deadline has passed for a type of ballot measure in a state.
Deadlines and Requirements for 2023
State Type Deadlines Explanation Signatures
Colorado CICA Ballotpedia:Calendar 8/7/2023 Deadline is three months before the election 124,632
Colorado CISS Ballotpedia:Calendar 8/7/2023 Deadline is three months before the election 124,632
Colorado VR Ballotpedia:Calendar 8/8/2023[1] Deadline is 90 days after the legislature's adjournment 124,632
Maine IndISS Ballotpedia:Calendar 1/26/2023 Deadline is 50 days into the first regular legislative session 67,682[2]
Maine VR Ballotpedia:Calendar 8/5/2023[3] Deadline is 90 days after the legislature's adjournment 67,682[2]
Mississippi IndICA Ballotpedia:Calendar 10/5/2022 Deadline is 90 days before the start of the regular legislative session 106,190
Ohio CICA Ballotpedia:Calendar 7/5/2023 Deadline is 125 days before the election 413,488[4]
Ohio IndISS Ballotpedia:Calendar 12/23/2022[5] 10 days before the start of the regular legislative session[5] 265,774[5]
Ohio VR Ballotpedia:Calendar 7/5/2023 Deadline is 90 days after the governor's signature and 125 days before the election 248,093[4]
Washington ITL Ballotpedia:Calendar 12/30/2022 Deadline is 10 days before the start of the regular legislative session 324,516
Washington ITP Ballotpedia:Calendar 7/7/2023 Deadline is four months before the election 324,516
Washington VR Ballotpedia:Calendar 6/6/2023[6] Deadline is 90 days after the legislature's adjournment 162,258


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Key terms

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ This is a projected deadline.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 In Maine, the number of signatures required is based on turnout at the gubernatorial election on November 8, 2022.
  3. ↑ This is a projected deadline.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 In Ohio, the number of signatures required for initiated amendments and referendums is based on turnout at the gubernatorial election on November 8, 2022.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 In Ohio, signatures are submitted in rounds for indirect initiated state statutes. Of the 265,774 signatures required, 1,000 are required when the initiative is proposed, 132,887 are required to submit the indirect initiative to the Legislature, and 132,887 are required to place the initiative on the ballot after the legislature rejects the initiative.
  6. ↑ This is a projected deadline.
v • e
2023 ballot measures
I&R States
 • Colorado • Maine • Ohio • Oklahoma
Non I&R States
 • Louisiana • New York • Texas • Wisconsin
Other
Signature requirements
v • e
Signature requirements
Signature
requirements

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

Petition
companies

American Petition Consultants • Arno Political Consultants • Bader & Associates, Inc. • Canvasser Services • Capitol Assets • Democracy Direct • Democracy Resources • Discovery Petition Management • FieldWorks • JSM, Inc. • Kimball Petition Management • LAMM Political Partners, LLC • Masterson & Wright • National Ballot Access • National Petition Management • National Solutions • National Voter Outreach • PCI Consultants, Inc.

Terms

Approved for circulation • Initiative petition circulation periods • Circulator • Circulator affidavit • Forged signature • Fraudulent signature • Invalid signature • Paid circulator • Petition • Random sampling • Registered voter • Signature certification • Signer • Signer intent • Valid signature • Volunteer circulator • Signature transcription

Petition drive
deadlines

2008 deadlines • 2009 deadlines • 2010 deadlines • 2011 deadlines • 2012 deadlines • 2013 deadlines • 2014 deadlines • 2015 deadlines • 2016 deadlines • 2017 deadlines • 2018 deadlines • 2019 deadlines • 2020 deadlines • 2021 deadlines • 2022 deadlines •

Signature law

States where signature requirements are based on votes cast for governor

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