Laws governing ballot measures

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

Laws governing initiatives

Laws governing local measures

Laws governing recall

Laws about constitutional amendments

Campaign finance laws

Laws governing ballot measures include a variety of different laws:

• Laws about how to qualify an initiative or veto referendum for the ballot.
• Laws about the campaign finance regulations that must be followed when conducting a ballot measure/ballot initiative campaign.
• Laws about how state legislatures can put constitutional amendments on the ballot.
• Laws about how constitutional conventions ocurr.
• Laws about how to conduct a recall petition.
• Laws about local ballot measures.

Overall, 26 states feature the power of statewide initiative, veto referendum, or both, and 39 states have provisions allowing for recall of certain elected officials at the local and/or state level. All states but Delaware require voters to ratify constitutional amendments approved by legislators. Every state except Indiana and Wyoming feature the initiative and referendum power within at least some local municipalities or counties.

States with initiative and referendum

Twenty-six states, as well as Washington, D.C., allow for initiatives and/or veto referendums.

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri

• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Washington
• Wyoming
• Washington, D.C.

Alabama

• Laws governing ballot measures in Alabama
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Alabama
• Laws governing recall in Alabama
• Local ballot measures, Alabama
• Amending the Alabama Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Alabama
• Alabama signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Alabama ballot measures

Alaska

• Laws governing ballot measures in Alaska
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Alaska
• Laws governing the initiative process in Alaska
• Laws governing recall in Alaska
• Local ballot measures, Alaska
• Amending the Alaska Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Alaska
• Alaska signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Alaska ballot measures

Arizona

• Laws governing ballot measures in Arizona
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Arizona
• Laws governing the initiative process in Arizona
• Laws governing recall in Arizona
• Local ballot measures, Arizona
• Amending the Arizona Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Arizona
• Arizona signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Arizona ballot measures

Arkansas

• Laws governing ballot measures in Arkansas
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Arkansas
• Laws governing the initiative process in Arkansas
• Laws governing recall in Arkansas
• Local ballot measures, Arkansas
• Amending the Arkansas Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Arkansas
• Arkansas signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Arkansas ballot measures

California

• Laws governing ballot measures in California
• Laws governing local ballot measures in California
• Laws governing the initiative process in California
• Laws governing recall in California
• Local ballot measures, California
• Amending the California Constitution
• School bond elections in California
• California signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for California ballot measures

Colorado

• Laws governing ballot measures in Colorado
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Colorado
• Laws governing the initiative process in Colorado
• Laws governing recall in Colorado
• Local ballot measures, Colorado
• Amending the Colorado Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Colorado
• Colorado signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Colorado ballot measures

Connecticut

• Laws governing ballot measures in Connecticut
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Connecticut
• Local ballot measures, Connecticut
• Amending the Connecticut Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Connecticut
• Connecticut signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Connecticut ballot measures

Delaware

• Laws governing ballot measures in Delaware
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Delaware
• Local ballot measures, Delaware
• Amending the Delaware Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Delaware
• Delaware signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Delaware ballot measures

Florida

• Laws governing ballot measures in Florida
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Florida
• Laws governing the initiative process in Florida
• Laws governing recall in Florida
• Local ballot measures, Florida
• Amending the Florida Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Florida
• Florida signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Florida ballot measures

Georgia

• Laws governing ballot measures in Georgia
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Georgia
• Laws governing recall in Georgia
• Local ballot measures, Georgia
• Amending the Georgia Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Georgia
• Georgia signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Georgia ballot measures
• Article X, Georgia Constitution

Hawaii

• Laws governing ballot measures in Hawaii
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Hawaii
• Local ballot measures, Hawaii
• Amending the Hawaii Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Hawaii
• Hawaii signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Hawaii ballot measures

Idaho

• Laws governing ballot measures in Idaho
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Idaho
• Laws governing the initiative process in Idaho
• Laws governing recall in Idaho
• Local ballot measures, Idaho
• Amending the Idaho Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Idaho
• Idaho signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Idaho ballot measures

Illinois

• Laws governing ballot measures in Illinois
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Illinois
• Laws governing recall in Illinois
• Local ballot measures, Illinois
• Amending the Illinois Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Illinois
• Illinois signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Illinois ballot measures

Indiana

• Laws governing ballot measures in Indiana
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Indiana
• Local ballot measures, Indiana
• Amending the Indiana Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Indiana
• Indiana signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Indiana ballot measures

Iowa

• Laws governing ballot measures in Iowa
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Iowa
• Local ballot measures, Iowa
• Amending the Iowa Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Iowa
• Iowa signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Iowa ballot measures

Kansas

• Laws governing ballot measures in Kansas
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Kansas
• Laws governing recall in Kansas
• Local ballot measures, Kansas
• Amending the Kansas Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Kansas
• Kansas signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Kansas ballot measures
• Laws governing citizen grand juries in Kansas

Kentucky

• Laws governing ballot measures in Kentucky
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Kentucky
• Local ballot measures, Kentucky
• Amending the Kentucky Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Kentucky
• Kentucky signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Kentucky ballot measures

Louisiana

• Laws governing ballot measures in Louisiana
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Louisiana
• Laws governing recall in Louisiana
• Local ballot measures, Louisiana
• Amending the Louisiana Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Louisiana
• Louisiana signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Louisiana ballot measures

Maine

• Laws governing ballot measures in Maine
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Maine
• Laws governing the initiative process in Maine
• Laws governing recall in Maine
• Local ballot measures, Maine
• Amending the Maine Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Maine
• Maine signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Maine ballot measures

Maryland

• Laws governing ballot measures in Maryland
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Maryland
• Local ballot measures, Maryland
• Amending the Maryland Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Maryland
• Maryland signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Maryland ballot measures

Massachusetts

• Laws governing ballot measures in Massachusetts
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Massachusetts
• Laws governing the initiative process in Massachusetts
• Local ballot measures, Massachusetts
• Amending the Massachusetts Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Massachusetts ballot measures

Michigan

• Laws governing ballot measures in Michigan
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Michigan
• Laws governing the initiative process in Michigan
• Laws governing recall in Michigan
• Local ballot measures, Michigan
• Amending the Michigan Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Michigan
• Michigan signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Michigan ballot measures

Minnesota

• Laws governing ballot measures in Minnesota
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Minnesota
• Laws governing recall in Minnesota
• Local ballot measures, Minnesota
• Amending the Minnesota Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Minnesota
• Minnesota signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Minnesota ballot measures

Mississippi

• Laws governing ballot measures in Mississippi
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Mississippi
• Laws governing the initiative process in Mississippi
• Local ballot measures, Mississippi
• Amending the Mississippi Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Mississippi
• Mississippi signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Mississippi ballot measures

Missouri

• Laws governing ballot measures in Missouri
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Missouri
• Laws governing the initiative process in Missouri
• Laws governing recall in Missouri
• Local ballot measures, Missouri
• Amending the Missouri Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Missouri
• Missouri signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Missouri ballot measures

Montana

• Laws governing ballot measures in Montana
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Montana
• Laws governing the initiative process in Montana
• Laws governing recall in Montana
• Local ballot measures, Montana
• Amending the Montana Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Montana
• Montana signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Montana ballot measures

Nebraska

• Laws governing ballot measures in Nebraska
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Nebraska
• Laws governing the initiative process in Nebraska
• Laws governing recall in Nebraska
• Local ballot measures, Nebraska
• Amending the Nebraska Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Nebraska
• Nebraska signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Nebraska ballot measures

Nevada

• Laws governing ballot measures in Nevada
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Nevada
• Laws governing the initiative process in Nevada
• Laws governing recall in Nevada
• Local ballot measures, Nevada
• Amending the Nevada Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Nevada
• Nevada signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Nevada ballot measures
• Laws governing citizen grand juries in Nevada

New Hampshire

• Laws governing ballot measures in New Hampshire
• Laws governing local ballot measures in New Hampshire
• Laws governing recall in New Hampshire
• Local ballot measures, New Hampshire
• Amending the New Hampshire Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in New Hampshire
• New Hampshire signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for New Hampshire ballot measures

New Jersey

• Laws governing ballot measures in New Jersey
• Laws governing local ballot measures in New Jersey
• Laws governing recall in New Jersey
• Local ballot measures, New Jersey
• Amending the New Jersey Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in New Jersey
• New Jersey signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for New Jersey ballot measures

New Mexico

• Laws governing ballot measures in New Mexico
• Laws governing local ballot measures in New Mexico
• Laws governing recall in New Mexico
• Local ballot measures, New Mexico
• Amending the New Mexico Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in New Mexico
• New Mexico signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for New Mexico ballot measures
• Laws governing citizen grand juries in New Mexico

New York

• Laws governing ballot measures in New York
• Laws governing local ballot measures in New York
• Local ballot measures, New York
• Amending the Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in New York
• New York signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for New York ballot measures

North Carolina

• Laws governing ballot measures in North Carolina
• Laws governing local ballot measures in North Carolina
• Local ballot measures, North Carolina
• Amending the North Carolina Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in North Carolina
• North Carolina signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for North Carolina ballot measures

North Dakota

• Laws governing ballot measures in North Dakota
• Laws governing local ballot measures in North Dakota
• Laws governing the initiative process in North Dakota
• Laws governing recall in North Dakota
• Local ballot measures, North Dakota
• Amending the North Dakota Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in North Dakota
• North Dakota signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for North Dakota ballot measures

Ohio

• Laws governing ballot measures in Ohio
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Ohio
• Laws governing the initiative process in Ohio
• Procedures for qualifying an initiative in Ohio
• Laws governing recall in Ohio
• Local ballot measures, Ohio
• Amending the Ohio Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Ohio
• Ohio signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Ohio ballot measures

Oklahoma

• Laws governing ballot measures in Oklahoma
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Oklahoma
• Laws governing the initiative process in Oklahoma
• Laws governing recall in Oklahoma
• Local ballot measures, Oklahoma
• Amending the Oklahoma Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Oklahoma
• Oklahoma signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Oklahoma ballot measures
• Laws governing citizen grand juries in Oklahoma

Oregon

• Laws governing ballot measures in Oregon
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Oregon
• Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon
• Laws governing recall in Oregon
• Local ballot measures, Oregon
• Amending the Oregon Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Oregon
• Oregon signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Oregon ballot measures

Pennsylvania

• Laws governing ballot measures in Pennsylvania
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Pennsylvania
• Local ballot measures, Pennsylvania
• Amending the Pennsylvania Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Pennsylvania ballot measures

Rhode Island

• Laws governing ballot measures in Rhode Island
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Rhode Island
• Laws governing recall in Rhode Island
• Local ballot measures, Rhode Island
• Amending the Rhode Island Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Rhode Island
• Rhode Island signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Rhode Island ballot measures

South Carolina

• Laws governing ballot measures in South Carolina
• Laws governing local ballot measures in South Carolina
• Local ballot measures, South Carolina
• Amending the South Carolina Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in South Carolina
• South Carolina signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for South Carolina ballot measures

South Dakota

• Laws governing ballot measures in South Dakota
• Laws governing local ballot measures in South Dakota
• Laws governing the initiative process in South Dakota
• Laws governing recall in South Dakota
• Local ballot measures, South Dakota
• Amending the South Dakota Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in South Dakota
• South Dakota signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for South Dakota ballot measures

Tennessee

• Laws governing ballot measures in Tennessee
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Tennessee
• Laws governing recall in Tennessee
• Local ballot measures, Tennessee
• Amending the Tennessee Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Tennessee
• Tennessee signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Tennessee ballot measures

Texas

• Laws governing ballot measures in Texas
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Texas
• Laws governing recall in Texas
• Local ballot measures, Texas
• Amending the Texas Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Texas
• Texas signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Texas ballot measures

Utah

• Laws governing ballot measures in Utah
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Utah
• Laws governing the initiative process in Utah
• Local ballot measures, Utah
• Amending the Utah Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Utah
• Utah signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Utah ballot measures

Vermont

• Laws governing ballot measures in Vermont
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Vermont
• Local ballot measures, Vermont
• Amending the Vermont Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Vermont
• Vermont signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Vermont ballot measures

Virginia

• Laws governing ballot measures in Virginia
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Virginia
• Laws governing recall in Virginia
• Local ballot measures, Virginia
• Amending the Virginia Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Virginia
• Virginia signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Virginia ballot measures

Washington

• Laws governing ballot measures in Washington
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Washington
• Laws governing the initiative process in Washington
• Laws governing recall in Washington
• Local ballot measures, Washington
• Amending the Washington Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Washington
• Washington signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Washington ballot measures

West Virginia

• Laws governing ballot measures in West Virginia
• Laws governing local ballot measures in West Virginia
• Laws governing recall in West Virginia
• Local ballot measures, West Virginia
• Amending the West Virginia Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in West Virginia
• West Virginia signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for West Virginia ballot measures

Wisconsin

• Laws governing ballot measures in Wisconsin
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Wisconsin
• Laws governing recall in Wisconsin
• Local ballot measures, Wisconsin
• Amending the Wisconsin Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Wisconsin
• Wisconsin signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Wisconsin ballot measures

Wyoming

• Laws governing ballot measures in Wyoming
• Laws governing local ballot measures in Wyoming
• Laws governing the initiative process in Wyoming
• Laws governing recall in Wyoming
• Local ballot measures, Wyoming
• Amending the Wyoming Constitution
• School bond and tax elections in Wyoming
• Wyoming signature requirements
• Campaign finance requirements for Wyoming ballot measures