Initiative and Referendum States
Last Reviewed December 2015
Initiative – a law or constitutional amendment introduced by citizens through a petition process either to the legislature or directly to the voters.
Popular Referendum – a process by which voters may petition to demand a popular vote on a new law passed by the legislature.
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Statutes
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Constitution
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Initiative and Referendum States
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State
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Initiative
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Popular Referendum
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Initiative
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Alaska
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I*
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Yes
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None
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Arizona
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D
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Yes
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D
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Arkansas
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D
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Yes
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D
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California
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D
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Yes
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D
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Colorado
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D
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Yes
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D
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Florida
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None
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No
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D
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Idaho
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D
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Yes
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None
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Illinois
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None
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No
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D
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Maine
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I
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Yes
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None
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Maryland
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None
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Yes
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None
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Massachusetts
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I
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Yes
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I
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Michigan
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I
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Yes
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D
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Mississippi
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None
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No
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I
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Missouri
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D
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Yes
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D
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Montana
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D
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Yes
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D
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Nebraska
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D
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Yes
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D
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Nevada
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I
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Yes
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D
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New Mexico
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None
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Yes
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None
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North Dakota
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D
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Yes
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D
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Ohio
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I
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Yes
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D
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Oklahoma
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D
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Yes
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D
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Oregon
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D
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Yes
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D
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South Dakota
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D
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Yes
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D
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Utah
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D & I
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Yes
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None
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Washington
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D & I
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Yes
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None
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Wyoming
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I*
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Yes
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None
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U.S. Virgin Islands
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I
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Yes
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I
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D – Direct Initiative; proposals that qualify go directly on the ballot
I – Indirect Initiative; proposals are submitted to the legislature, which has an opportunity to act on the proposed legislation. The initiative question will subsequently go on the ballot if the legislature rejects it, submits a different proposal or takes no action.
I* -- Alaska and Wyoming’s initiative processes are usually considered indirect. However, instead of requiring that an initiative be submitted to the legislature for action, they only require that an initiative cannot be placed on the ballot until after a legislative session has convened and adjourned.
About This NCSL Project
Redistricting is the process of redrawing state legislative and congressional district boundaries every 10 years following the decennial U.S. Census. NCSL helps prepare legislatures and others for the redistricting cycle with comprehensive information on redistricting law, technology and process.
For more information, contact: Wendy Underhill, NCSL Staff Liaison.