Ballot Measures
- States with ballot measures
- N/A
Click on the colored states to learn about the ballot measures pending in this particular state.
Alabama
Amendment 1: Citizenship Requirement for Voting
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 2: Judicial System Restructuring Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 3: Judicial Vacancies Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 4: Authority to Recompile the State Constitutions
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 5: "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Franklin County Churches
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 6: "Stand Your Ground" Rights in Lauderdale County Churches
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Alaska
Ballot Measure 1: North Slope Oil Production Taxes
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Ballot Measure 2: Ranked Choice Voting and Campaign Finances Disclosures
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Arizona
Proposition 207: Marijuana Legalization Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 208: Tax on Incomes Exceeding $250,000 for Teacher Salaries and Schools Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Arkansas
Issue 1: Sales Tax Continuation for Highway System
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Issue 2: Term Limits Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Issue 3: Amendment to the Process for the Submission, Challenge, and Approval of Proposed Initiated Acts, Constitutional Amendments, and Referenda
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Issue 6: Practice of Optometry Referendum*
Type: Popular Referendum | Change: Statutory
*This measure will appear on the ballot, but the results will not be counted.
California
Proposition 14: Stem Cell Research Institute Bond Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 15: Schools and Local Communities Funding Act
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
Proposition 16: Repeal Proposition 209 Affirmative Action Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Proposition 17: Voting Rights Restoration for Persons on Parole Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Proposition 18: Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Proposition 19: Property Tax Transfers, Exemptions, and Revenue for Wildfire Agencies and Counties Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Proposition 20: Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 21: The Rental Affordability Act
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 22: App-Based Drivers Regulations Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 23: Regulation of Kidney Dialysis
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 24: Consumer Personal Information Law and Agency Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 25: Overturn a 2018 Law that Replaced Money Bail System with a System Based on Public Safety Risk
Type: Popular Referendum | Change: Statutory
Colorado
Amendment 76: Citizenship Qualification of Electors
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 77: Local Voter Approval of Gaming Limits in Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional and Statutory
Amendment B: Repeal Property Tax Assessment Rates
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment C: Charitable Bingo and Raffles Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Proposition 113: National Popular Vote Interstate Compact Referendum
Type: Popular Referendum | Change: Statutory
Proposition 114: Restoration of Grey Wolves
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 115: Prohibition of Late-Term Abortions
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 116: State Income Tax Rate Reduction
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 117: Voter Approval Requirement for Creation of Certain Fee-Based Enterprises
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition 118: Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Proposition EE: Cigarette Tobacco and Nicotine Products Tax
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Statutory
District of Columbia
Initiative 81: Entheogenic Plants and Fungus Measure
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Other
Florida
Amendment 1: Citizenship Requirement to Vote
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 2: Raising Florida's Minimum Wage
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 3: All Voters Vote in Primary Elections for State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 4: Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 5: Limitation on Homestead Exemption
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 6: Homestead Property Tax Discount
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Georgia
Amendment 1: Dedicating Tax and Fee Revenue Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 2: Allow Residents to Seek Declaratory Relief from Certain Laws Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
HB 344: Tax Exemption for Certain Charities Measure
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Statutory
Idaho
Require 35 Legislative Districts Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Illinois
Constitutional Amendment No. 1: Limitations on Income Tax
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Iowa
State Question 1: Constitutional Convention Question
Type: Automatic Referral | Change: Other
Kentucky
Marsy's Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Terms of Judicial Offices Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Louisiana
Amendment 1: No Right to Abortion
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 2: Oil and Gas Wells Valuation Methodology
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 3: Use of Budget Stabilization Fund for Declared Disasters Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 4: State Expenditure Limit Calculation
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 5: Payments in Lieu of Property Taxes Option Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 6: Homestead Exemption Special Assessment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 7: Unclaimed Property Permanent Trust Fund Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Maryland
Question 1: Legislative Authority over State Budget Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Question 2: Sports Betting Expansion Measure
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Statutory
Massachusetts
Question 1: Right to Repair" Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Question 2: Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Michigan
SJR G: Search Warrant for Electronic Data Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
SJR O: State and Local Park Funds
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Mississippi
Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A: Medical Marijuana Amendment
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
HCR 47: Remove Electoral Vote Requirement and Establish Runoffs for Gubernatorial and State Office Elections
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
HB 1796: State Flag Referendum
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Statutory
Missouri
Amendment 1: State Executive Term Limits
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 3: Missouri Redistricting Process and Criteria, Lobbying, and Campaign Finance Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Montana
Ballot Issue #11: Allow for a Legal Age for Marijuana Amendment
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
Ballot Issue #14: Marijuana Legalization and Tax Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
C-46: Initiative Petition Signatures in Legislative Districts
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
C-47: Initiative Petition Signatures in Representative Districts
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
LR-130: Concealed Carry Laws
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Statutory
Nebraska
Amendment 1: Elimination of Slavery as a Punishment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment 2: Tax-Increment Financing
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Initiative 428: Payday Lender Interest Rate Cap Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Initiative 429: Authorize Laws for Gambling at Racetracks
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
Initiative 430: Authorizing Gambling at Racetracks
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Initiative 431: Tax on Gambling at Racetracks
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Nevada
Question 1: Higher Education Reform, Accountability, and Oversight
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Question 2: Recognition of Marriage Regardless of Gender
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Question 3: State Board of Pardons Commissioners
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Question 4: Constitutional Rights of Voters
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Question 6: Renewable Energy Promotion Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
New Jersey
Public Question 1: Marijuana Legalization
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Public Question 2: Property Tax Deduction and Exemption for Peacetime Veterans
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Public Question 3: Delayed State Legislative Redistricting Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
New Mexico
Elections and Terms of Non-Statewide Officeholders Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Public Regulation Commission
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Public Education Bond Issue
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Other
Public Libraries Bond Issue
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Other
Senior Citizens Facilities Bond Issue
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Other
North Dakota
Board of Higher Education
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Initiated Constitutional Amendments
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Oklahoma
Question 805: Criminal History in Sentencing and Sentence Modification Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
Question 814: Decrease Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund Deposits and Fund Medicaid Program Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Oregon
Measure 107: Campaign Financing
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Measure 108: Cigarette Tax Increase
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Statutory
Measure 109: Psilocybin Program Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Measure 110: Drug Addiction Treatment Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Rhode Island
Name Change Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
South Dakota
Constitutional Amendment A: Marijuana Legalization Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Constitutional
Constitutional Amendment B: Local Sports Betting
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Initiated Measure 26: Medical Marijuana Initiative
Type: Citizen Initiative | Change: Statutory
Utah
Amendment A: Gender Neutral Terminology Update
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment B: Legislator Qualifications
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment C: Slavery and Involuntary Servitude Prohibition
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment D: Municipal Water Rights and Water Supply
Type: Legislative Referral |Change: Constitutional
Amendment E: Right to Hunt and Fish
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment F: Legislative Session Start Date Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Amendment G: Use Income and Property Tax Revenue to Support Children and Individuals with Disabilities Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Virginia
Redistricting Commission Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Motor Vehicle Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Washington
Referendum 90: Sex Education in Public Schools Measure
Type: Popular Referendum | Change: Statutory
SJR 8212: Authorize Fund Investment of Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Account Amendment
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Advisory Vote 32: Advisory Vote on SB 5323
Type: Advisory | Change: N/A
Advisory Vote 33: Advisory Vote on SB 5628​​​
Type: Advisory | Change: N/A
Advisory Vote 34: Advisory Vote on SB 6492
Type: Advisory | Change: N/A
Advisory Vote 35: Advisory Vote on SB 6690
Type: Advisory | Change: N/A
Wyoming
Amendment A: Debt Limit for Municipal Sewer Projects
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Constitutional
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Statehood
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Statutory
Virgin Islands
Constitutional Convention Question
Type: Legislative Referral | Change: Statutory
General Election 2020 Ballot Measures
As of Sept. 28, voters across the country will weigh in on at least 124 ballot measures on Election Day. And voters already decided eight ballot measures during the primaries—most notably, Missourians and Oklahomans both opted to expand Medicaid.
Measures get on the ballot in one of two ways: through a citizen initiative—where citizens have an idea for a statutory or constitutional change and gather signatures to place it on the ballot—or through a referral to the ballot from the legislature.
Thirty-eight of the Election Day measures are citizen initiatives. That number represents a significant decrease from 60 citizen initiatives in 2018 and 72 in 2016—due in large part to COVID-19 and public safety measures that made in-person signature-gathering nearly impossible. For context, 2020 will be the first presidential election year since 1928 where voters in Washington state won’t see a single citizen initiative on their November ballots. The rest of the measures are referred to the ballot by the legislature.
Seventy-nine of the measures would make constitutional changes. Thirty-four propose statutory changes (one Colorado measure would actually make both constitutional and statutory changes), and the other 12 include four popular referenda, four non-binding advisory questions, three bond issues and Iowa’s automatic decennial question asking if voters want to hold a constitutional convention (per the Hawkeye State’s constitution).
Taxes, criminal justice, and marijuana and other drugs remain popular topics for ballot measures, and this year, health and elections are popular, too—perhaps appropriate in a year with a pandemic and a presidential election.
Criminal Justice
In California, a referendum seeks to repeal SB 10, which would replace cash bail with pretrial risk assessment later this year. Voters will also see parole reform and parolee voting rights on the ballot in the Golden State. Kentuckians may experience déjà vu as they weigh in on Marsy’s law—a measure that provides specific constitutional rights for crime victims and has been passed by 12 states—for the second time; voters in the Bluegrass State passed the measure in 2018, but it was overturned due to issues with the ballot language. Both Nebraska and Utah will decide whether slavery as a punishment remains in their constitutions.
Elections
Three states—Alabama, Colorado and Florida—have measures seeking to clarify their constitutions so that “only a citizen” can vote. Citizen initiatives in Alaska and Massachusetts seek to implement ranked-choice voting. Alaska’s measure provides for open primaries, as well, which is also on the ballot via citizen initiative in Florida. In California, voters will decide whether 17-year-olds can vote in primaries, and Coloradans will weigh in on an effort to overturn the legislature’s decision to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.
Health
Missouri and Oklahoma passed Medicaid expansions during the primaries, and this November, Oklahomans will also consider whether to appropriate funds from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust to secure matching federal dollars for the state’s Medicaid program. In Colorado and Oregon, voters will consider legislatively referred measures proposing cigarette taxes to fund health and other programs. Coloradans will also weigh in on a citizen initiative to establish a paid family and medical leave insurance program. Abortion restrictions are on the ballot in Colorado and Louisiana. And in Washington, voters will consider a referendum on SB 5395, which requires schools to provide comprehensive sex education for all students. An optometry-related referendum in Arkansas will appear on the ballot, but a recent state supreme court decision means the results will not be counted.
Marijuana and Other Drugs
Medical marijuana is under consideration in Mississippi and South Dakota. Voters in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana. Voters in Oregon will decide whether to legalize psilocybin mushrooms. If the measure passes, Oregon will become the first state to legalize the hallucinogenic fungus. A citizen initiative in Washington, D.C., seeks to decriminalize “entheogenic plants and fungi,” defined as plants and fungi that contain ibogaine, dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, psilocybin or psilocyn.
Taxes
The Colorado legislature referred a constitutional amendment that seeks to repeal the Gallagher Amendment, which set property rates in the state constitution. If passed, the measure would freeze current residential and nonresidential property tax rates and allow the state to adjust property tax assessments under state law. Colorado voters will also consider a citizen initiative requiring voters to approve the creation of certain fee-based state enterprises that are exempt from the Centennial State’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. A California citizen initiative aims to tax commercial and industrial properties based on their market—rather than purchase—value, with the additional revenue going to local governments, schools and community colleges. Arkansans will decide whether to continue a 0.5% sales tax that funds transportation, and voters in New Jersey and Virginia will weigh in on tax deductions and exemptions for veterans. A proposal to increase taxes on oil and gas production is on the ballot in Alaska. Arizonans will consider a citizen-initiated tax on incomes over $250,000 to increase teacher salaries and school funding, while Coloradans will consider an income tax reduction. An amendment in Illinois would repeal the state’s flat-rate personal income tax, enabling the legislature to enact a graduated income tax.
Other Highlights
- After deciding to remove the confederate battle emblem form the state’s flag, Mississippi will ask voters to approve or reject a new state flag design.
- Legislatively referred measures in Arkansas and Missouri seek to amend each state’s term limits.
- A citizen initiative aiming to reintroduce grey wolves will be on the ballot in Colorado. This measure is the first time voters in any state will have a say in bringing back an endangered species.
- Florida voters will consider a citizen initiative to raise the minimum wage to $15. Similar measures in the last five years have all passed.
- Statehood is on the ballot in Puerto Rico—the sixth ballot mesure on this issue since 1967.
- Redistricting is on the ballot in Idaho, Missouri, New Jersey and Virginia—all as legislatively referred measures.
- In California, voters will decide whether app-based transportation and delivery drivers, such as those who drive for Uber or Lyft, are independent contractors. If passed, the measure would override AB 5, which assumes workers are employees—not independent contractors—unless meeting certain criteria.
- Various forms of gambling are also up for a vote. Coloradans will determine whether certain cities may expand allowed gaming types, as well as changes to charitable bingo and raffles. Marylanders and South Dakotans will consider authorizing sports betting. Nebraskans will also vote on three gambling-related measures.
You can view all of the ballot measures from the 50 states and Washington, D.C., at the NCSL Ballot Measure Database.
Questions? Contact Mandy Zoch
For more on ballot measures:
- State Elections 2020: Marijuana Ballot Measures (Blog, Oct. 15, 2020)
- State Elections 2020: Health Ballot Measures (Blog, Oct. 12, 2020)
- State Elections 2020: Elections Ballot Measures (Blog, Oct. 5, 2020)
- State Elections 2020: Redistricting Ballot Measures (Blog, Sept. 29, 2020)
- #Trending? Ballot Measures, Tech and a Sign of the Times (Blog, Aug. 25, 2020)
- 2020 Ballot Measures: A Preview (Magazine, Aug. 18, 2020)
- SCOTUS Won't Let Lower Court Rewrite Ballot Initiative Rules (Blog, Aug. 17, 2020)
- SCOTUS Disallows Court-Ordered Changes to Idaho's Citizen's Initiative Process (Blog, Aug. 4, 2020)
- COVID-19 Brings Historic Changes for Citizen Initiatives (Blog, May 27, 2020)
- Initiative and Referendum Processes