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.

In the politics of the United States, the process of initiatives and referendums allow citizens of many U.S. states [1] to place legislation on the ballot for a referendum or popular vote, either enacting new legislation, or voting down existing legislation.

Jan 28, 2025 · Since then, no constitutional amendments have been placed on the ballot to establish an initiative or referendum process. States that have voted on initiative and referendum ballot measures. Voters in 30 states have decided on constitutional amendments to establish initiative and referendum processes, with voters in 26 states approving them.

The Ballot Initiative Strategy Center is a movement building infrastructure organization leveraging ballot measures across the United States to strengthen democracy center people of color, queer, low-income, immigrant, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities

The three options are: (1) enact the law “without change or amendment” within 40 days; (2) “reject the proposed law, in which case the proposed law will appear on the ballot;” or (3) propose a competing measure to appear on the ballot alongside the initiative.

Ballot initiatives, also commonly known as ballot measures or referendums, are questions placed before voters on local or statewide ballots. The ballot initiative process gives people the ability to propose constitutional amendments or statutes (depending on the state) and collect signatures to place those proposals directly before voters.

2 days ago · Legislator communications, conflicts of interest and lawmaker pay and benefits are among the topics included in a proposed petition for a constitutional measure submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office on Friday. The measure would make all communications between legislators relating to legislative business public records and subject to inspection on request. …

Initiatives are different from legislative referrals—which are put on the ballot by a vote of state legislators—or other types of statewide ballot measures. The process of getting an initiative on the ballot varies by state, and there is no federal law that addresses the state initiative process.

Feb 25, 2020 · Ballot initiatives provide a unique opportunity for involvement in the democratic process. They allow voters to propose and, if successful, enact changes to the law at the local and state levels, including both legislation and constitutional amendments.

Jun 3, 2021 · The ballot initiative, a form of direct democracy, is the process through which citizens exercise the power to place measures otherwise considered by state legislatures or local governments on statewide and local ballots for a public vote.