Ballot measure petition deadlines and requirements, 2024
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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. Some states have an indirect process in which legislatures have the option to approve the proposals outright.
Other names for ballot initiatives include popular initiatives, citizen initiatives, and citizen referendums.
A citizen-initiated ballot measure can be an initiated state statute, initiated constitutional amendment, or a veto referendum. A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law.
There are 26 states that allow for citizen-initiated ballot measures, although the process has been suspended in Mississippi due to a court ruling.
Signatures must be collected for citizen-initiated ballot measures. Requirements related to signatures and deadlines are state-specific. This page provides information on these requirements for 2024.
- See also: 2024 ballot measures
Requirements
The tables below provide information on signature deadlines and dates for citizen-initiated ballot measures in 2024.
Notes:
- The following dates are projections based on legal requirements. The dates for veto referendums are often dependent on when legislative sessions adjourn.
This symbol signifies that a signature deadline has passed for a type of ballot measure in a state.
Initiatives
The tables below provide information on signature deadlines and dates for initiatives, including initiated constitutional amendments and initiated statutes, in 2024.
| Deadlines and Requirements for 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Type | Deadlines | Explanation | Signatures |
| Alaska | IndISS |  01/15/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted before the start of the legislative session | 26,705 |
| Arizona | CICA | 07/03/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election | 383,923 |
| Arizona | CISS | 07/03/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election | 255,949 |
| Arkansas | CICA | 07/05/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election | 90,704 |
| Arkansas | CISS | 07/05/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election | 72,563 |
| California | CICA | 06/27/2024 | Signatures must be verified at least 131 days before general election | 874,641 |
| California | CISS | 06/27/2024 | Signatures must be verified at least 131 days before general election | 546,651 |
| Colorado | CICA | 08/05/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least three months before the general election | 124,238 |
| Colorado | CISS | 08/05/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least three months before the general election | 124,238 |
| Florida | CICA | 02/01/2024 |
Signatures must be verified on or before February 1 | 891,523 |
| Idaho | CISS | 05/01/2024 |
Signatures must be verified on or before May 1 | 62,895 |
| Illinois | CICA | 05/05/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted at least six months before the general election | 328,371 |
| Maine | IndISS | 01/29/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted within 25 days after the convening of the state legislature's legislative session | 67,682 |
| Massachusetts | IndICA | 11/22/2023 |
Signatures must be submitted two weeks before the first Wednesday in December | 74,574 |
| Massachusetts | IndISS | 11/22/2023 (Round 1) 06/18/2024 (Round 2) |
Signatures must be submitted two weeks before the first Wednesday in December | 74,574 (Round 1) 12,429 (Round 2) |
| Michigan | CICA | 07/08/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least 120 days before the general election | 446,198 |
| Michigan | IndISS | 05/29/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted at least 160 days before the general election | 356,958 |
| Mississippi | IndICA | 10/04/2023 |
Signatures must be submitted at least 90 days before the next regular legislative session | 106,190 |
| Missouri | CICA | 05/05/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted at least six months before the general election | 171,592 |
| Missouri | CISS | 05/05/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted at least six months before the general election | 107,246 |
| Montana | CICA | 06/21/2024 | Signatures must be verified on or before the third Friday of June | 60,359 |
| Montana | CISS | 06/21/2024 | Signatures must be verified on or before the third Friday of June | 30,180 |
| Nebraska | CICA | 07/03/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election | 122,595 |
| Nebraska | CISS | 07/03/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election | 85,817 |
| Nevada | CICA | 06/26/2024 | Signatures must be verified on or before the third Tuesday of June | 102,362 |
| Nevada | IndISS | 11/08/2022 |
Signatures must be verified on or before the second Tuesday of November | 135,561 |
| North Dakota | CICA | 07/08/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least 120 days before the general election | 31,164 |
| North Dakota | CISS | 07/08/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least 120 days before the general election | 15,582 |
| Ohio | CICA | 07/03/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least 125 days before the general election | 413,487 |
| Ohio | IndISS | 12/23/2023 (Round 1) 07/03/2024 (Round 2) |
Signatures must be submitted at least 10 days before the legislative session begins | 124,046 (Round 1) 124,046 (Round 2) |
| Oklahoma | CICA | 08/27/2024 | Signatures must be verified at least 70 days before the general election | 172,993 |
| Oklahoma | CISS | 08/27/2024 | Signatures must be verified at least 70 days before the general election | 92,263 |
| Oregon | CICA | 07/05/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election | 160,551 |
| Oregon | CISS | 07/05/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election | 120,413 |
| South Dakota | CICA | 05/07/2024 |
Signatures must be verified on or before the first Tuesday of May | 35,017 |
| South Dakota | CISS | 05/07/2024 |
Signatures must be verified on or before the first Tuesday of May | 17,508 |
| Utah | CISS | 02/15/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted on or before February 15 | 134,298 |
| Utah | IndISS | 11/15/2023 (Round 1) 02/15/2024 (Round 2) |
Signatures must be submitted on or before November 15 | 67,149 (Round 1) 67,149 (Round 2) |
| Washington | CISS | 07/05/2024 | Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election | 324,516 |
| Washington | IndISS | 12/29/2023 |
Signatures must be submitted at least 10 days before the legislative session | 324,516 |
| Wyoming | IndISS | 02/09/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted before the legislative session | 29,730 |
Referendums
The tables below provide information on signature deadlines and dates for veto referendums in 2024.
| Deadlines and Requirements for 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Type | Deadlines | Explanation | Signatures |
| Alaska | VR | 08/13/2024 | Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 26,705 |
| Arizona | VR | 08/29/2024 (Projected[1]) | Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 127,975 |
| Arkansas | VR | 08/07/2024 | Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 54,422 |
| California | VR | 10/05/2024 | Signatures must be verified within 31 days before the general election[2] | 546,651 |
| Colorado | VR | 08/06/2024 | Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 124,238 |
| Idaho | VR | 06/09/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted within 60 days after the end of the legislative session | 62,895 |
| Maine | VR | 07/16/2024 | Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 67,682 |
| Maryland | VR | 06/30/2024 | Signatures must be filed on or before June 30 | 60,157 |
| Massachusetts | VR | 09/06/2024 | Deadline for the inclusion of referendums on the ballot is 60 days before the election[3] | 37,287 |
| Michigan | VR | 02/12/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 223,099 |
| Missouri | VR | 08/15/2024 | Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 107,246 |
| Montana | VR | 11/02/2023[4] |
Signatures must be submitted within six months after the end of the legislative session | 30,180 |
| Nebraska | VR | 07/17/2024 | Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 61,299[5] |
| Nevada | VR | 06/26/2024 | Signatures must be submitted on or before the third Tuesday of June | 102,362 |
| New Mexico | VR | 07/05/2024 | Signatures must be submitted within four months before the general election[6] | 71,475 |
| North Dakota | VR | 07/28/2023[7] |
Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the legislation is signed | 15,582 |
| Ohio | VR | 07/03/2024 | Signatures must be verified at least 90 days before the general election[8] | 248,092 |
| Oklahoma | VR | 08/29/2024 (Projected[9]) | Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 57,664 |
| Oregon | VR | 06/05/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 80,276 |
| South Dakota | VR | 06/24/2024 | Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 17,508 |
| Utah | VR | 04/10/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted within 40 days after the end of the legislative session | 134,298 |
| Washington | VR | 06/05/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 162,258 |
| Wyoming | VR | 06/06/2024 |
Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session | 29,730 |
See also
- States with initiative or referendum
- Laws governing the initiative process
- Signature requirements for ballot measures
- Length of signature gathering periods for ballot initiatives
- Ballot initiative
Footnotes
- ↑ The projected legislative session adjournment was May 31, 2024.
- ↑ Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the legislation is signed.
- ↑ Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the legislation is signed.
- ↑ The legislative session adjourned on May 2, 2023.
- ↑ The number of signatures required is based on the number of registered voters at the submission deadline. This number is based on the number of registered voters on December 1, 2023.
- ↑ Signatures must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the legislative session.
- ↑ The legislative session adjourned on April 29, 2023.
- ↑ Signatures must be submitted within 125 days after the legislation is signed.
- ↑ The projected legislative session adjournment was May 31, 2024.
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| Signature requirements |
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| Petition companies |
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| 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 |
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| Signature law |
States where signature requirements are based on votes cast for governor |