Religion-related policy ballot measures

Issues
Measures by topic
Measures by year
Measures by state

As a state ballot measure topic, religion-related policy includes measures concerning religious rights, practices, and services. It also covers issues such as religion in public institutions and events, church incorporation, and funding or tax exemptions for religious organizations. The topic is grouped within the social issue policy area.

This page provides information on:

• upcoming ballot measures and
• a comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state.

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2025 ballot measures and 2026 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to religion-related policy certified for this year and future elections:

There are no ballot measures related to this topic that have qualified for the ballot.

List of ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to religion-related policy, organized by year or state.

Year

State

2023

1. Louisiana Amendment 2, Constitutional Right to Worship in a Church or Place of Worship Amendment (October 2023)

2022

1. Arkansas Issue 3, Government Burden of Free Exercise of Religion Amendment (2022)
2. Nevada Question 1, Equality of Rights Amendment (2022)
3. Tennessee Constitutional Amendment 4, Remove Religious Minister Disqualification Amendment (2022)
4. West Virginia Amendment 3, Incorporation of Religious Denominations and Churches Measure (2022)

2021

1. Texas Proposition 3, Prohibition on Limiting Religious Services or Organizations Amendment (2021)

2018

1. Alabama Amendment 1, Ten Commandments Amendment (2018)

2016

1. Oklahoma Public Money for Religious Purposes, State Question 790 (2016)

2012

1. Florida Amendment 8, Reception of Governmental Support and Funding Based on Religion Amendment (2012)
2. Missouri Amendment 2, Public Prayer and Public School Students’ Religious Expressions Measure (August 2012)
3. North Dakota Religious Freedom Amendment, Measure 3 (June 2012)

2006

1. Virginia Question 2, Remove Prohibition on the Incorporation of Churches Amendment (2006)

2003

1. Texas Proposition 3, Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations Amendment (September 2003)

1998

1. Alabama Freedom of Religion, Amendment 8 (1998)
2. Georgia Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations, Referendum C (1998)

1996

1. Georgia Tax Exemptions for Religious Groups, Referendum A (1996)
2. Virginia Question 5, Allow Churches to Incorporate Amendment (1996)

1994

1. Oregon Measure 7, Equal Protection of Law Initiative (1994)
2. Utah Proposition 3, Nonsectarian Religious Studies Exemption from Public Funding Restriction Amendment (1994)

1993

1. Washington HJR 4200, Public Employment of Chaplains in Health Facilities Amendment (1993)

1986

1. Utah Proposition 3, Restructure the Education Article Amendment (1986)

1984

1. West Virginia Amendment 3, Prayer or Private Contemplation in Public Schools Measure (1984)

1976

1. Massachusetts Question 1, Equal Rights Regardless of Sex, Race, or Creed Amendment (1976)
2. Massachusetts Question 3, Absentee Voting for Religious Reasons Amendment (1976)

1974

1. Kansas Property Titles, Amendment 5 (1974)
2. New Hampshire Question 2, Equal Rights Regardless of Race, Sex, or Creed Amendment (1974)

1972

1. Florida School Prayer Straw Ballot Measure (March 1972)
2. Massachusetts Question 9, Voluntary Recitation of Prayer in Public Schools Advisory Question (1972)
3. Oregon Measure 4, Religious Establishment and Repeal of Public Funding Restriction Amendment (1972)
4. Texas Proposition 7, Equal Rights Regardless of Race, Sex, or Creed Amendment (1972)
5. Wisconsin Question 3, Public School Building Use Amendment (April 1972)
6. Wisconsin Question 4, School Release for Religious Instruction Amendment (April 1972)

1970

1. Georgia Amendment 6, Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations Amendment (1970)
2. Maryland Question 9, Making References to God in Public Institutions and Places Amendment (1970)

1958

1. California Proposition 16, Removal of Tax Exemption for Religious Schools Initiative (1958)
2. Washington SJR 14, State Employed Chaplains Amendment (1958)

1956

1. California Proposition 6, Property Tax Exemption for Church Parking Lots Amendment (1956)

1954

1. California Proposition 9, Construction of Church Buildings Tax Exemption Amendment (1954)

1952

1. California Proposition 8, Church Building Tax Exemption Amendment (1952)

1948

1. North Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Prohibit Public School Teachers Religious Dress Measure (1948)

1946

1. California Proposition 11, Equal Employment Opportunity Initiative (1946)

1944

1. California Proposition 4, Tax Exemption for Religious, Hospital, or Charitable Properties Amendment (1944)

1942

1. Maryland Religious Grants, Amendment 5 (1942)

1938

1. California Proposition 21, Religious and Orphan Buildings Tax Exemption Amendment (1938)

1928

1. Arkansas Act 1, Ban on Teaching Human Evolution in Public Schools and Colleges Initiative (1928)

1926

1. California Proposition 17, Holy Bible in Public Schools Initiative (1926)

1924

1. Missouri Amendment 1, Property Rights of Religious Corporations Measure (February 1924)
2. Missouri Proposition 8, Tax Exemption for Religious Properties and Incomes Initiative (1924)

1908

1. Minnesota Church Property Tax Exemption, Amendment 1 (1908)

1904

1. Washington Allow Chaplains for State Prisons and Reformatory Institutions Amendment (1904)

Alabama

1. Alabama Amendment 1, Ten Commandments Amendment (2018)
2. Alabama Freedom of Religion, Amendment 8 (1998)

Arkansas

1. Arkansas Act 1, Ban on Teaching Human Evolution in Public Schools and Colleges Initiative (1928)
2. Arkansas Issue 3, Government Burden of Free Exercise of Religion Amendment (2022)

California

1. California Proposition 11, Equal Employment Opportunity Initiative (1946)
2. California Proposition 16, Removal of Tax Exemption for Religious Schools Initiative (1958)
3. California Proposition 17, Holy Bible in Public Schools Initiative (1926)
4. California Proposition 21, Religious and Orphan Buildings Tax Exemption Amendment (1938)
5. California Proposition 4, Tax Exemption for Religious, Hospital, or Charitable Properties Amendment (1944)
6. California Proposition 6, Property Tax Exemption for Church Parking Lots Amendment (1956)
7. California Proposition 8, Church Building Tax Exemption Amendment (1952)
8. California Proposition 9, Construction of Church Buildings Tax Exemption Amendment (1954)

Florida

1. Florida Amendment 8, Reception of Governmental Support and Funding Based on Religion Amendment (2012)
2. Florida School Prayer Straw Ballot Measure (March 1972)

Georgia

1. Georgia Amendment 6, Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations Amendment (1970)
2. Georgia Tax Exemptions for Religious Groups, Referendum A (1996)
3. Georgia Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations, Referendum C (1998)

Kansas

1. Kansas Property Titles, Amendment 5 (1974)

Louisiana

1. Louisiana Amendment 2, Constitutional Right to Worship in a Church or Place of Worship Amendment (October 2023)

Maryland

1. Maryland Question 9, Making References to God in Public Institutions and Places Amendment (1970)
2. Maryland Religious Grants, Amendment 5 (1942)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Question 1, Equal Rights Regardless of Sex, Race, or Creed Amendment (1976)
2. Massachusetts Question 3, Absentee Voting for Religious Reasons Amendment (1976)
3. Massachusetts Question 9, Voluntary Recitation of Prayer in Public Schools Advisory Question (1972)

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Church Property Tax Exemption, Amendment 1 (1908)

Missouri

1. Missouri Amendment 1, Property Rights of Religious Corporations Measure (February 1924)
2. Missouri Amendment 2, Public Prayer and Public School Students’ Religious Expressions Measure (August 2012)
3. Missouri Proposition 8, Tax Exemption for Religious Properties and Incomes Initiative (1924)

Nevada

1. Nevada Question 1, Equality of Rights Amendment (2022)

New Hampshire

1. New Hampshire Question 2, Equal Rights Regardless of Race, Sex, or Creed Amendment (1974)

North Dakota

1. North Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Prohibit Public School Teachers Religious Dress Measure (1948)
2. North Dakota Religious Freedom Amendment, Measure 3 (June 2012)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma Public Money for Religious Purposes, State Question 790 (2016)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 4, Religious Establishment and Repeal of Public Funding Restriction Amendment (1972)
2. Oregon Measure 7, Equal Protection of Law Initiative (1994)

Tennessee

1. Tennessee Constitutional Amendment 4, Remove Religious Minister Disqualification Amendment (2022)

Texas

1. Texas Proposition 3, Prohibition on Limiting Religious Services or Organizations Amendment (2021)
2. Texas Proposition 3, Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations Amendment (September 2003)
3. Texas Proposition 7, Equal Rights Regardless of Race, Sex, or Creed Amendment (1972)

Utah

1. Utah Proposition 3, Nonsectarian Religious Studies Exemption from Public Funding Restriction Amendment (1994)
2. Utah Proposition 3, Restructure the Education Article Amendment (1986)

Virginia

1. Virginia Question 2, Remove Prohibition on the Incorporation of Churches Amendment (2006)
2. Virginia Question 5, Allow Churches to Incorporate Amendment (1996)

Washington

1. Washington Allow Chaplains for State Prisons and Reformatory Institutions Amendment (1904)
2. Washington HJR 4200, Public Employment of Chaplains in Health Facilities Amendment (1993)
3. Washington SJR 14, State Employed Chaplains Amendment (1958)

West Virginia

1. West Virginia Amendment 3, Incorporation of Religious Denominations and Churches Measure (2022)
2. West Virginia Amendment 3, Prayer or Private Contemplation in Public Schools Measure (1984)

Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin Question 3, Public School Building Use Amendment (April 1972)
2. Wisconsin Question 4, School Release for Religious Instruction Amendment (April 1972)

See also

• List of ballot measures by topic