2023 ballot measures
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In 2023, 41 statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in eight states—Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. That's the highest number of state ballot measures for an odd-numbered year since 2007. Voters approved 33 (80.49%) and rejected eight (19.51%).
- Between March and August 2023, voters in three states decided on five ballot measures. Voters approved three and rejected two of these measures.
- On October 14, voters in Louisiana approved four constitutional amendments, including Amendment 1, which addressed private financing of election administration, and Amendment 2, which provided state constitutional rights regarding places of worship.
- On November 7, voters in five states decided on 28 ballot measures, including six citizen-initiated ballot measures (two in Ohio, and four in Maine). Voters approved 23 and rejected five ballot measures on November 7.
- On November 18, the last statewide ballot measure election of 2023, voters in Louisiana decided on an additional four constitutional amendments. Voters approved three and rejected one constitutional amendment.
From 2011 to 2021, the average number of statewide ballot measures in an odd-numbered year was 33.
Trends in 2023
Types of ballot measures
From 2011 to 2021, an average of 33 statewide ballot measures — 5 initiated measures and 28 referred measures — appeared on ballots in odd-numbered years. An initiated measure is a proposed law that people collect signatures for to put on the ballot. A referred measure is a proposed law that a legislature or commission, or constitutional provision in the case of automatic referrals, puts on the ballot for voters to decide.
| Type | 2023 | 2021 | 2019 | 2017 | 2015 | 2013 | 2011 | Average (2011-2021) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiated ballot measures | 7 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 12 | |
| Initiated constitutional amendments[1] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Initiated state statutes | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| Veto referendums | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Referred ballot measures | 34 | 35 | 34 | 23 | 23 | 28 | 22 | |
| Legislative constitutional amendment | 31 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 21 | |
| Legislative state statute | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Commission-referred measure | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Automatically referred measure | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bond issues | 0 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| Advisory question | 1 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total: | 41 | 39 | 36 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 34 |
The following chart illustrates the numbers of initiated measures and referred measures for each odd-numbered year from 2001 to 2023. The year with the most initiated measures, at 19, was 2005. The year with the most referred measures, at 59, was 2003.
See also
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- ↑ This includes combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute measures.