Initiative Process
Ballot Initiative States
All of the shaded states indicate where laws can be passed or repealed by collecting signatures to qualify ballot measures. Only the red states allow for ballot initiatives, however.
Please click here for a map of states that allow the ballot initiative process.
Legislative Referenda
The legislative referendum process is allowed in ALL states. This occurs when the state legislature, an elected official, state appointed constitutional revision commission or other government agency or department submits propositions (constitutional amendments, statutes, bond issues, etc.) to voters for their approval or rejection.
Popular Referenda (otherwise known as citizen veto)
Three non-initiative states allow for popular referenda - where the people have the power to refer, by collecting signatures on a petition, specific legislation that was enacted by their legislature for the voters to either accept or reject. This process is used much less frequently. All yellow-colored states are non-initiative states that allow for popular referenda. NOTE: The popular referenda process is available in all of the other red states, except for Florida, Illinois and Mississippi.
