Petitions must be filed by 5 p.m. on the 90th day after the applicable legislative session adjourns sine die. The following is not a legal, comprehensive list of every campaign finance law governing the referendum process in each state but is rather a basic summary and starting guide for where to find relevant statutes. If the legislature rejects the measure, the legislature may propose an alternative measure (with the approval of the governor), and it will appear on the ballot along with the original initiative. In the United States, during the 1982 congressional elections, there were successful, nonbinding plebiscites in several states and municipalities on the issue of a nuclear weapon freeze. Which election is a measure on: The next statewide election unless the legislature or governor convenes a special election for it or the governor designates a vote at the primary election (OK Const. 6, 1), Repeat measures: Two years (U.C.A. II, 9 and MCL 168.471). Oklahoma: If neither receives a majority, the one receiving more votes will be resubmitted to the next general election by itself if it received at least one-third of the total votes cast for or against the two measures. For citation information, please contact the NCSL Elections and Redistricting team. Art. Since the total number of registered voters is constantly changing, with new voters being added and ineligible voters being removed, that presents a dilemma for the state. For indirect statutory initiatives, after turning in original 3 % of signatures, proponents must return next batch of signatures (another 3 %) within 90 days of the legislature not enacting or amending a measure. Vote requirement for passage: Majority (MCA 13-27-504). Cure period for insufficient signatures: If petition is insufficient, sponsors have 30 days to solicit and obtain additional signatures, submit proof to show that rejected signatures are valid, or make the petition more definite and certain (NMSA 1-17-12). Code 84107). Which election is a measure on: Next state election (M.G.L.A. 116.025). LXXXI, 4). Pamphlet contains one-sentence statements describing the effect of a yes or no vote prepared jointly by the attorney general and the state secretary. 295.009). 2). Petition for Recall. Initiative, Referendum, and Recall Applications for the 2024 Election Cycle. 54, 53). 1-40-105). Which election: Next regular general election (Const. Proponent organization and requirements: A person, committee or political party that pays signature gatherers is required to file the same financial disclosures required under Title 13, Chapter 37 (MCA 13-27-112). Timeline for collecting signatures: Petitions are valid for one year (MS Const. 1(9)). XI, 7 and AS 15.45.250). All states require proponents of a popular referendum to follow guidelines. 3, 18), Massachusetts (M.G.L.A. Allowed to pay another for their signature: Prohibited (SDCL 12-26-15). Reports of contributions and expenditures are due on the 12th day before an election, the 38th day after an election and the last business day of January and July of every year. III, 52(a) and 53). required vocational training programs for children. In 2021, Idaho passed, Collected in-person: Yes (I.C. For amendments, must be submitted for verification by the third Tuesday in June of the general election year. 54 53). 23-17-29), Missouri (V.A.M.S. Most states require proponents of a proposed law to follow guidelines. 13, 1). V, 1(4)(a)). Art. Art. 5, 3), Timeline for taking effect: When approved by a majority of votes (OK Const. V, 1(6) and C.R.S. States include a range of requirements for petition contents including legal warnings, serial numbers provided by officials, notarization, date of the election the measure is to be voted upon, the measures full text, summary, the district or county where the signature was gathered, if the circulator is paid, fiscal statement abstract, affidavit of circulator, circulator information, rights of the potential signer, names of proponents or proponent organization, statement of the proponent organization and deadline for signatures. 15, 273; Miss. Circulator oaths or affidavit required: Yes (Const. Art. II, 1g; O.R.C. Allowed to pay another for their signature: May not use "any fraudulent means, method, trick, device or artifice to obtain signatures on a petition" (A.R.S. 3, 1 and SDCL 2-1-1 and 2-1-5). 168.482). Circulator requirements: Maine resident who is a registered voter (21-A MRSA 903-A), Circulator oaths or affidavits: Yes (M.R.S.A. Geographic distribution: For indirect statutory initiatives, signatures must be collected from at least 44 of 88 counties, equaling 1.5 % of the votes cast for governor in each county in previous election. Law 7-105. Art. 3, 4). The public may protest as to the constitutionality of the measure. Art. States may have the direct initiative, the indirect initiative or the choice of either. 218D.810; 293.267; 295.015; 293.252). Art. Constitution 48, Init., Pt. Verification: Each signature is physically counted (34 OS 6.1). Timeline for taking effect: An act rejected by referendum is void 30 days after certification. Time period restrictions before placed on the ballot: 125 days must pass after filing petition before election (OH Const. Recall is the power to remove an elected . Attorney general drafts ballot titles and certifies statements. Any time before the final submission of signatures, the delegated proponents may write to the secretary of state to withdraw. Does the law in question take effect before the referendum vote: Does not go into effect unless approved by voters (Const. Where to file with: Legislative Research Council, attorney general and secretary of state (SDCL 12-13-25.1; 12-13-26). Art. Does the law in question take effect before the referendum vote: The sections of a law subject to a referendum do not. 23-17-7; 23-17-9; 23-17-15). Who can sign the petition: Qualified registered voter (W.S.1977 22-24-313). 169.234; 169.247). Nine states require filing an initial number of signatures of sponsors as part of an application to circulate a popular referendum petition. If a petition is insufficient, a period of 20 days is allowed for correction. Art. Art. ai thinker esp32 cam datasheet 3, 5; NDCC, 16.1-01-09. Art. 22-24-416). Art. Contributions greater than $3,000 that are received after filing the pre-election report must be reported within 24 hours of receipt. 3, 8). Campaign statements must be filed by the 11th day before the election, the thirtieth day after the election, April 25 and July 25 every year, Oct. 25 in odd-numbered years. II, 1d). 5, 1). Probably the most celebrated initiative to pass in recent years was Proposition 13 in California. 1(3)). Verification: County officials conduct raw count, and then a random sample is taken of 500 signatures or 3 % of each countys total for accuracy. Art. Who creates petitions: Lieutenant governor provides a copy of the referendum petition and signature sheets; sponsors print additional copies (Utah Code 20A-7-304). Missouri: The secretary of State will furnish ballot statements explaining the effects of a no or yes vote for the measure, which will include whether it will increase, decrease or maintain taxes. 2, Sec. Who creates petitions: The secretary of state prepares a "signature form (that) includes provisions for identification of the measure; the printed name, signature, and address of the committee member; and notarization of the signature" (NDCC, 16.1-01-07). 19-125), Time period restrictions before placed on the ballot: No statute, Conflicting measures: The measure that receives the greatest number of affirmative votes (A.R.S. Next state election, and depending on type, must be submitted by September, then December, and then possibly July (see deadlines and timelines topic). Art. Application process information: Ten voters must sign and submit the petition to the attorney general by the first Wednesday of the August before the assembling of the general court into which it is to be introduced (M.G.L.A. Out-of-state committees that make expenditures supporting or opposing ballot propositions in Washington are required to file reports. Collected in-person: Yes (A.R.S. Verification: A random sample of 5% of the signatures is verified by county recorders (ARS 19-121.01(B)). 48). Must file quarterly reports. The secretary of state is directed to prescribe a form for this process (MCA 13-27-301(3)). In these states, sponsors gather a smaller number of signatures to reach the first stage of qualification and, once enough valid signatures are gathered to meet this threshold, the initiative goes before the state legislature. Art. Art. IV, 1b). If the legislature does not enact the proposition, then proponents may collect the additional 5 % of signatures required to get the measure onto the ballot (U.C.A. Circulator requirements: Resident,18 years old and paid circulators must wear badges (U.C.A. Legislature or other government official review: Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel prepares an impartial analysis of the measure, to be included in voter pamphlet. V, 2). LXXXI, 4). Stat. II, 1c). Petition title and summary creation: Attorney general (I.C. 1. guarantee government jobs for the unemployed. Art. If statistical sampling shows that the number of valid signatures is between 95-110% of the number required, an examination and verification of signatures is conducted (Elec. Six% of the qualified electors at the time of the last general election in each of at least 18 legislative districts, out of 35 total districts. If the people are dissatisfied with and want to change the actions of government, or if the government wants to get public approval for a given policy, these three devices are available. Neb. Timeline for collecting signatures: Once the petition is approved and a serial number is issued, sponsors have until 5 p.m. on the 90th day after the legislature session adjourns. Application for Recall Serial Number. Art. Const. 2, 3), Michigan (M.C.L.A. 23-17-17). Initiative, Referendum and Recall are three powers reserved to the voters to enable them, by petition, to propose or repeal legislation or to remove an elected official from office.. Pursuant to state law (A.R.S. The following contribution and expenditure statements must be electronically filed: drafting statement, filed at the time approval is requested to circulate petition; circulating statement, filed at the time petitions are submitted for signature verification; pre-election statement, filed between the 39th and 31st day prior to the election; and year-end statement, filed by Jan. 31 of the year following the election. Conflicting measures: Measure with the most affirmative votes prevails (OH Const. Subject restrictions: Laws immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or for the support and maintenance of the departments of the state government and state institutions are not subject to the referendum (Const. 11 3). 19, 3; N.R.S. Ballot title and summary: Lieutenant governor forwards petitions that are qualified for the ballot to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, who drafts an impartial title of not more than 100 words summarizing the contents of the proposal. Of the 24 states, 18 allow initiatives to propose constitutional amendments and 21 states allow initiatives to . The referendum may be obligatory or optional. For statute, 8% of total votes cast for governor in last general election. Geographic distribution: None, but petition sheets are organized by county (A.R.S. ; The referendum process allows citizens to refer a law that passed the legislature to the ballot for voters to decide whether to uphold or repeal the law. III, 52(a) and Mo.Rev.Stat. Proponent organization and requirements: None specified. Proponent organization and requirements: There may be a legally or generally recognized sponsor of the proposed amendment or question (M.C.L.A. Seventeen states have a statute in place noting that if two or more conflicting measures are on the same ballot, the measure receiving the most votes passes. Stat. Every state requires or offers some type of review in addition to fiscal statements. Timeline for collecting signatures: Must be 180 days from official summary date by attorney general (Cal.Elec.Code 9014). Timeline for collecting signatures: Unlimited, but if number of filed signatures is deemed insufficient, sponsors have 30 days to collect more (A.C.A. Const. Petition title and summary creation: Petition must include a summary of 100 words or less (MCL 168.482). 15, 273; Miss. 250.045; 260.035; 260.054). Circulator oaths or affidavit required: Yes (IC 34-1807).