Democracy Explainers

What are Ballot Measures?

A ballot measure is a specific policy, bond measure or constitutional amendment on a state-wide or local ballot that citizens directly vote on during an election. Powerful tools of democracy, ballot measures allow voters to directly influence their government and community, often bypassing traditional legislative processes. Ballot measures ensure that voters can address issues that may be overlooked by elected officials, enhancing civic engagement and responsiveness. 

Ballot measures include initiatives, referendums, charters, millages, and proposals, which are all types of, or different names for, ballot measures.

Not all states give their constituents the right to propose ballot measures. States that do allow ballot measures have different methods for how measures are allowed onto the ballot. In recent years, there have been efforts to make it harder for people to introduce ballot measures, limiting voters’ ability to participate in direct democracy.

What are the Differences between Citizen Initiatives, Referendums, and Local Measures?

Citizen Initiatives

In states where citizen initiatives are allowed, citizens have the opportunity to propose new laws or amendments to the state constitution. Advocates must draft a proposal and collect a required number of signatures from registered voters to qualify an initiative to appear on that jurisdiction’s ballot.

Referendums

In a referendum, the jurisdiction’s legislative body refers specific laws or policies to the voters for approval or rejection. This process provides a check on legislative power, allowing citizens to have the final say on controversial or significant issues.

Local Measures

Local ballot measures often involve community-specific issues such as funding for schools (millages) or changes to city charters. These measures require adherence to local petitioning processes and give communities direct connection to local governance.

What Issues Do Ballot Measures Address?

Ballot measures can address a wide range of issues. Below are just some of the different issues that have been voted on or will be voted on through ballot measures: 

• Criminal Justice: Voters can decide on whether to allow slavery and the forced labor of those in prisons and the decriminalization of marijuana
• Democracy: Voters can decide how elections are administered, the redistricting process, voting rights, and even how ballot measures are decided
• Economy & Jobs: Voters can decide the minimum wage, paid family and sick leave, and policies around rental housing, unions, and gig work
• Education: Voters can decide funding for schools and education programs
• Environment: Voters can decide laws affecting natural resources and environmental protections
• Healthcare: Voters can decide healthcare policy and funding, such as medicaid expansion, medical use of marijuana, and reproductive healthcare, such as access to abortions
• Social and Civil Rights: Voters can decide on access to abortion, the legalization of same-sex marriage, equal protections, immigration, and the legalization of marijuana.
• Taxation and Budget: Voters can decide local and state tax policy, including tax rates for the wealthy and how public funds are spent

Why are Ballot Measures Often So Difficult to Understand?

Ballot measures can be written in complex and complicated legal language, making it difficult for voters to understand the meaning of the choices on the ballot – and to fully understand the context of the proposal. 

In some cases, but not all, ballot measures may be written in a way to purposely manipulate voters into thinking they would be for the proposal when it’s actually counter to their beliefs. Intentional or not, complicated language often leads to voter confusion around ballot measures, even among experienced and knowledgeable voters.

How Can I Better Understand Ballot Measures to Cast an Informed Vote?

To ensure you are voting on ballot measures in a way that aligns with your values, it is important to understand the ballot measure itself and also what a yes/no vote means. 

• Review Editorial Opinions: Read opinions from reputable media outlets, such as editorial boards from your local or regional newspaper. Opinions by editorial boards tend to include commentary that can provide insight into the issue that can help you form a more informed opinion of your own and/or point you in a direction for further research.
• Review Endorsements: Research endorsements from trusted civic and advocacy organizations with nonpartisan voter guides. You can identify organizations whose causes you believe in or even those you don’t to better inform how to vote in a way that most aligns with your values. During federal general elections, you can often find endorsements and more information about the measures on your ballot on Rock the Vote’s Ballot Information Tool.
• Read Summaries and Analyses: Read clear explanations and analyses from trusted sources to better understand the implications of the measures. Some states will proactively send out ballot guides to help voters understand the proposals and what a yes/no vote means.
• Attend Forums and Discussions: If possible, attend community events or watch debates to get diverse perspectives.

These resources can make it easier for voters to understand the context of the ballot measure and what each choice means.

How have states made it more difficult for ballot measures to be implemented?

In recent years, states have increasingly made it more difficult to create and pass ballot measures under so-called “reforms”. Tactics include:

• Changing Signature Requirements: Increasing the number of signatures needed or imposing stricter verification processes can make it harder for measures to qualify for the ballot.
• Narrowing Timeframes: Reducing the time allowed to gather signatures or submit proposals limits citizens’ ability to propose measures.
• Geographic Signature Requirements: Requiring signatures meet not only a specific number threshold, but also a geographic threshold that would require a certain percentage of signatures from each legislative district. This limits grassroots initiatives that may not have broad geographic reach and prevents initiatives that may be important to specific areas or geographically bound communities.
• Single Subject Requirement: Limiting the subject of initiatives, which can be problematic as some comprehensive policies may require multiple interconnected components to be effective. The requirement hinders the ability to propose complex solutions within a single initiative, even if those components are necessary for the policy’s success.
• Multiple Approval Requirements: Requiring an initiative to be voted on and approved more than once to become a law. This requires sustained and unnecessary voter engagement and complicates the approval of initiatives that are time-sensitive and require timely action. 
• Imposing Additional Legal and Procedural Hurdles: Making the process more cumbersome and expensive can discourage citizen participation.

Why are Ballot Measures Important?

Ballot measures represent one of the most vital aspects of direct democracy, allowing voters to have a direct say in the laws under which they live and their government. Efforts to restrict this process undermine this democratic principle, making it crucial for voters to stay informed and engaged in preserving their right to direct legislative participation. 

If you are voting on a ballot measure this year, make sure that you do some research so you can make an informed decision on Election Day!

Published November 3, 2024