Initiatives, Ballot Measures & Referendums
In most communities, transit advocates have the power on Election
Day to do more than select candidates for elected office. Citizens
can enact legislation, fund projects or approve amendments using
citizen initiated ballot measures. In twenty-four states and the
District of Columbia, citizens have the right to adopt laws and
amend state constitutions by placing legislation directly on the
ballot for approval or rejection. Additionally, most localities
allow some form of initiative either at the town, city or county
level.
“I know of no safe repository of the ultimate power of society
but the people…” –Thomas Jefferson
Quick Facts About Ballot Measures:
- Nearly 90 percent of American cities, towns and municipalities
offer some form of referendum or initiative procedure.
- No national initiative or referendum process exists in the
United States.
- Ballot measure campaigns tend to increase voter turn out in
mid-term elections, but not in presidential election years.
- No state limits financial contributions to ballot measure campaigns.
- 60% of all initiative activity has taken place in just six states
(Arizona, California, Colorado, North Dakota, Oregon and Washington),
even though 24 states have the statewide initiative process.
Five Basic Types of Ballot Measures:
Ballot Measure:
Any issue on a ballot other than a candidate for office. Initiatives
and referendums are two types of ballot measures.
Initiative:
Initiatives are when citizens collect signatures on a petition in
order to place questions on the ballot for adoption or rejection
by the voting public. If a specified number of voters sign a petition
in favor of an idea, the proposal goes either to the voters or to
a lawmaking body, which are then required to vote on the issue.
Anyone may put together an initiative campaign. Initiatives often
ask advisory questions, propose memorials, outline potential statutes
or amend a state constitution.
Legislative Referendum:
This is a proposal that has been “referred” to the ballot
by a state legislature. Legislative referendums usually create laws,
amend the state constitution or refer bond questions. All states
allow the legislative referendum process.
Referendum (or Popular Referendum):
A referendum is when citizens collect signatures on a petition in
order to bring about a public vote on specific legislation that
was enacted by their legislature. A constitutional referendum asks
voters to approve or reject an amendment to the state constitution.
Many cities and states also allow statutory referendums, in which
citizens vote on laws passed by the legislature or proposed by an
initiative.
Recall:
A recall is a ballot measure initiated by citizens to remove an
elected official from office.
Helpful Ballot Measure Links:
Initiative
and Referendum Institute:
A non-partisan organization dedicated to the study of the initiative
& referendum process, including current trends, state-by-state
process descriptions and the history of ballot measures.
Ballot Initiative
Strategy Center:
A national center that helps advance progressive ballot measures
across the country through a network of organizational leaders and
experienced consultants.
Ballot Funding.Org:
Provides information on the major funders of ballot measures across
the country, tracks ballot measure donations and advocates for financial
transparency in the ballot process.
Brookings Report “Growth
at the Ballot Box: Electing the Shape of Communities in November
2000”
An in-depth report on growth-related initiatives by a respected
Washington, D.C. think-tank. The report analyzes more than 550 state-wide
and local initiatives dealing with transportation investment and
economic development.
Ten
things you should think through before sponsoring a ballot initiative:
An article by the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center geared toward
advocates. It includes a helpful checklist of issues to consider,
questions to ask yourself and advice on organizing.
National
Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL):
NCSL’s initiative and referendum page includes a database
of ballot measures, recommendations for improving the ballot measure
system, information on current lawsuits related to ballot measures
and explanations of the ballot measure process and history.
(Ballot measure information from the I & R Institute, Washington,
DC)
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