Circulation period

A circulation period is the time frame in which a petition can be circulated to obtain the minimum amount of signatures required by state law to place the petition on the ballot. It places restrictions on how long a petition can be circulated.

Massachusetts has the shortest circulation period, allowing 60 days to collect the minimum amount of signatures. Florida, on the other hand, has the longest period with four years. Arkansas, Ohio and Utah have no time limits on petition circulating. There has been no correlation between the length of the circulation period and the amount of petitions that make it on the ballot. For example, Illinois and Florida have two of the longest circulation periods but have very few petitions make it on the ballot. To many, Illinois is not even considered an I&R state despite its lengthy circulation period.

State	Circulation Period
Alaska	1 yr.
Arizona	2 yrs.
Arkansas	None
California	150 days
Colorado	6 mos.
Florida	4 yrs.
Idaho	18 mos. or April 30th in the election year
Illinois	2 yrs.
Maine	1 yr.
Massachusetts	60 days to submit to legislature and 42 if legislature does not act
Michigan	180 days
Mississippi	1 yr.
Missouri	18 mos.
Montana	1 yr.
Nebraska	2 yr.
Nevada	291 days for Constitutional measures and 316 days for Statutory measures
North Dakota	1 yr.
Ohio	None
Oklahoma	90 days
Oregon	2 yrs.
South Dakota	1 yr.
Utah	None
Washington	6 mos. for Direct measures and 10 mos. for Indirect measures
Wyoming	18 mos.

References

National Conference of State Legislatures