Veto referendum
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Veto referendum is a synonym for citizen referendum or statute referendum. It is also sometimes called a popular referendum.
The phrase refers to times when:
- A legislative body such as a state legislature, city council or county commission, enacts a new law;
- A group that opposes the new law collects enough signatures within the statutory timeframe in that state to place that new law on a ballot for the voters in the relevant political subdivision to either ratify the new law, or reject it.
After a state legislature has passed a bill that may become the target of a veto referendum effort, typically those opposed to the bill have two windows of opportunity. In most states that allow the veto referendum, if citizens collect enough signatures to force the matter onto their state's ballot within a (typically) short amount of time, the targeted law does not then go into effect when it otherwise would have done so. Rather, the law is held in abeyance pending the outcome of the statewide vote. However, there is often a provision that if those who oppose the targeted law collect signatures but on a more extended timeline, that they can still force the issue to a vote but in the meantime, it will have gone into effect.
Meaning of a "yes" vote
Among the states that allow this form of direct democracy, there are two different prevailing standards about what a "yes" vote means.
- In Alaska and Maine, a "yes" vote signifies that the voter believes that the challenged legislation should be overthrown and a "no" vote means that the voter approves the challenged legislation and wants it to become law. The voter is saying, "Yes, I agree with those who object to this law that it should be overthrown." As a historical note, prior to 1998 in Maine, the reverse was true. See Meaning of a "yes" vote in Maine.
- In Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington, a "yes" vote signifies that the voter approves of the challenged legislation and wants it to become law. The voter is saying "Yes, I want this to become law."
States that only allow the veto referendum
For three states, Kentucky, Maryland and New Mexico, the veto referendum is the only access their citizens have to any form of initiated statewide direct democracy. See states with referendum only.
States with veto referendum and more
These states allow the veto referendum as well as other forms of citizen-initiated direct democracy.
Examples of veto referenda
Other types of ballot measures
Use in states
Alaska
Alaskan voters have turned to the veto referendum three times:
- Alaska Voter Registration Referendum (1968)
- Alaska Compensation Referendum (1975)
- Alaska Land-And-Shoot Referendum (2000)
| Total veto referenda on ballot | Legislative acts ratified | Legislative acts rejected |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 2 |
Maine
In Maine, the veto referendum is known as the "People's Veto". According to the laws governing the initiative & referendum process in Maine, the required number of valid signatures to put a People's Veto on the ballot is set at 10% of the number of votes cast for the office of Governor of Maine in the most recent gubernatorial election.
Of the 29 veto referenda that have qualified for the ballot since the first qualified for the 1910 ballot, Maine voters have rejected 16 acts of the Maine legislature and upheld (or ratified) 13 statutes.
| Total veto referenda on ballot | Legislative acts ratified | Legislative acts rejected |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | 13 | 16 |
Oklahoma
- See also: List of veto referenda in Oklahoma
| Total veto referenda on ballot | Legislative acts ratified | Legislative acts rejected |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 6 | 14 |
Washington
- See also: List of Washington State veto referenda
72 veto referenda were filed with the Washington Secretary of State from 1914 through 2009. Of these, 36 qualified for the ballot.
Of the 36 that qualified for the ballot, 24 resulted in voters overturning recent acts of the Washington State Legislature, while in 12 cases, voters ratified a recently-enacted law that was undergoing a veto referendum process.
| Total veto referenda on ballot | Legislative acts ratified | Legislative acts rejected |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 12 | 24 |
See also
- Forms of direct democracy in the American states
- Referendum
- States with referendum only
- Forms of direct democracy in the American states
External links
- Veto referenda on Alaska's ballot
- List of all People's Vetoes in Maine from 1909-present.
- History of State of Washington Referendum Measures through 2006
