2027 ballot measures

State ballot measures, 2027

Ballotpedia's real-time, comprehensive overview of statewide ballot measures in 2027, including qualified measures, election results, trends, and analyses.

As of March 26, 2026, zero statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in zero states for elections in 2027.

From 2011 to 2025, the average number of statewide ballot measures in an odd-numbered year was 33.

Click here to learn more about the local ballot measures decided in counties, cities, school districts, and special districts across the United States in 2027.

Explore the content below for more information:

List of state ballot measures
See which measures have qualified for the ballot in each state.
List of election dates
Find ballot measures scheduled for upcoming election dates.
Trends
Explore historical comparisons, topic trends, campaign finance data, and more.
Data and analyses
Review data-driven analyses of state ballot measures.
List of potential ballot measures
Track proposals moving through signature gathering or legislatures that could reach the ballot.

2027 Ballot Measures

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State ballot measures

By state By year

Local ballot measures

By state By year

Analyses

State Local

Trends

Types of ballot measures

From 2011 to 2025, an average of 33 statewide ballot measures — 5 initiated measures and 28 referred measures — appeared on ballots in odd-numbered years. An initiated measure is a proposed law that people collect signatures for to put on the ballot. A referred measure is a proposed law that a legislature or commission, or constitutional provision in the case of automatic referrals, puts on the ballot for voters to decide.

Ballot measures by type, 2011-2025
Type	2025	2023	2021	2019	2017	2015	2013	2011	Average (2011-2025)
Initiated ballot measures	2	7	4	2	4	5	3	12	5
Initiated constitutional amendments^[1]	0	1	1	0	1	1	1	4	1
Initiated state statutes	2	6	3	1	3	4	2	6	3
Veto referendums	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
Referred ballot measures	28	34	35	34	23	23	28	22	28
Legislative constitutional amendment	26	31	23	19	16	16	17	21	21
Legislative state statute	2	2	1	2	0	1	1	1	1
Commission-referred measure	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Automatically referred measure	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Bond issues	0	0	8	1	3	2	5	0	2
Advisory question	0	1	3	12	3	4	5	0	4
Total:	30	41	39	36	27	28	31	34	33

The following chart illustrates the number of initiated measures and referred measures for each odd-numbered year from 2001 to 2025. The year with the most initiated measures, at 19, was 2005. The year with the most referred measures, at 59, was 2003.

Data and analyses

State Ballot Measure Monthly

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Weekly ballot measure count
Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count
Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count is a weekly update that tracks the number of statewide ballot measures certified for upcoming elections. It’s updated every Tuesday to align with the timing of general elections and to provide a consistent reference point for comparing ballot measure activity across years.
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List of potential ballot measures

See also: Potential 2027 ballot measures

Initiatives

Referrals

Certified to the legislature

Certified to the legislature refers to indirect ballot initiatives that have had their signatures verified and are now being considered by the state legislature. After signatures are verified, the measure is presented to the state legislature. Lawmakers can choose to enact the measure into law. If the legislature rejects it or takes no action, the measure qualifies for the ballot or requires a second round of signatures, depending on the state.

Signatures submitted

Signatures submitted refers to citizen-initiated ballot measures for which supporters have turned in petition signatures but are awaiting verification to determine whether the measure qualifies for the ballot.

Approved for signature gathering

Approved for signature gathering refers to citizen-initiated ballot measures that election officials have authorized to begin collecting signatures.

Jurisdiction	Type	Title	Description
Maine	IndISS	Create a Publicly Funded Healthcare System Initiative	Direct the state legislature to create a publicly funded health care system
Maine	IndISS	Criminalize the Use of Recreational Marijuana Initiative	Repeal the Maine Cannabis Legalization Act, which legalized the use of marijuana for recreational purposes for adults over the age of 21

Proposed

A legislative referral, or legislatively referred ballot measure, is a ballot measure that appears on the ballot due to a vote of the state legislature. A legislative referral can be a constitutional amendment, state statute, or bond issue.

Legislators introduce more than 1,000 proposed legislative referrals, most of which are constitutional amendments, each year. Pages are created once a legislative referral reaches the halfway point in the certification process. Depending on the state’s rules, this occurs either when the measure passes one legislative chamber or when the measure is approved during one legislative session.

Jurisdiction	Type	Title	Description
Louisiana	LRCA	Require Prosecutor Consent to Waive Jury Trial Amendment	Requite a prosecutor’s written consent before a defendant in a noncapital felony case could waive the right to a jury trial
Louisiana	LRCA	Supreme Court Jurisdiction for Lawyer Disciplinary Proceedings Amendment	Grant the state supreme court original jurisdiction over disciplinary proceedings for certain lawyers connected to the state
Wisconsin	LRCA	Allow the State Legislature to Suspend Rules from State Agencies Amendment	Allow the state legislature to suspend entire rules, or parts of rules, put forth by state executive agencies