Ballot measure petition deadlines and requirements, 2026

2026 U.S. state ballot measures
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A ballot initiative is a citizen-initiated ballot measure. The ballot initiative process allows citizens to propose statutes or constitutional amendments, depending on the state, and collect signatures to place their proposals on the ballot for voters to decide. Some states have an indirect process in which legislatures have the option to approve the proposals outright.

Other names for ballot initiatives include popular initiatives, citizen initiatives, and citizen referendums.

A citizen-initiated ballot measure can be an initiated state statute, initiated constitutional amendment, or a veto referendum. A veto referendum is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal an enacted law.

There are 26 states that allow for citizen-initiated ballot measures, although the process has been suspended in Mississippi due to a court ruling.

Signatures must be collected for citizen-initiated ballot measures. Requirements related to signatures and deadlines are state-specific. This page provides information on these requirements for 2026.

See also: 2026 ballot measures

Requirements

The tables below provide information on signature deadlines and dates for citizen-initiated ballot measures in 2026.

Notes:

• This symbol signifies that a signature deadline has passed for a type of ballot measure in a state.

Initiatives

The tables below provide information on signature deadlines and dates for initiatives, including initiated constitutional amendments and initiated statutes, in 2026.

Deadlines and Requirements for 2026

State	Type	Deadlines	Explanation	Signatures
Alaska	IndISS	01/20/2026	Signatures must be submitted before the start of the legislative session	34,098
Arizona	CICA	07/02/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election	383,923
Arizona	CISS	07/02/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election	255,949
Arkansas	CICA	07/03/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election	90,704
Arkansas	CISS	07/03/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election	72,563
California	CICA	06/25/2026	Signatures must be verified at least 131 days before general election	874,641
California	CISS	06/25/2026	Signatures must be verified at least 131 days before general election	546,651
Colorado	CICA	08/03/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least three months before the general election	124,238
Colorado	CISS	07/13/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least three months before the general election	124,238
Florida	CICA	02/01/2026	Signatures must be verified on or before February 1	880,062
Idaho	CISS	05/01/2026	Signatures must be verified on or before May 1	70,725
Illinois	CICA	05/03/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least six months before the general election	328,371
Maine	IndISS	02/02/2026	Signatures must be submitted within 25 days after the convening of the state legislature's legislative session	67,682
Massachusetts	IndICA	11/19/2025	Signatures must be submitted two weeks before the first Wednesday in December	74,574
Massachusetts	IndISS	11/19/2025 (Round 1) 06/17/2026 (Round 2)	Signatures must be submitted two weeks before the first Wednesday in December	74,574 (Round 1) 12,429 (Round 2)
Michigan	CICA	07/06/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least 120 days before the general election	446,198
Michigan	IndISS	05/27/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least 160 days before the general election	356,958
Mississippi	IndICA	Suspended	Signatures must be submitted at least 90 days before the next regular legislative session	106,190
Missouri	CICA	05/03/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least six months before the general election	170,215
Missouri	CISS	05/03/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least six months before the general election	106,384
Montana	CICA	06/21/2026	Signatures must be verified on or before the third Friday of June	60,241
Montana	CISS	06/21/2026	Signatures must be verified on or before the third Friday of June	30,121
Nebraska	CICA	07/02/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election	10% of registered voters at time of deadline
Nebraska	CISS	07/02/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election	7% of registered voters at time of deadline
Nevada	CICA	June 24, 2026	Signatures must be filed by 15 days after the primary election	148,788
Nevada	IndISS	November 20, 2024	Signatures must be filed by 15 days after the general election	102,362
North Dakota	CICA	07/06/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least 120 days before the general election	31,164
North Dakota	CISS	07/06/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least 120 days before the general election	15,582
Ohio	CICA	07/01/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least 125 days before the general election	413,487
Ohio	IndISS	12/26/2025 (Round 1) 07/01/2026 (Round 2)	Signatures must be submitted at least 10 days before the legislative session begins	124,046 (Round 1) 124,046 (Round 2)
Oklahoma	CICA	08/25/2026	Signatures must be verified at least 70 days before the general election	172,993
Oklahoma	CISS	08/25/2026	Signatures must be verified at least 70 days before the general election	92,263
Oregon	CICA	07/02/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election	156,231
Oregon	CISS	07/02/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election	117,173
South Dakota	CICA	02/03/2026	Signatures must be filed by the first Tuesday in February of a general election year	35,017
South Dakota	CISS	02/03/2026	Signatures must be filed by the first Tuesday in February of a general election year	17,508
Utah	CISS	02/15/2026	Signatures must be submitted on or before February 15	140,748
Utah	IndISS	11/15/2025 (Round 1) 02/15/2026 (Round 2)	Signatures must be submitted on or before November 15	70,374 (Round 1) 70,374 (Round 2)
Washington	CISS	07/02/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least four months before the general election	308,911
Washington	IndISS	01/02/2026	Signatures must be submitted at least 10 days before the legislative session	308,911
Wyoming	IndISS	02/06/2026	Signatures must be submitted before the legislative session	40,669

Referendums

Note: Deadlines for veto referendums will be added in 2026 based on state legislative session schedules.

See also

• States with initiative or referendum
• Laws governing the initiative process
• Signature requirements for ballot measures
• Length of signature gathering periods for ballot initiatives
• Ballot initiative

Footnotes

2026 ballot measures

State ballot measures

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Local ballot measures

Ballotpedia is not yet tracking local ballot measures for 2026.

Overviews

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