Ballotpedia's 2013 ballot measure coverage plan
 |
Welcome to Ballotpedia! On this page you'll find everything you need to know about Ballotpedia's ballot measure election coverage for 2013. This includes state and local ballot measures as well as recall efforts. Additionally, below you'll find a preliminary list of unique election reports to expect for the year.
If you have any questions about election coverage or any of the projects please contact Brittany Clingen.
Overview
Our coverage
For the fifth consecutive year, Ballotpedia will cover all statewide ballot measures across the country, and local measures for 11 states.
If you are interested in volunteering to expand our local ballot measure coverage, we'd love to have you! Click here for more information.
In addition to election coverage, we are always working to build our database of historical statewide measures, as well as recall efforts. To read more about those projects click here for state measures and here to read about recall efforts.
Statewide ballot measures
Historically, elections on odd-numbered years see about forty-five measures on average; there were thirty-four in 2011.
Throughout the year, Ballotpedia staff tracks all proposals including legislative referrals and those made via the initiative & referendum process. This includes tracking filed initiatives, providing updates following petition drive deadlines, maintaining an up-to-date list of potential measures in each state and keeping track of measures that did not qualify for the ballot.
Every Tuesday at 4 pm CT, Ballotpedia publishes a report called The Tuesday Count that provides the latest in ballot measure (state and local), recall, lawsuit and ballot measure legislation news. That report highlights the current certification number for the year. On Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2012 you can find a weekly breakdown of when statewide certifications occurred.
To view a more detailed picture of currently certified state ballot measures, take a look at the Ballot Measure Scorecard. This page highlights when certified measures will appear on the ballot as well as the type of measure.
Throughout the year, we'll be covering efforts to support and oppose ballot measure campaigns, including campaign ads, campaign finance totals, controversies and much more.
- For questions about statewide coverage contact Brittany Clingen.
Ballot measure law
In addition to covering campaign details for all certified measures, Ballotpedia staff tracks lawsuits filed against certified measures and proposals. You can find a list of such lawsuits for 2013 here.
Just as in 2012, we will continue monthly tracking of proposed changes to ballot measure law (the Ballot Law Update). These proposals can, for example, amend the constitution to permit initiatives or raise the number of signatures required to get a measure on the ballot.
- For questions about ballot law contact Eric Veram.
Local ballot measures
Ballotpedia currently tracks a total of 11 states at the local level, based on the availability of comprehensive online election information. Those 11 states include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. When additional information in other states is made available, it is added to the growing local database.
Every year, Ballotpedia keeps track of all locally held ballot measure elections. You can find the list for 2013 here. That page provides a big picture overview of all of the local elections covered by Ballotpedia and summarizes election results.
For a look at all past election dates, news, county lists and links to local laws, visit the local state pages.
- For questions about local coverage contact Josh Altic.
Recalls
For 2013, much like our state and local ballot measure coverage, we are covering scheduled recalls as well as proposed efforts. You can find a list of upcoming recalls here.
For a historical look by state and year, take a look here and here, respectively.
For up-to-date recall news either regularly visit the Recall portal or sign up to receive the weekly Tuesday Count.
General election
Leading up to the November 5, 2013 general election, Ballotpedia ballot measure coverage will include a series of reports and analyses providing readers with a preview of what's to appear on ballots across the United States. (See below for more details).
On the night of November 5, coverage for state and local ballot measures as well as recalls will include:
- real-time results for all statewide measures scheduled to appear on November 5 ballots
- real-time results for statewide recall efforts (this includes state representatives and state executives)
- real-time results for 15 local ballot measures that featured noteworthy local campaigns[1]
2013 General election coverage will include:
- state and local ballot measures
- statewide recalls
- Congress
- state legislatures
- state executive officials
Original analysis
A variety of election-related reports are produced throughout the year for state and local ballot measures, ballot law and recall. Some of those reports include:
- "The Breakdown" series - published prior to the general election. It provides a regional breakdown and summary of certified ballot measures.
- A series of about 5 reports that analyze various features about statewide measures including a look at lawsuits and political topics.
- A two-part look at local school bond and tax measures.
- An annual look at approval rates for all proposed local measures.
- The Ballot Law Update: Year in review - a look at ballot legislation and lawsuits.
2013 election pages
- For all your 2013 election information (including state resources such as voter guides and state blue books) check the Election portal.
- Statewide ballot measures
- Local ballot measures
- Upcoming recall elections
- Ballot measure laws and legislation
- Ballot measure lawsuits
2013 election dates
2013 statewide ballot measures • Local ballot measure elections in 2013 |
Petition drive deadlines
| State | Filing deadline for 2013 ballot | Signatures for amendment | Signatures for statute | Signatures for veto referendum[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | August 5  [3]
|
86,105 | 86,105 | 86,105 |
| Maine | January 24
|
N/A | 57,277 | 57,277 |
| Ohio | July 3
|
385,245 | 115,574[4] | 231,150 |
| Washington | January 4 (ITL), July 5 (ITP)
|
N/A | 246,372 | 123,186 |
Footnotes
- ↑ Due to the large number of local measures generally scheduled to appear on ballots on the night of the General election, only 15 will be selected. ALL local measure results will be available in the days following the General election.
- ↑ Veto referendums, in most states, require a deadline of a certain amount of days after a targeted law is passed. Therefore, the deadlines in this chart do not apply to veto referendums. Deadlines can be found in a proposed veto referendum's article on Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Signature Requirements for Statewide Initiative Petitions", Retrieved January 2, 2013
- ↑ Ohio uses both direct and indirect initiated statues. For the Legislature to consider an indirect statute, 115,574 signatures is needed, which equals to three percent of the total number of ballots casted in the 2010 Governor's election. If the Legislature fails to qualify the statute, a sponsor must collect an additional 115,574 signatures.
| ||||||||||||||||
