Constitutional amendments since 2003

Every state but Delaware requires voters to ratify proposed state constitutional amendments—changes to a state's constitution. From 2003 through 2024, a total of 1,463 constitutional amendments were proposed and put before voters. Of this total, voters approved 1,046 (66.50%) proposed changes to state constitutions. This article is an analysis of state constitutional amendments of statewide applicability put before voters during this period.

Note: In 2022 in Alabama, voters ratified a recompiled and updated state constitution, the Constitution of Alabama of 2022. In this report, this constitution ratification question is not counted as a constitutional amendment.

There are four ways that proposed constitutional amendments can be proposed and put on the ballot in most states:

• Through legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
• Through initiated constitutional amendments put on the ballot through a citizen signature petition. Eighteen states allow this method of amendment. The requirements in several of these states, such as Illinois and Mississippi, are difficult and rarely used.
• Through constitutional conventions. In some states, automatic ballot referrals allow voters to decide at regular intervals whether to hold a convention.
• In Florida, there is a commission-referred amendment process.

Overview

HIGHLIGHTS

In 2024, 96 constitutional amendments were on the ballot in 35 states, of which, 60 (62.50%) were approved.

From even-numbered years from 2004 through 2024, the average number of constitutional amendments was 107 and the average approval rate was 69.67%.

In Alabama, voters ratified a recompiled and updated state constitution, the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

For the second time in at least 132 years, all constitutional amendments on the ballot in 2017 were approved; the only other year was 1947.

The following map shows the number of constitutional amendments ratified in each state from 2003 through 2024, with states featuring more constitutional changes in a darker shade:

State breakdown

Most active states

States with Initiated and Legislatively Referred Amendments:

From 2003 through 2024, California and Florida had the highest number of proposed constitutional amendments among states with an initiated constitutional amendment process, with 74 and 73 proposals, respectively. California voters approved 35 (47.30%), while Florida voters approved 47 (64.38%). Florida requires a 60% supermajority vote, implemented in 2006, for amendments to pass.

On average:

• States with initiated amendments had 37 proposals per state; and
  • 59.13% of amendments (395 of 668) were approved.
• States without initiated amendments had 25 proposals per state; and
  • 81.40% of amendments (649 of 793) were approved.

States Without Initiated Amendments:

Louisiana led all states in total proposed amendments (152) and approved amendments (111) from 2003 through 2024. Across all states, the average number of amendments on the ballot was 23, with 16 on average being approved.

Below are lists of the five states with the most proposed amendments (on the left) and the states with the most approved amendments (on the right). In the lists, states that feature a process for initiated constitutional amendments are bolded.

States with the most amendments on the ballot:

• Louisiana: 152
• Texas: 127
• Alabama: 83
• Florida: 73
• California: 74

States with the most approved amendments:

• Texas: 120
• Louisiana: 111
• Alabama: 64
• Florida: 47
• California: 35

Even and odd year activity

Constitutional amendment activity is typically higher in even-numbered years due to general elections, which draw greater voter turnout.

• Even Years: The peak year was 2006, with 145 proposed amendments, while 2020 saw the least with 84. Between 2004 and 2012, amendment counts ranged from 109 to 145 annually, decreasing to 84–99 from 2014 to 2024.

• Odd Years: Off-year elections had fewer amendments, with 2017 having the least (17 proposals) and 2007 the most (31). Texas had the most odd-year constitutional amendment activity, proposing 10 amendments in 2019 and 17 in 2007.

States with the most and fewest proposals

• Most Proposals: Louisiana (152) and Texas (127) led the nation from 2003 to 2024. Neither state allows voter-initiated amendments.

• Fewest Proposals: Delaware had no amendments on the ballot during this period. Massachusetts had one (approved in 2022), while Alaska and Vermont each had three proposals.

States with initiatives vs. states without

Eighteen states allow initiated constitutional amendments. Among those states, approval rates for proposed initiatives are lower than in states that only allow legislatively referred amendments and amendments proposed by constitutional conventions.

• 74.29% (1,046 of 1,463) of proposed amendments were approved across all states, including both initiated constitutional amendments and legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
• 59.13% (395 of 668) of proposed amendments were approved across states with both initiated constitutional amendments and legislatively referred constitutional amendments.
• 81.40% (649 of793) of proposed amendments were approved across states without a process for initiated constitutional amendments and that only have legislatively or convention referred amendments.

Initiated constitutional amendments

See also: Initiated constitutional amendment

Of the twenty-six states that have either the power of ballot initiative, veto referendum, or both, 18 of them have a provision for initiated constitutional amendments, or amendments proposed by voters. Those states are as follows:

The following map illustrates which states provide for initiated constitutional amendments and information on whether the initiatives are direct or indirect:

Among states with a process for initiated constitutional amendments, California and Florida featured the most initiated amendment proposals from 2003 through 2024 (74 and 73, respectively). California approved 35 amendments (47.30%), while Florida approved 47 (64.38%). In Florida, a 60% supermajority vote, instituted in 2006, is required for a proposed constitutional amendment to be adopted.

Approval rates

Statistically, from 2003 through 2024, odd-year election cycles featured an approval rate of 9.23% higher for proposed constitutional amendments than even years.

The chart below shows the approval rates of constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot in even and odd years.

Below is a table showing the overall approval rates of constitutional amendments by year.

State	Total	Approved	Approval rate
Alabama	83	64	77.11%
Alaska*	3	1	0.00%
Arizona*	52	27	51.92%
Arkansas*	31	23	74.19%
California*	74	35	47.30%
Colorado*	70	30	42.86%
Connecticut	6	5	83.33%
Delaware	0	0	N/A
Florida*	73	47	64.38%
Georgia	32	28	87.50%
Hawaii	23	16	69.57%
Idaho*	13	12	92.31%
Illinois*	7	5	71.43%
Indiana	7	7	100.00%
Iowa	5	5	100.00%
Kansas	10	8	80.00%
Kentucky	9	5	55.56%
Louisiana	152	111	73.03%
Maine*	11	8	72.73%
Maryland*	22	22	100.00%
Massachusetts*	1	1	100.00%
Michigan*	20	14	70.00%
Minnesota	6	4	66.67%
Mississippi*	10	7	70.00%
Missouri*	47	33	70.21%
Montana*	16	10	62.50%
Nebraska*	31	17	54.84%
Nevada*	42	26	61.90%
New Hampshire	9	4	44.44%
New Jersey	27	23	85.19%
New Mexico*	41	37	90.24%
New York	25	19	76.00%
North Carolina	13	11	84.62%
North Dakota*	35	22	62.86%
Ohio*	34	20	58.82%
Oklahoma*	49	36	73.47%
Oregon*	44	30	68.18%
Pennsylvania	11	11	100.00%
Rhode Island	8	6	75.00%
South Carolina	23	19	82.61%
South Dakota*	34	14	41.18%
Tennessee	11	11	100.00%
Texas	127	120	94.49%
Utah*	34	29	85.29%
Vermont	3	3	100.00%
Virginia	18	17	94.44%
Washington*	16	14	87.50%
West Virginia	12	6	50.00%
Wisconsin	15	12	80.00%
Wyoming*	18	11	61.11%

Data

Below is the collected raw data for constitutional amendments from 2003 through 2024. States with an asterisk (*) have a process for initiative and/or veto referendum. Maryland and New Mexico have only veto referendum.

Related articles

• Initiated constitutional amendment
• Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
• Amending state constitutions
• Colorado Amendment 71: Distribution and Supermajority Requirements for Constitutional Amendments