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English language policy ballot measures

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As a state ballot measure topic, English language policy includes measures about the use of English in settings such as schools, government, and public services. It also includes measures to designate English as an official state language. The topic is grouped within the social issue policy area.

This page provides information on:

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2025 ballot measures and 2026 ballot measures
The following is a list of state ballot measures related to English language policy certified for this year and future elections:

History of English as official language ballot measures

See also: History of English as official language ballot measures and laws

As of 2025, 30 states had designated English as their official language. Three—Alaska, Hawaii, and South Dakota—also recognize some indigenous languages as co-official languages. Most (27) of these states adopted their official language between the 1980s and 2000s, with a median year of 1988.

In 1991, Michele Arington wrote that "[a]lthough a proposed [federal] constitutional amendment, the 'English Language Amendment,' has stalled repeatedly in the Congress," supporters had "considerable success at the state and local levels." Arington added, "The preferred method of enacting such legislation, especially in recent years, has been the initiative and referendum."[1] The trend emerged in the 1980s with California Proposition 63 and continued into the 2000s, with the most recent vote taking place in 2010 in Oklahoma.

Of the 30 states that designated English as their official language, 11 (37%) did so through voter-approved ballot measures. Measures were approved in Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah, and twice in Arizona. The average vote on these measures was 73.1%, with support ranging from 50.5% to 88.5%.

On March 1, 2025, President Donald Trump (R) issued an executive order "[designating] English as the official language of the United States."[2]

The following is a list of state ballot measures to designate English as an official state language: The following is a list of state ballot measures to designate English as an official state language:

State official language ballot measures
State Year Measure Origin Language(s) Yes No Outcome
Nebraska 1920 Amendment 3: English as Official State Language Convention English 83.63% 16.37%
Approveda
Hawaii 1978 Amendment 31: Preamble, Official Languages, and Motto Measure Convention English and Hawaiian 69.72% 30.28%
Approveda
California 1986 Proposition 63: English as Official State Language Initiative English 73.25% 26.75%
Approveda
Arizona 1988 Proposition 106: English as Official State Language Initiative English 50.50% 49.50%
Approveda
Colorado 1988 Amendment 1: English as Official State Language Initiative English 61.15% 38.85%
Approveda
Florida 1988 Amendment 11: English as Official State Language Initiative English 83.87% 16.13%
Approveda
Alabama 1990 Amendment 1: English as Official State Language Legislature English 88.52% 11.48%
Approveda
Alaska 1998 Measure 6: English as Official State Language Initiative English 68.60% 31.40%
Approveda
Utah 2000 Initiative A: English as Official State Language Initiative English 67.18% 32.82%
Approveda
Arizona 2006 Proposition 103: English as Official State Language Legislature English 74.00% 26.00%
Approveda
Missouri 2008 Amendment 1: English as Official State Language Legislature English 86.31% 13.69%
Approveda
Oklahoma 2010 State Question 751: English as Official State Language Legislature English 75.54% 24.46%
Approveda
Idaho 2026 HJR 6: English as Official State Language Amendment Legislature English TBD TBD
TBD

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to English language policy, organized by year or state.

2026

  1. Idaho HJR 6, English as Official State Language Amendment (2026) - On the ballot

2016

  1. California Proposition 58, Non-English Languages Allowed in Public Education (2016) Approved

2010

  1. Oklahoma State Question 751, English as Official State Language Amendment (2010) Approved

2008

  1. Missouri Amendment 1, English as Official State Language Measure (2008) Approved
  2. Oregon Measure 58, Public School English Immersion Initiative (2008) Defeated

2006

  1. Arizona Proposition 103, English as Official State Language Amendment (2006) Approved

2002

  1. Colorado Amendment 31, English Language Education Initiative (2002) Defeated
  2. Massachusetts Question 2, English in Public Education Initiative (2002) Approved
  3. Nebraska Amendment 1, Repeal English Language Requirement in Private Schools Measure (2002) Defeated

2000

  1. Arizona Proposition 203, English Language Education for Public Schools Initiative (2000) Approved
  2. Nebraska Amendment 1, Repeal English Language Requirement in Private Schools Measure (May 2000) Defeated
  3. Utah Initiative A, English as Official State Language Measure (2000) Approved

1998

  1. Alaska Measure 6, English as Official State Language Initiative (1998) Approved
  2. California Proposition 227, Require English Instruction in Public Schools Initiative (June 1998) Approved

1990

  1. Alabama Amendment 1, English as Official State Language (June 1990) Approved

1988

  1. Arizona Proposition 106, English as Official State Language Initiative (1988) Overturned
  2. Colorado Amendment 1, English as Official State Language Initiative (1988) Approved
  3. Florida Amendment 11, English as Official State Language Initiative (1988) Approved

1986

  1. California Proposition 63, English as Official State Language Initiative (1986) Approved

1984

  1. California Proposition 38, Language for Election Materials Initiative (1984) Approved

1978

  1. Hawaii Amendment 31, Preamble, Official Languages, and Motto Measure (1978) Approved

1976

  1. Connecticut Qualification of Electors, Question 1 (1976) Approved

1972

  1. Oregon Measure 1, Remove Literacy Requirement and Lower Voting Age Amendment (May 1972) Defeated

1970

  1. Alaska Amendment 2, Eliminate Requirement to Read English to Vote Amendment (August 1970) Approved

1968

  1. Hawaii Eliminating the Literacy Requirement to Vote, Amendment 10 (1968) Approved

1966

  1. California Proposition 15, Exemption From Voter Education Requirement Amendment (1966) Defeated

1948

  1. Oregon Measure Nos. 308-309, Qualifications to Vote in School Elections Initiative (1948) Approved

1920

  1. Nebraska Amendment 3, English as Official State Language Measure (September 1920) Approved

1903

  1. New Hampshire Voters Required to Read and Write English, Question 1 (1903) Approved

1896

  1. Washington English Language Requirement for Voting Amendment (1896) Approved

See also

Footnotes