Ethics rules and commissions ballot measures

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Measures by topic
Measures by year
Measures by state

As a state ballot measure topic, ethics rules and commissions include measures to establish, change, or eliminate ethics rules and oversight bodies for elected officials, judges, and government employees. The topic is grouped within the governance policy area.

This page provides information on:

• upcoming ballot measures and
• a comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state.

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2025 ballot measures and 2026 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to ethics rules and commissions certified for this year and future elections:

There are no ballot measures related to this topic that have qualified for the ballot.

List of ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to ethics rules and commissions, organized by year or state.

Year

State

2024

1. Illinois Penalties for Candidate Interference with Election Worker's Duties Advisory Question (2024)

2022

1. Michigan Proposal 1, Legislative Term Limits and Financial Disclosure Amendment (2022)
2. Oregon Measure 113, Exclusion from Re-election for Legislative Absenteeism Initiative (2022)

2020

1. Missouri Amendment 3, Redistricting Process and Criteria, Lobbying, and Campaign Finance Amendment (2020)

2018

1. Alaska Legislator Conflicts of Interest and Per Diem Limits Initiative (2018)
2. Florida Amendment 12, Lobbying Restrictions Amendment (2018)
3. Missouri Amendment 1, Lobbying, Campaign Finance, and Redistricting Initiative (2018)
4. New Mexico Constitutional Amendment 2, Independent Ethics Commission Amendment (2018)
5. North Carolina Legislative Appointments to Elections Board Amendment (2018)
6. North Dakota Measure 1, Ethics Commission, Foreign Political Contribution Ban, and Conflicts of Interest Initiative (2018)
7. South Dakota Constitutional Amendment W, State Campaign Finance and Lobbying Laws, Government Accountability Board, and Initiative Process Amendment (2018)

2017

1. New York Proposal 2, Pension Forfeiture for Convicted Officials Amendment (2017)

2016

1. Rhode Island Ethics Commission Amendment, Question 2 (2016)

2014

1. Arkansas Elected Officials Ethics, Transparency and Financial Reform Amendment, Issue 3 (2014)

2012

1. Louisiana Retirement Benefits, Amendment 5 (2012)
2. Maryland Elected Officials Removal from Office Amendment, Question 3 (2012)

2010

1. Alaska Ballot Measure 1, Ban on Use of Public Funds for Campaigns, Lobbying, and Contractor Restrictions Initiative (August 2010)
2. Michigan Proposal 10-2, Prohibition of Certain Felons Holding Certain Offices Amendment (2010)
3. Utah Amendment D, Create a Legislative Ethics Commission Measure (2010)

2008

1. South Dakota Initiated Measure 10, Limits on Lobbying Measure (2008)

2006

1. Colorado Amendment 41, Regulations for Public Official Gifts Initiative (2006)
2. Missouri Amendment 7, Forfeit of Elected Officials' Pensions for Felony Convictions Measure (2006)

2005

1. Washington Initiative 900, Mandatory Performance Audits Measure (2005)

1998

1. South Dakota Amendment C, Remove Legislative Conflict of Interest Rules Measure (1998)

1994

1. Missouri Proposition A, Campaign Contribution Limits Initiative (1994)

1991

1. Texas Proposition 6, Creation of Ethics Commission Amendment (1991)

1990

1. Arkansas Standards of Conduct for Candidates and Political Campaigns, Proposed Initiated Act 1 (1990)
2. California Proposition 118, Require Two-Thirds Legislative Vote and Voter Approval for Redistricting Plans Initiative (June 1990)
3. Oklahoma State Question 627, Ethics Commission Initiative (September 1990)
4. South Dakota Amendment B, Legislator Contracting Exception Measure (1990)

1989

1. Texas Proposition 7, Elected Officials Oath Amendment (1989)

1988

1. Arkansas Lobbyist and Public Official Conduct and Disclosure, Proposed Initiated Act 1 (1988)

1986

1. Rhode Island Ethics in Government, Constitutional Amendment 6 (1986)

1982

1. Michigan Proposal H, Utility Rate Increase and Legislators' Employment by Utility Companies Referendum (1982)

1980

1. Montana Lobbyist Disclosure, I-85 (1980)

1976

1. Florida Amendment 1, Ethic Requirements and Procedures of Public Officials and Candidates Initiative (1976)
2. Florida Amendment 3, Judicial Qualifications Commission Amendment (1976)

1975

1. New York Amendment 2, Create a Judicial Conduct Commission Amendment (1975)

1974

1. Alaska Initiative 2, Financial Disclosure Initiative (August 1974)
2. California Proposition 9, Fair Political Practices Commission and Election and Campaign Policies Initiative (June 1974)
3. Florida Amendment 5, Judicial Qualifications Commission Amendment (1974)
4. Idaho Sunshine Law Initiative, INIT 1 (1974)
5. Massachusetts Question 5, Create Independent Commission and Expand Campaign Finance Regulations Initiative (1974)
6. Oregon Measure 14, Government Ethics Commission and Rules of Conduct Measure (1974)

1973

1. Ohio Disqualifications for Public Office Amendment (May 1973)

1972

1. Colorado Referred Law No. 9, Disclosure of Financial Interests, Regulating Lobbyists, and Public State Meetings Initiative (1972)
2. Washington Referendum 24, Lobbyists Regulation Measure (1972)

1956

1. Wisconsin Question 4, Public Officer Privilege Use Amendment (April 1956)

1952

1. California Proposition 10, No Tax Money to Groups or Individuals Who Lobby (1952)

1936

1. Wisconsin Question 1, Free Passes for Public Officials Amendment (1936)

1924

1. Missouri Amendment 18, Prohibit Public Officials Appointing Relatives to Government Positions Measure (February 1924)
2. Missouri Amendment 4, General Assembly Salaries and Expenses Measure (1924)

1918

1. Massachusetts Question 18, Prohibit Legislators from Appointment to Created Office or Receiving Additional Compensation for Recess Committee Service Amendment (1918)

1914

1. Oklahoma State Question 73, Cause for Removal from Office Initiative (August 1914)

1912

1. Ohio Additional Removal Process for Officials Accused of Misconduct or Moral Turpitude Amendment (September 1912)

1910

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 358-359, Board of People's Inspectors of Government Initiative (1910)

1908

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 330-331, Campaign Rules and Regulations Initiative (June 1908)

1906

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 316-317, Prohibition of Free Passes and Discounts Initiative (June 1906)

1902

1. Wisconsin Question 3, Free Passes for Public Officials Amendment (1902)

Alaska

1. Alaska Ballot Measure 1, Ban on Use of Public Funds for Campaigns, Lobbying, and Contractor Restrictions Initiative (August 2010)
2. Alaska Initiative 2, Financial Disclosure Initiative (August 1974)
3. Alaska Legislator Conflicts of Interest and Per Diem Limits Initiative (2018)

Arkansas

1. Arkansas Elected Officials Ethics, Transparency and Financial Reform Amendment, Issue 3 (2014)
2. Arkansas Lobbyist and Public Official Conduct and Disclosure, Proposed Initiated Act 1 (1988)
3. Arkansas Standards of Conduct for Candidates and Political Campaigns, Proposed Initiated Act 1 (1990)

California

1. California Proposition 10, No Tax Money to Groups or Individuals Who Lobby (1952)
2. California Proposition 118, Require Two-Thirds Legislative Vote and Voter Approval for Redistricting Plans Initiative (June 1990)
3. California Proposition 9, Fair Political Practices Commission and Election and Campaign Policies Initiative (June 1974)

Colorado

1. Colorado Amendment 41, Regulations for Public Official Gifts Initiative (2006)
2. Colorado Referred Law No. 9, Disclosure of Financial Interests, Regulating Lobbyists, and Public State Meetings Initiative (1972)

Florida

1. Florida Amendment 1, Ethic Requirements and Procedures of Public Officials and Candidates Initiative (1976)
2. Florida Amendment 12, Lobbying Restrictions Amendment (2018)
3. Florida Amendment 3, Judicial Qualifications Commission Amendment (1976)
4. Florida Amendment 5, Judicial Qualifications Commission Amendment (1974)

Idaho

1. Idaho Sunshine Law Initiative, INIT 1 (1974)

Illinois

1. Illinois Penalties for Candidate Interference with Election Worker's Duties Advisory Question (2024)

Louisiana

1. Louisiana Retirement Benefits, Amendment 5 (2012)

Maryland

1. Maryland Elected Officials Removal from Office Amendment, Question 3 (2012)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Question 18, Prohibit Legislators from Appointment to Created Office or Receiving Additional Compensation for Recess Committee Service Amendment (1918)
2. Massachusetts Question 5, Create Independent Commission and Expand Campaign Finance Regulations Initiative (1974)

Michigan

1. Michigan Proposal 1, Legislative Term Limits and Financial Disclosure Amendment (2022)
2. Michigan Proposal 10-2, Prohibition of Certain Felons Holding Certain Offices Amendment (2010)
3. Michigan Proposal H, Utility Rate Increase and Legislators' Employment by Utility Companies Referendum (1982)

Missouri

1. Missouri Amendment 1, Lobbying, Campaign Finance, and Redistricting Initiative (2018)
2. Missouri Amendment 18, Prohibit Public Officials Appointing Relatives to Government Positions Measure (February 1924)
3. Missouri Amendment 3, Redistricting Process and Criteria, Lobbying, and Campaign Finance Amendment (2020)
4. Missouri Amendment 4, General Assembly Salaries and Expenses Measure (1924)
5. Missouri Amendment 7, Forfeit of Elected Officials' Pensions for Felony Convictions Measure (2006)
6. Missouri Proposition A, Campaign Contribution Limits Initiative (1994)

Montana

1. Montana Lobbyist Disclosure, I-85 (1980)

New Mexico

1. New Mexico Constitutional Amendment 2, Independent Ethics Commission Amendment (2018)

New York

1. New York Amendment 2, Create a Judicial Conduct Commission Amendment (1975)
2. New York Proposal 2, Pension Forfeiture for Convicted Officials Amendment (2017)

North Carolina

1. North Carolina Legislative Appointments to Elections Board Amendment (2018)

North Dakota

1. North Dakota Measure 1, Ethics Commission, Foreign Political Contribution Ban, and Conflicts of Interest Initiative (2018)

Ohio

1. Ohio Additional Removal Process for Officials Accused of Misconduct or Moral Turpitude Amendment (September 1912)
2. Ohio Disqualifications for Public Office Amendment (May 1973)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma State Question 627, Ethics Commission Initiative (September 1990)
2. Oklahoma State Question 73, Cause for Removal from Office Initiative (August 1914)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 113, Exclusion from Re-election for Legislative Absenteeism Initiative (2022)
2. Oregon Measure 14, Government Ethics Commission and Rules of Conduct Measure (1974)
3. Oregon Measure Nos. 316-317, Prohibition of Free Passes and Discounts Initiative (June 1906)
4. Oregon Measure Nos. 330-331, Campaign Rules and Regulations Initiative (June 1908)
5. Oregon Measure Nos. 358-359, Board of People's Inspectors of Government Initiative (1910)

Rhode Island

1. Rhode Island Ethics Commission Amendment, Question 2 (2016)
2. Rhode Island Ethics in Government, Constitutional Amendment 6 (1986)

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Amendment B, Legislator Contracting Exception Measure (1990)
2. South Dakota Amendment C, Remove Legislative Conflict of Interest Rules Measure (1998)
3. South Dakota Constitutional Amendment W, State Campaign Finance and Lobbying Laws, Government Accountability Board, and Initiative Process Amendment (2018)
4. South Dakota Initiated Measure 10, Limits on Lobbying Measure (2008)

Texas

1. Texas Proposition 6, Creation of Ethics Commission Amendment (1991)
2. Texas Proposition 7, Elected Officials Oath Amendment (1989)

Utah

1. Utah Amendment D, Create a Legislative Ethics Commission Measure (2010)

Washington

1. Washington Initiative 900, Mandatory Performance Audits Measure (2005)
2. Washington Referendum 24, Lobbyists Regulation Measure (1972)

Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin Question 1, Free Passes for Public Officials Amendment (1936)
2. Wisconsin Question 3, Free Passes for Public Officials Amendment (1902)
3. Wisconsin Question 4, Public Officer Privilege Use Amendment (April 1956)

See also

• List of ballot measures by topic