Laws governing ballot measures in Connecticut
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Connecticut, including constitutional amendments, signature requirements, recall procedures, and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in Connecticut
- Amending the Connecticut Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Connecticut
- Laws governing recall in Connecticut
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Connecticut
- Campaign finance requirements for Connecticut ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Connecticut
Laws governing ballot measures in Connecticut
Types of ballot measures in Connecticut
- In Connecticut, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level.
- In Connecticut, the state legislature can refer constitutional amendments and constitutional convention questions to the ballot.
Amending the Connecticut Constitution
- Connecticut became a state in 1788. The current state constitution was ratified in 1965.
- The Connecticut Constitution can be amended in two ways:
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendment: The General Assembly can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot with a 75% vote in each legislative chamber, or a simple majority of each chamber in two legislative sessions.
- Convention-referred constitutional amendment: A state constitutional convention can vote to refer constitutional changes to the ballot.
- Under Article XIII of the Connecticut Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, starting in 1978.
Laws governing local ballot measures in Connecticut
- There is no mention of the powers of initiative and referendum in the Connecticut Constitution.
Laws governing recall in Connecticut
- Connecticut does not allow the recall of elected officials.
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Connecticut
- According to Article XIII of the Connecticut Constitution, a two-thirds vote in each chamber of the legislature is required to send a constitutional convention question to voters.
- Additionally, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, starting in 1978.
- A simple majority vote by the electorate is required to call the convention.
Campaign finance requirements for Connecticut ballot measures
- PACs that support or oppose ballot measures in Connecticut must register and report campaign finance.
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Connecticut
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
The Connecticut State Legislature did not pass legislation concerning ballot measures in 2025.
See also
Footnotes
