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Laws governing ballot measures in Iowa
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Iowa including constitutional amendments, recall procedures, and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in Iowa
- Amending the Iowa Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Iowa
- Laws governing recall in Iowa
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Iowa
- Campaign finance requirements for Iowa ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Iowa
Laws governing ballot measures in Iowa
Types of ballot measures in Iowa
- Iowa has no process for initiated ballot measures.
- In Iowa, the legislature can refer constitutional amendments and constitutional convention questions to the ballot.
Amending the Iowa Constitution
- Iowa became a state in 1846. The current state constitution was ratified in 1857.
- The Iowa Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution:
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendment: A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions, with an election for state legislators in between, for the Iowa State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
- Convention-referred constitutional amendment: A state constitutional convention can vote to refer constitutional changes to the ballot.
Laws governing local ballot measures in Iowa
- In Iowa, the initiative process is only available in charter cities. State statues mandate an initiative process for citizens to propose charter amendments through petition. Charter cities also have authority to permit an initiative process for ordinances.
- Article III of the Iowa Constitution contains the authority for local initiatives.
- Iowa does not allow for the recall of elected officials.
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Iowa
- According to Section 3 of Article X of the Iowa Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 10 years starting in 1970.
- Iowa is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
Campaign finance requirements for Iowa ballot measures
- PACs that support or oppose ballot measures in Iowa must register and report campaign finance.
- Iowa does not impose contribution limits on political campaigns, including ballot issue committees.
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Iowa
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
The Iowa State Legislature did not pass legislation concerning ballot measures in 2025.
See also
Footnotes
