Laws governing local ballot measures in Connecticut

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Laws governing ballot measures in the U.S.
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Laws governing ballot measures in the U.S.

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This page describes the state constitutional provisions and statutes that govern local ballot measures in Connecticut. Jurisdictions often establish additional rules within the parameters of state law; those can be found in local ordinances and home-rule charters.

Explore the links below for more information:

Law

The General Statutes of Connecticut establish the rules that govern local ballot measures in the state.

General

The following outlines the general rules that govern local ballot measures in Connecticut, including both citizen-initiated measures and referred measures from local government bodies.

  • Election timing: In Connecticut, election timing differs depending on how the measure was placed on the ballot:
    • If a charter amendment or home-rule ordinance amendment is approved for the ballot, the appointing authority of the municipality must either put it to a vote at the next general election held within the municipality or at a special election called for such purpose within 15 months of approval.[1]
    • If a referendum is called for an ordinance passed by a local government, it must be put to a vote at the next regular or special election.[2]
  • Vote requirements:
    • All local ballot measures in Connecticut require a simple majority vote to be approved in a general election.[1][2]
    • During a special election, charter amendments and home-rule ordinances require a majority vote that equals at least 15% of the electors of the municipality, as determined by the last-completed active registry list of the municipality.[1]
  • Required ballot measures:
    • The General Statutes of Connecticut require voter-approved ballot measures for the following:[3][1][4]
      • The consolidation or merging of local governments.
      • Local charter adoptions and charter amendments.
      • Regional school district bonds.

Initiatives

The following outlines the general rules that govern local citizen-initiated ballot measures in Connecticut.

  • Authority:
    • Chapter 99, Section 7-188 of the General Statutes of Connecticut grants voters the authority to file a petition to initiate charter adoption or amendment and certain home-rule ordinance actions.[5]
    • Chapter 99, Section 7-157 of the General Statutes of Connecticut grants voters the authority to file a veto referendum within 30 days of publication of a local ordinance.[2]
  • Signatures:
    • Citizen-initiated laws: Petitions for charter amendments and home-rule ordinances must receive signatures equal to 10% of the electors of the municipality it is filed in.[1]
    • Veto referendums: Petitions for veto referendums must receive signatures equal to at least 15% of the electors of the municipality that it is filed in.[2]
  • Deadlines:
    • Citizen-initiated laws: Petitions for charter amendments and home-rule ordinances must be gathered within 90 days of when it was filed.[5]
    • Veto referendums: Petitions for veto referendums must be submitted within 30 days of publication of a local ordinance.[2]

Referrals

The following outlines the general rules that govern local referred ballot measures in Connecticut.

  • Authority: Chapter 99, Section 7-188 of the General Statutes of Connecticut grants local legislative bodies the authority to submit charter amendments and home-rule ordinances to a referendum without an initiative.[5]
  • Deadline: Charter amendments and home-rule ordinances put through a referendum by a local legislative body must also be referred to the ballot within 15 months of approval.[1]

Laws governing local ballot measures in the U.S.

Laws governing local ballot measures in the United States

As state laws govern ballot measures, the rules are different from state to state. Click on a state below to explore that state's laws on local ballot measures.

http://ballotpedia.org/Laws_governing_local_ballot_measures_in_STATE

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Connecticut General Assembly, "General Statutes of Connecticut, Title 7, Chapter 99, Sec. 7-191," accessed November 25, 2025
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Connecticut General Assembly, "General Statutes of Connecticut, Title 7, Chapter 98, Sec. 7-157," accessed November 25, 2025
  3. ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "General Statutes of Connecticut, Title 7, Chapter 99, Sec. 7-199," accessed November 25, 2025
  4. ↑ Connecticut General Assembly, "General Statutes of Connecticut, Title 10, Chapter 164, Sec. 10-56," accessed November 25, 2025
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Connecticut General Assembly, "General Statutes of Connecticut, Title 7, Chapter 99, Sec. 7-188," accessed November 25, 2025
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