List of Iowa ballot measures

This page provides a list of ballot measures that have appeared on the statewide ballot in Iowa.

List of ballot measures by year

Measures are listed in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent and upcoming elections appearing first. Tables include brief summaries, relevant topics, and the election results for each measure.

2030

See also: Iowa 2030 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Result
ACCQ	Constitutional Convention Question	State constitutional conventions

2024

See also: Iowa 2024 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Primary election participation; Voting age policy; Citizenship voting requirements	Prohibit the state and local governments from allowing noncitizens to vote and allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the general election to vote in primary elections	a	1,150,332 (77%)	341,034 (23%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State executive branch structure	Provides that if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor would assume the office of governor for the remainder of the term, thereby creating a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor	a	1,190,003 (81%)	278,282 (19%)

2022

See also: Iowa 2022 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Constitutional rights; Firearms policy	Provide for a state constitutional right to own and bear firearms	a	748,363 (65%)	399,959 (35%)

2020

See also: Iowa 2020 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
ACCQ	Constitutional Convention Question	State constitutional conventions	Voters determine whether Iowa will hold a constitutional convention	d	408,746 (30%)	972,930 (70%)

2010

See also: Iowa 2010 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State and local government budgets, spending, and finance; Parks, land, and natural area conservation	a
ACCQ	Question 1	State constitutional conventions	d	317,577 (33%)	649,316 (67%)

2008

See also: Iowa 2008 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Voting rights for persons with criminal convictions	The measure repealed Section 5 of Article II of the Iowa Constitution and replaced it with a section that provided that persons "adjudged mentally incompetent to vote" or persons "convicted of any infamous crime" not be eligible to vote.	a	1,014,952 (82%)	215,912 (18%)

2000

See also: Iowa 2000 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
ACCQ	Question 1	State constitutional conventions	The measure would have called for a constitutional convention to amend the constitution.	d	300,468 (32%)	626,251 (68%)

1999

See also: Iowa 1999 ballot measures

June 29

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State and local government budgets, spending, and finance	The measure would have required the governor and the legislature to approve budgets for general fund expenditures that were no more than 99 percent of estimated revenues. The measure also would have required that only 95 percent of new revenues be included in general fund expenditures.	d	211,934 (49%)	218,101 (51%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State legislative vote requirements; Taxes	The measure would have required a three-fifths vote of all members of the legislature to increase income or sales taxes or to establish a new state tax.	d	205,317 (48%)	222,126 (52%)

1998

See also: Iowa 1998 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Constitutional rights; Sex and gender issues	State that women, as well as men, possess the inalienable rights provided in the Iowa Bill of Rights	a	654,419 (84%)	128,589 (16%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Jury rules; Civil trials; Criminal trials	The measure removed a $100 fine limit for minor offenses that could be tried without a jury.	a	474,433 (64%)	268,300 (36%)

1996

See also: Iowa 1996 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes; Game and fish commissions; Restricted-use funds	The measure required that all revenue from state license fees for hunting, fishing and trapping and any other funds related to hunting, fishing and trapping be used exclusively for the performance and administration of activities related to those purposes.	a	843,754 (88%)	110,436 (12%)

1992

See also: Iowa 1992 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Constitutional rights; Sex and gender issues	Prohibit the denial or restriction of rights on account of a person's sex	d	557,918 (48%)	604,839 (52%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Dueling bans	Repeal language from the Iowa Constitution that disqualified people who engaged in a duel from public office	a	540,320 (57%)	402,364 (43%)

1990

See also: Iowa 1990 ballot measures

November 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
ACCQ	Constitutional Convention	State constitutional conventions	The question appears on the Iowa ballot automatically every 10 years as per the state constitution. It would have called for a convention to revise the constitution.	d	179,762 (27%)	491,179 (73%)

1988

See also: Iowa 1988 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State executive elections	The measure made it so the governor and lieutenant governor are elected as a team.	a	541,645 (67%)	271,331 (33%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State executive official measures	The measure established duties of the lieutenant governor provided by law and assigned by the governor.	a	812,976 (50%)	812,796 (50%)

1986

See also: Iowa 1986 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Administration of government; State legislatures measures	The measure allowed the Iowa Legislature to specify effective dates for laws and repealed the requirement that some laws be published before taking effect.	a	291,601 (57%)	218,877 (43%)

1984

See also: Iowa 1984 ballot measures

November 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State legislatures measures; Administration of government	The measure allowed the legislature to void an adopted administrative rule of a state agency by the process of a joint resolution rather than only by statute.	a	419,036 (59%)	290,404 (41%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Public education funding; State and local government budgets, spending, and finance	The measure repealed the constitutional provision relating to the distribution of money subject to the support and maintenance of common schools.	a	391,433 (56%)	309,112 (44%)

1980

See also: Iowa 1980 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Constitutional rights; Sex and gender issues	Prohibit the denial or restriction of rights on account of a person's gender	d	468,708 (44%)	591,925 (56%)
ACCQ	Constitutional Convention	State constitutional conventions	The question appears on the Iowa ballot automatically every 10 years as per the state constitution. It would have called for a convention to revise the constitution.	d	404,249 (39%)	640,130 (61%)

1978

See also: Iowa 1978 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	County and municipal governance	The measure granted limited home rule authority to counties and joint-municipal corporation governments, with no taxing power unless authorized by the General Assembly.	a	302,520 (60%)	204,061 (40%)

1974

See also: Iowa 1974 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State legislatures measures	The measure authorized the General Assembly to call itself into special session.	a	364,556 (67%)	178,116 (33%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Administration of government; Law enforcement	The measure repealed the requirement that all fines for breach of the penal laws be applied to the school district in which the fines are collected.	a	272,792 (50%)	270,244 (50%)

1972

See also: Iowa 1972 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State judiciary	The measure allowed for the retirement of judges for disability and to discipline or remove them for good cause.	a	770,501 (90%)	88,362 (10%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State executive official measures	The measure established four-year terms for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state, treasurer of state and attorney general.	a	609,909 (71%)	249,696 (29%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Gambling policy	The measure repealed the prohibition against lotteries and the sale of lottery tickets.	a	585,966 (67%)	286,959 (33%)

1970

See also: Iowa 1970 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Residency voting requirements	The measure allowed the general assembly to alter periods of residence to vote for various officers or in various elections.	a	300,119 (68%)	141,091 (32%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Redistricting policy; State legislatures measures	The measure established single-member legislative districts for the general assembly.	a	289,200 (69%)	132,590 (31%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	Administration of government; County and municipal governance	The measure repealed the constitutional requirement for the office of county attorney.	a	243,628 (59%)	169,969 (41%)
ACCQ	Constitutional Convention	State constitutional conventions; Administration of government	The question appears on the Iowa ballot automatically every 10 years as per the state constitution. It would have called for a convention to revise the state constitution.	d	204,517 (49%)	214,663 (51%)

1968

See also: Iowa 1968 ballot measures

November 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State legislatures measures	The measure provided for annual sessions of the legislature, to begin on the second Monday of January.	a	394,258 (52%)	366,591 (48%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	County and municipal governance	The measure granted municipal corporations home rule power and authority.	a	486,749 (66%)	256,236 (34%)
LRCA	Amendment 3	State legislatures measures; Redistricting policy	The measure provided for the size of the membership of the state senate and house of representatives and for the apportionment of legislators among the districts.	a	469,449 (64%)	263,886 (36%)
LRCA	Amendment 4	State executive official measures	The measure granted the governor veto power over portions of appropriations bills.	a	411,472 (56%)	328,273 (44%)
LRCA	Amendment 5	State legislatures measures; Salaries of government officials	The measure provided for the compensation and expense allowances of legislators.	a	389,435 (53%)	350,277 (47%)

1966

See also: Iowa 1966 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Administration of government; State legislatures measures	The measure replaced the word "fourth" with the word "first" in Section 26 of Article III of the constitution, in relation to the effective date of laws passed by the legislature.	a	340,539 (78%)	96,555 (22%)

1964

See also: Iowa 1964 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State constitutional conventions	The measure provided for an election in 1970, and every ten years after that, to determine whether or not to hold a constitutional convention to revise the constitution. The measure also provided for the election of delegates for the convention and the method of ratification by electors of any new amendments.	a	430,657 (71%)	175,220 (29%)

1963

See also: Iowa 1963 ballot measures

December 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State legislatures measures; Redistricting policy	The measure would have created a general assembly composed of 58 senators and 99 representatives.	d	190,424 (41%)	272,382 (59%)

1962

See also: Iowa 1962 ballot measures

June 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State judiciary	The measure provided guidelines for the filling of vacancies in the supreme court and district courts and provided for a State Judicial Nominating Commission to fill such vacancies. The measure also provided for eight and six year term limits for supreme court justices and district court judges, respectively; and provided for salaries, qualifications and mandatory retirement of judges and justices.	a	158,279 (57%)	118,215 (43%)

1960

See also: Iowa 1960 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CCRCA	Question 1	State constitutional conventions	The measure would have called for a constitutional convention to amend the constitution.	d	470,257 (47%)	534,628 (53%)

1956

See also: Iowa 1956 ballot measures

November 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
BI	Referendum 1	Veterans policy	The measure related to bonuses for veterans of the Korean War.	a	773,950 (76%)	249,770 (24%)

1952

See also: Iowa 1952 ballot measures

November 4

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State executive official measures; Elections and campaigns		a	551,444 (87%)	80,178 (13%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	State executive official measures; Administration of government	The measure provided for the order of succession in the case of a vacancy in the governor's office.	a	496,409 (86%)	83,216 (14%)

1950

See also: Iowa 1950 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CCRCA	Question 1	State constitutional conventions	The measure would have called for a constitutional convention to amend the constitution.	d	221,189 (41%)	319,704 (59%)

1948

See also: Iowa 1948 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
BI	Referendum 1	Veterans policy	The measure related to soldier bonuses.	a	743,447 (78%)	210,465 (22%)

1942

See also: Iowa 1942 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result
LRCA	Amendment 1	Taxes; Transportation	The measure required that all fees for vehicle registration, licenses and motor vehicle fuel taxes be used exclusively for the construction, maintenance and supervision of the public highway system.	a

1936

See also: Iowa 1936 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Census policy	The measure repealed the section of the Iowa Constitution, which required the taking of a state census, thereby abolishing the state census.	a	364,536 (58%)	266,713 (42%)

1933

See also: Iowa 1933 ballot measures

June 20

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
	Question 1	Federal government issues; Alcohol laws	a	376,661 (60%)	249,534 (40%)

1928

See also: Iowa 1928 ballot measures

November 6

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State legislatures measures; Redistricting policy	The measure provided that no county be entitled to more than one senator.	a	352,027 (64%)	201,812 (36%)

1926

See also: Iowa 1926 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	State legislatures measures; Constitutional rights	The measure removed the word "male" from Section 4 of Article III of the Iowa Constitution, relating to legislator qualifications.	a	239,999 (64%)	133,929 (36%)

1922

See also: Iowa 1922 ballot measures

November 7

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
BI	Referendum 1	Veterans policy	The measure related to soldier bonuses.	a	383,335 (66%)	195,898 (34%)

1920

See also: Iowa 1920 ballot measures

November 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CCRCA	Question 1	State constitutional conventions	The measure called for a constitutional convention to amend the constitution.	a	279,652 (56%)	221,763 (44%)

1916

See also: Iowa 1916 ballot measures

June 5

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Women's suffrage; Sex and gender issues	Provides for women's suffrage in state constitution	d	162,849 (48%)	172,930 (52%)

1910

See also: Iowa 1910 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
CCRCA	Question 1	State constitutional conventions	The measure would have called for a constitutional convention to revise and amend the constitution.	d	134,083 (45%)	166,054 (55%)

1908

See also: Iowa 1908 ballot measures

November 3

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Administration of government; Utility policy	The measure permitted the construction of drains, ditches and levees for agricultural, sanitary or mining purposes and organized for the organization of drainage districts. The measure also allowed for the condemnation of real estate needed for the construction or maintenance of such drains, ditches or levees.	a	194,251 (65%)	105,720 (35%)

1904

See also: Iowa 1904 ballot measures

November 8

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Elections and campaigns	The measure provided for the holding of biennial elections.	a	198,974 (53%)	176,251 (47%)
LRCA	Amendment 2	Redistricting policy; State legislatures measures	The measure changed the representation in the general assembly and the ratio of apportionment.	a	171,385 (51%)	165,076 (49%)

1882

See also: Iowa 1882 ballot measures

June 27

Type	Title	Subject	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRCA	Amendment 1	Alcohol laws	a	155,436 (55%)	125,677 (45%)

1855

See also: Iowa 1855 ballot measures

April 2

Type	Title	Subject	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
LRSS	Referendum 1	Alcohol laws	The measure prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol.	a	25,555 (53%)	22,645 (47%)

See also

• 2025 ballot measures