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Minimum wage laws ballot measures

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Voters have decided on minimum wage laws ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, minimum wage laws cover measures related to state minimum wages, including increases, inflation-based adjustments, exemptions, and other changes. The topic is grouped within the labor, healthcare, and public assistance policy area.

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Minimum wage laws

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Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2026 ballot measures and 2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to this topic that are certified or potential for this year and future elections:

History of minimum wage measures

From 1996 to 2025, there were 32 ballot measures to increase state minimum wages. Voters approved 28 (87.50%) and rejected four (12.50%).[1] In 2024, California and Massachusetts became the first states to reject minimum wage increase ballot measures since 1996. The other two defeated measures were on the ballot in 1996 in Missouri and Montana.

The following chart shows the outcomes of minimum-wage increase ballot measures from 1996 to 2025.

Measures to increase state minimum wages (1996–2025)
YearStateMeasureWageTypeYes votes (%)No votes (%)Outcome
2024CaliforniaProposition 32$18.00 (2026)Initiative49.29%50.71%Defeatedd
2024MassachusettsQuestion 5$15.00 (2029)[2]Initiative35.87%64.13%Defeatedd
2024MissouriProposition A$15.00 (2026)Initiative57.57%42.43%Approveda
2024AlaskaBallot Measure 1$15.00 (2027)Initiative57.98%42.02%Approveda
2022NebraskaInitiative 433$15.00 (2026)Initiative58.66%41.34%Approveda
2022NevadaAmendment 2$12.00 (2024)Referral55.18%44.82%Approveda
2020FloridaAmendment 2$15.00 (2026)Initiative60.82%39.18%Approveda
2018ArkansasIssue 5$11.00 (2021)Initiative68.46%31.54%Approveda
2018MissouriProposition B$12.00 (2023)Initiative62.34%37.66%Approveda
2016ArizonaProposition 206$12.00 (2020)Initiative58.33%41.67%Approveda
2016ColoradoAmendment 70$12.00 (2020)Initiative55.36%44.64%Approveda
2016MaineQuestion 4$12.00 (2020)Initiative55.50%44.50%Approveda
2016WashingtonInitiative 1433$13.50 (2020)Initiative57.42%42.58%Approveda
2014AlaskaMeasure 3$9.75 (2016)Initiative69.35%30.65%Approveda
2014ArkansasIssue 5$8.50 (2017)Initiative65.94%34.06%Approveda
2014NebraskaInitiative 425$9.00 (2016)Initiative59.47%40.53%Approveda
2014South DakotaMeasure 18$8.50 (2015)Initiative55.05%44.95%Approveda
2013New JerseyQuestion 2$8.25 (2014)Referral61.26%38.74%Approveda
2006ArizonaProposition 202$6.75 (2007)Initiative65.37%34.63%Approveda
2006ColoradoInitiative 42$6.85 (2007)Initiative53.30%46.70%Approveda
2006MissouriProposition B$6.50 (2007)Initiative75.94%24.06%Approveda
2006MontanaI-151$6.50 (2007)Initiative72.69%27.31%Approveda
2006NevadaQuestion 6$6.15 (2006)[3]Initiative68.71%31.29%Approveda
2006OhioAmendment 2$6.85 (2007)Initiative56.65%43.35%Approveda
2004FloridaAmendment 5$6.15 (2005)Initiative71.25%28.75%Approveda
2004NevadaQuestion 6$6.15 (2006)[3]Initiative68.39%31.61%Approveda
2002OregonMeasure 25$6.90 (2003)Initiative51.33%48.67%Approveda
1998WashingtonInitiative 688$6.50 (2000)Initiative66.14%33.86%Approveda
1996CaliforniaProposition 210$5.75 (1998)Initiative61.45%38.55%Approveda
1996MissouriProposition A$6.75 (1999)[4]Initiative28.70%71.30%Defeatedd
1996MontanaI-121$6.25 (2000)Initiative43.53%56.47%Defeatedd
1996OregonMeasure 36$6.50 (1999)Initiative56.85%43.15%Approveda
Average    58.88%41.12% 


List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

2026

  1. Michigan Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers Referendum (2026) - Potential
  2. Oklahoma State Question 832, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (June 2026) - On the ballot

2024

  1. Alaska Ballot Measure 1, Minimum Wage Increase and Paid Sick Leave Initiative (2024) Approved
  2. Arizona Proposition 138, Wages for Tipped Workers Amendment (2024) Defeated
  3. California Proposition 32, $18 Minimum Wage Initiative (2024) Defeated
  4. Massachusetts Question 5, Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees Initiative (2024) Defeated
  5. Missouri Proposition A, Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Initiative (2024) Approved

2022

  1. Nebraska Initiative 433, Minimum Wage Increase Initiative (2022) Approved
  2. Nevada Question 2, Minimum Wage Amendment (2022) Approved

2020

  1. Florida Amendment 2, $15 Minimum Wage Initiative (2020) Approved

2018

  1. Arkansas Issue 5, Minimum Wage Increase Initiative (2018) Approved
  2. Michigan Minimum Wage Increase Initiative (2018)
  3. Missouri Proposition B, $12 Minimum Wage Initiative (2018) Approved

2016

  1. Arizona Minimum Wage and Paid Time Off, Proposition 206 (2016) Approved
  2. Colorado $12 Minimum Wage, Amendment 70 (2016) Approved
  3. Maine Minimum Wage Increase, Question 4 (2016) Approved
  4. South Dakota Decreased Youth Minimum Wage Veto Referendum, Referred Law 20 (2016) Defeated
  5. Washington Minimum Wage Increase, Initiative 1433 (2016) Approved

2014

  1. Alaska Minimum Wage Increase, Ballot Measure 3 (2014) Approved
  2. Arkansas Minimum Wage Initiative, Issue 5 (2014) Approved
  3. Illinois Minimum Wage Increase Question (2014) Approved
  4. Nebraska Minimum Wage Increase, Initiative 425 (2014) Approved
  5. South Dakota Increased Minimum Wage, Initiated Measure 18 (2014) Approved

2013

  1. New Jersey Minimum Wage Increase Amendment, Public Question 2 (2013) Approved

2006

  1. Arizona Proposition 202, Minimum Wage Increase Initiative (2006) Approved
  2. Colorado Amendment 42, Minimum Wage Initiative (2006) Approved
  3. Missouri Proposition B, Increase Minimum Wage Initiative (2006) Approved
  4. Montana Minimum Wage, I-151 (2006) Approved
  5. Nevada Question 6, Minimum Wage Increase Initiative (2006) Approved
  6. Ohio Issue 2, Minimum Wage Increase Initiative (2006) Approved

2004

  1. Florida Amendment 5, Minimum Wage Initiative (2004) Approved
  2. Nevada Question 6, Minimum Wage Increase Initiative (2004) Approved

2002

  1. Oregon Measure 25, Increase State Minimum Wage Initiative (2002) Approved

1998

  1. Washington Initiative 688, Minimum Wage Measure (1998) Approved

1996

  1. California Proposition 210, Minimum Wage Increase Initiative (1996) Approved
  2. Missouri Proposition A, Increase Minimum Wage Initiative (1996) Defeated
  3. Montana Increase Minimum Wage, I-121 (1996) Defeated
  4. Oregon Measure 36, Minimum Wage Increase to $6.50 Initiative (1996) Approved

1988

  1. Washington Initiative 518, Minimum Wage Increase Measure (1988) Approved

1960

  1. Arkansas Minimum Wage and Overtime, Initiated Act 1 (1960) Defeated

1933

  1. Utah Amendment 1, Permit the Creation of Minimum Wage Laws for Women and Children Measure (1933) Approved

1914

  1. California Proposition 44, Minimum Wage Amendment (1914) Approved

1912

  1. Ohio Worker Labor and Wage Laws Amendment (September 1912) Approved

See also

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Footnotes

  1. ↑ In 2014, voters approved an advisory question on increasing the minimum wage in Illinois. As this question was nonbinding, the measure is not counted here.
  2. ↑ Question 5 would have increased the minimum wage for tipped employees to match the general state minimum wage, which was $15.00 in 2024.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Question 6 required employers to compensate employees $5.15 per hour when the employer provides health benefits or $6.15 per hour when the employer does not provide health benefits.
  4. ↑ Proposition A would have also added 15 cents to the minimum wage each year beginning in 2000.
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