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Number of signatures required for ballot initiatives

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There are 26 states that provide citizens with the power of initiative, referendum, or both. The number of signatures required for ballot initiatives varies by state, and in some cases, by type of measure. The exact number required, according to the state's constitution or state law, is tied to another number, such as the number of votes cast in a recent election.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Eighteen states provide a process for citizens to initiate constitutional amendments. California has the highest number of signatures required to qualify a constitutional amendment for the ballot (874,641 signatures), which equates 8% of the votes cast for governor in the last election. This signature requirement equates to about 4% of the state's registered voters.
  • Twenty-one states provide a process for citizens to initiate state laws. California also has the highest number of signatures required (547,651), equal to 5% of the votes cast for governor in the last election. This signature requirement equates to about 2% of the state's registered voters.
  • Twenty-one states base their signature requirement on a previous election, three base their requirement on the number of registered or active voters, and one state (North Dakota) bases its signature requirements on the population count in each decennial census since it does not have a voter registration system.

    • Basis for calculating number of required signatures

    See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures

    The number of required signatures for ballot initiatives vary by state and are based on other metrics:

    • Twelve states base their signature requirements on the number of votes cast in mid-term gubernatorial elections. An additional state, Colorado, bases its requirement on the number of votes cast in the mid-term secretary of state election.
    • Four states base requirements on total turnout at a general election, both mid-term and presidential cycle elections: Alaska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
    • Three states base requirements on the number of votes cast in the preceding presidential-cycle gubernatorial election: Missouri, Montana, and Washington.
    • Three states base requirements on the number of registered or active voters on various dates:
      • In Idaho, the requirement is based on the number of registered voters as of the last general election.
      • In Nebraska, the requirement is based on the number of registered voters when signatures are submitted.
      • In Utah, the requirement is based on the number of active voters as of January 1 following the general election.
    • One state, Florida, bases requirements on the number of votes cast in the preceding presidential election.
    • One state, Mississippi, bases its requirement on the number of votes cast in the preceding odd-numbered year gubernatorial election.
    • One state, North Dakota, bases its requirement on the last decennial census.

    Current election cycle signature requirements

    There are 26 states that provide citizens with the power of initiative, referendum, or both. The following table shows the type of citizen-initiated ballot measures in each of those states. The table also provides the signature requirements for each type of measure for the 2025-2026 election cycle.

    States that provide for types of citizen-initiated measures and current signature requirements
    State Constitutional Signatures Statute Signatures Referendum Signatures
    Alaska No N/A Yes 34,098 Yes 34,098
    Arizona Yes 383,923 Yes 255,949 Yes 127,975
    Arkansas Yes 90,704 Yes 72,563 Yes 54,422
    California Yes 874,641 Yes 546,651 Yes 546,651
    Colorado Yes 124,238 Yes 124,238 Yes 124,238
    Florida Yes 880,062 No N/A No N/A
    Idaho No N/A Yes 70,725 Yes 70,725
    Illinois Yes 328,371 No N/A No N/A
    Maine No N/A Yes 67,682 Yes 67,682
    Maryland No N/A No N/A Yes 60,157
    Massachusetts Yes 74,490 Yes 74,490 Yes 37,245[1]
    Michigan Yes 446,198 Yes 356,958 Yes 223,099
    Mississippi[2] Yes 106,190 No N/A No N/A
    Missouri Yes 170,215[3] Yes 106,384[3] Yes 106,384[3]
    Montana Yes 60,241 Yes 30,121 Yes 30,121
    Nebraska Yes 126,838 Yes 88,787 Yes 63,419[4]
    New Mexico No N/A No N/A Yes 92,829[5]
    Nevada Yes 102,362 Yes 135,561 Yes 102,362
    North Dakota Yes 31,164 Yes 15,582 Yes 15,582
    Ohio Yes 413,487 Yes 248,092[6] Yes 248,093
    Oklahoma Yes 172,993 Yes 92,263 Yes 57,664
    Oregon Yes 156,231 Yes 117,173 Yes 78,115
    South Dakota Yes 35,017 Yes 17,508 Yes 17,508
    Utah No N/A Yes 140,748 Yes 140,748
    Washington No N/A Yes 308,911 Yes 154,456
    Wyoming No N/A Yes 40,669 Yes 40,669

    Signatures required for initiated constitutional amendments

    See also: Initiated constitutional amendment

    Of the 26 states with an initiative process, 18 provide for initiated constitutional amendments. The following table shows the basis for the number of required signatures to qualify an initiated constitutional amendment for the ballot, the law setting out the requirement, and requirements for initiated amendments during the 2025-2026 election cycle. The table also shows the number of registered voters in each state as of 2024 and an expression of the number of required signatures as a percentage of registered voters in the state.


    State Basis Law ICA requirement (2025-2026) Registered voters as of 2024 % of registered voters
    Nebraska 10% of registered voters Sec. 2, Art. III, Nebraska Constitution 127,054 1,270,544 10.0%
    Arizona 15% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Part 1, Art. 4, Arizona Constitution 383,923 4,462,819 8.6%
    Montana 10% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 9, Art. XIV, Montana Constitution 60,240 768,712 7.8%
    Oklahoma 15% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 2, Art. V, Oklahoma Constitution 172,993 2,470,437 7.0%
    Michigan 10% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 2, Art XII, Michigan Constitution 446,198 7,517,000 5.2%
    Florida 8% of votes cast in the last presidential election Sec. 3, Art. XI, Florida Constitution 880,062 14,257,135 6.2%
    North Dakota 4% of the population at the last census Sec. 9, Art. III, North Dakota Constitution 31,164 594,140 5.2%
    South Dakota 10% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 1, Art. XXIII, South Dakota Constituion 35,017 628,576 5.6%
    Oregon 8% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 1, Art. IV, Oregon Constitution 156,231 3,084,789 5.0%
    Mississippi 12% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 273, Art, XV, Mississippi Constitution 106,190 1,749,000 6.0%
    Ohio 10% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 1a, Art. II, Ohio Constitution 413,488 8,159,946 5.1%
    Nevada 10% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 2, Art. 19, Nevada Constitution 102,362 2,325,062 4.4%
    Arkansas 10% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 1, Art 5, Arkansas Constitution 90,704 1,586,563 5.7%
    Illinois 8% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 3, Art. XIV, Illinois Constitution 328,371 8,005,217 4.1%
    Missouri 8% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election from each of two-thirds of the state's congressional districts Sec. 50, Art. III, Missouri Constitution 185,152 4,456,673 4.1%
    California 8% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Sec. 8, Art. II, California Constitution 874,641 22,310,352 3.9%
    Colorado 5% of votes cast in the last secretary of state election Sec. 1, Art. V, Colorado Constitution 124,238 4,666,279 2.6%
    Massachusetts 3% of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election Articles LXXXI-XC, Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution 74,490 5,142,343 1.4%
    Alaska N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    New Mexico N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Wyoming N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Maine N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Maryland N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Washington N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Utah N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Idaho N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A


    Signatures required for initiated state statutes

    See also: Initiated state statute

    Of the 26 states with an initiative process, 21 provide for initiated state statutes. The following table shows the basis for the number of required signatures to qualify an initiated state statute for the ballot, the law setting out the requirement, and requirements for initiated statutes during the 2025-2026 election cycle. The table also shows the number of registered voters in each state as of 2024 and an expression of the number of required signatures as a percentage of registered voters in the state.

    State Basis Law ISS requirement (2025-2026) Registered voters as of 2024 % of registered voters
    Wyoming 15% of the total ballots cast in the previous general election Sec. 52, Art. 3, Wyoming Constitution 40,669 217,353 1.8%
    Nebraska 7% of registered voters Sec. 3, Art. III, Nebraska Constitution 88,787 1,263,487 7.0%
    Nevada 10% of the votes cast in the preceding general election Sec. 2, Art. 19, Nevada Constitution 135,561 2,325,062 5.8%
    Maine 10% of votes for governor at the last general election Sec. 18, Article IV, Part Third, Maine Constitution 67,682 1,037,570 6.5%
    Utah "Direct: 8% of the total number of active voters; Indirect: 4% of the total number of active voters for the legislature and an additional 4% for the ballot" Chapter 7, Title 20A, Utah Statutes 140,748 2,013,893 7.0%
    Washington 8% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 1, Art. II, Washington State Constitution 308,911 5,010,894 6.1%
    Alaska 10% of votes cast in the last general election Chapter 15.45, Alaska Statutes 34,098 532,651 6.4%
    Arizona 10% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Part 1, Art. 4, Arizona Constitution 255,949 4,462,819 5.7%
    Michigan 8% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 9, Art II, Michigan Constitution 356,958 7,517,000 4.7%
    Idaho 6% of registered voters at the last general election Sec. 34-1805, Chapter 18, Title 34, Idaho Statutes 70,725 1,130,464 6.3%
    Oregon 6% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 1, Art. IV, Oregon Constitution 117,173 3,084,789 3.8%
    Montana 5% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 4, Art. III, Montana Constitution 30,120 768,712 3.8%
    Arkansas 8% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 1, Art 5, Arkansas Constitution 72,563 1,586,563 4.6%
    Oklahoma 8% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 2, Art. V, Oklahoma Constitution 92,263 2,470,437 3.7%
    Ohio 3% of the total number of active voters for the legislature and an additional 3% for the ballot Sec. 1a, Art. II, Ohio Constitution 248,093 8,159,946 3.0%
    Colorado 5% of the votes cast for secretary of state in the last election Sec. 1, Art. V, Colorado Constitution 124,238 4,666,279 2.7%
    North Dakota 2% of the population Sec. 4, Art. III, North Dakota Constitution 15,582 594,140 2.6%
    South Dakota 5% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 1, Art. III, South Dakota Constituion 17,509 628,576 2.8%
    Missouri 5% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 50 and 51, Art. III, Missouri Constitution 115,720 4,456,673 2.6%
    California 5% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 8, Art. II, California Constitution 546,651 22,310,352 2.5%
    Massachusetts 3.5% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Articles LXXXI-XC, Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution 74,490 5,142,343 1.4%
    Florida N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Illinois N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Maryland N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Mississippi N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    New Mexico N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A


    Signatures required for veto referendums

    See also: Veto referendum

    Of the 26 states with an initiative process, 23 provide for veto referendums. The following table shows the basis for the number of required signatures to qualify a veto referendum for the ballot, the law setting out the requirement, and requirements for veto referendums during the 2025-2026 election cycle. The table also shows the number of registered voters in each state as of 2022 and an expression of the number of required signatures as a percentage of registered voters in the state.

    State Basis Law VR requirement (2025-2026) Registered voters as of 2024 % of registered voters
    Wyoming 15% of the total ballots cast at the last election Sec. 52, Art. 3, Wyoming Constitution 40,669 217,353 1.8%
    Maine 10% of votes for governor at the last general election Sec. 18, Article IV, Part Third, Maine Constitution 67,682 1,037,570 6.5%
    Utah 8% of the total number of active voters Chapter 7, Title 20A, Utah Statutes 140,748 2,013,893 7.0%
    Alaska 10% of votes cast in the last general election Chapter 15.45, Alaska Statutes 34,098 532,651 6.4%
    New Mexico 10% of the votes cast at the last general election to trigger election; 25% of the votes cast in the last general election to suspend law Sec. 1, Art. IV, New Mexico Constitution 92,829 1,409,586 6.6%
    Nebraska 5% of registered voters at the time of filing; 10% to suspend the law before the election Sec. 3, Art. III, Nebraska Constitution 63,419 1,263,487 5.0%
    Nevada 10% of the votes cast at the last general election Sec. 2, Art. 19, Nevada Constitution 102,362 2,325,062 4.4%
    Idaho 6% of registered voters at the last general election Sec. 34-1805, Chapter 18, Title 34, Idaho Statutes 70,725 1,130,464 6.3%
    Montana 5% of votes for governor at the last general election Sec. 4, Art. III, Montana Constitution 30,120 768,712 3.8%
    Michigan 5% of votes for governor at the last general election Sec. 9, Art II, Michigan Constitution 223,099 7,517,000 3.0%
    Washington 4% of the votes cast for governor at the last election Sec. 1, Art. II, Washington State Constitution 154,456 5,010,894 3.1%
    Ohio 6% of the votes cast for governor at the last election Sec. 1a, Art. II, Ohio Constitution 248,093 8,159,946 3.0%
    Colorado 5% of the votes cast for the secretary of state in the last election Sec. 1, Art. V, Colorado Constitution 124,238 4,666,279 2.7%
    North Dakota 2% of the population Sec. 4, Art. III, North Dakota Constitution 15,582 594,140 2.6%
    South Dakota 5% of the votes cast for governor at the last election Sec. 1, Art. III, South Dakota Constituion 17,509 628,576 2.8%
    Arizona 5% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Part 1, Art. 4, Arizona Constitution 127,975 4,462,819 2.9%
    Oregon 4% of the votes cast for governor at the last election Sec. 1, Art. IV, Oregon Constitution 78,115 3,084,789 2.50%
    Arkansas 6% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 1, Art 5, Arkansas Constitution 54,422 1,586,563 3.4%
    Missouri 5% of votes for governor at the last general election Sec. 50 and 51, Art. III, Missouri Constitution 115,720 4,456,673 2.6%
    California 5% of the votes cast for governor in the last election Sec. 8, Art. II, California Constitution 546,651 22,310,352 2.5%
    Oklahoma 5% of the votes cast for governor at the last election Sec. 2, Art. V, Oklahoma Constitution 57,664 2,470,437 2.3%
    Maryland 3% of the votes cast for governor at the last general election Sec. 3, Art. XVI, Maryland Constitution 60,157 4,297,714 1.4%
    Massachusetts 1.5% of votes cast for governor at the last general election to trigger election; 2% of votes cast for governor at the last general election to suspend law and trigger election Articles LXXXI-XC, Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution 37,245 4,892,000 0.7%
    Florida N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Illinois N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Mississippi N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A


    Signature requirements by state

    Click on the links below to read about signature requirements and deadlines for ballot initiatives in each state.

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ This was the number of signatures required to put a targeted law before voters. To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement was 49,660 valid signatures.
    2. ↑ On May 14, 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision stating that it is impossible for any petition to meet the state's distribution requirement and has been impossible since congressional reapportionment in 2001. The six justices wrote, "... Whether with intent, by oversight, or for some other reason, the drafters of [the constitutional signature distribution requirement] wrote a ballot initiative process that cannot work in a world where Mississippi has fewer than five representatives in Congress. To work in today’s reality, it will need amending—something that lies beyond the power of the Supreme Court."
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 This is the minimum required if signatures are collected in the congressional districts with the lowest numbers of votes cast in 2020. The signature requirement varies based on what districts are targeted for signature collection.
    4. ↑ To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement is 126,838 valid signatures.
    5. ↑ This is the number of signatures required to put a targeted law before voters. To suspend the enactment of the targeted law until the election, the requirement is 232,072 valid signatures.
    6. ↑ This is the requirement for two rounds of signatures to get an initiated statute on the ballot; half the number of signatures—124,046—is required to place the initiative before the legislature.
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