Primary election systems ballot measures

Issues
Measures by topic
Measures by year
Measures by state

As a state ballot measure topic, primary election systems include measures regarding how candidates are nominated for general elections, including top-two and top-four primaries, primary runoff requirements, and nominating conventions. The topic is grouped within the election policy area.

This page provides information on:

• upcoming ballot measures and
• a comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state.

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2025 ballot measures and 2026 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to primary election systems certified for this year and future elections:

There are no ballot measures related to this topic that have qualified for the ballot.

List of ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to primary election systems, organized by year or state.

Year

State

2024

1. Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
2. Arizona Proposition 133, Require Partisan Primaries and Prohibit Primaries Where Candidates Compete Regardless of Party Affiliation Amendment (2024)
3. Arizona Proposition 140, Single Primary for All Candidates and Possible RCV General Election Initiative (2024)
4. Colorado Proposition 131, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
5. Idaho Proposition 1, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
6. Montana CI-126, Top-Four Primary Initiative (2024)
7. Nevada Question 3, Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
8. South Dakota Constitutional Amendment H, Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative (2024)

2022

1. Nevada Question 3, Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2022)

2020

1. Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020)
2. Florida Amendment 3, Top-Two Open Primaries for State Offices Initiative (2020)

2016

1. Colorado Presidential Primary Election, Proposition 107 (2016)
2. South Dakota Amendment V, Top-Two Primary Amendment (2016)

2014

1. Oregon Measure 90, Top-Two Primaries Initiative (2014)

2012

1. Arizona Proposition 121, Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative (2012)

2010

1. California Proposition 14, Top-Two Primaries Amendment (June 2010)

2008

1. Oregon Measure 65, Top-Two Primaries Initiative (2008)

2006

1. Massachusetts Question 2, Fusion Voting Initiative (2006)

2004

1. California Proposition 62, Top-Two Primaries Initiative (2004)
2. Washington Initiative 872, Top-Two Primaries Measure (2004)

2002

1. Colorado Amendment 29, Candidates on Primary Ballots Initiative (2002)

1998

1. Florida Amendment 11, Nonpartisan School Board Elections, Ballot Access Requirements, Public Campaign Financing, and Election Processes Amendment (1998)

1996

1. California Proposition 198, Open Blanket Primary Election Initiative (March 1996)

1990

1. Colorado Amendment No. 2, Presidential Primary Measure (1990)

1988

1. Hawaii Unopposed Candidate Primary Elections, Amendment 3 (1988)

1981

1. Wisconsin Question 1, Recall Primary Elections Amendment (April 1981)

1980

1. North Dakota Presidential Preference and June Primary Referendum, Measure 7 (1980)

1975

1. Ohio Require Elections for Delegates for National Political Party Conventions Amendment (1975)

1972

1. California Proposition 4, Open Presidential Primaries Amendment (June 1972)
2. California Proposition 7, Changes to Elections Amendment (1972)

1944

1. Oklahoma State Question 312, Runoff Primary Elections Measure (July 1944)

1940

1. Arkansas Repeal of Double Primary, Proposed Amendment 30 (1940)

1932

1. Massachusetts Question 2, Party Candidate Nominating Conventions Initiative (1932)

1924

1. Missouri Amendment 10, Allow Political Parties to Nominate Candidates by Primary Election or Party Convention Measure (February 1924)
2. South Dakota Referred Law 3, Primary Elections Law Referendum (1924)

1922

1. Arizona Measure Nos. 102-103, Repeal Direct Primary for Candidate Nominations Requirement Amendment (September 1922)

1920

1. Nebraska Referendum 1, Direct Primaries Referendum (1920)
2. South Dakota Referred Law 2, Primary Election Law Referendum (1920)

1918

1. South Dakota Initiated Law 1, Richard's Primary Law Initiative (1918)

1916

1. Massachusetts Establish Closed Primary System Measure (1916)
2. South Dakota Referred Law 1, Richard's Primary Law Initiative (1916)

1912

1. Ohio Primary Election and Delegate Selection Requirements Amendment (September 1912)
2. South Dakota Measure 1, Richard's Primary Election Law Referendum (1912)

1911

1. Maine Direct Primary, Question No. 4 (1911)

1910

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 356-357, Primary Elections for Presidential Candidates Initiative (1910)

1904

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 302-303, Establish Direct Primary System for Party Nominations Initiative (June 1904)

Alaska

1. Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Repeal Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
2. Alaska Ballot Measure 2, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Laws Initiative (2020)

Arizona

1. Arizona Measure Nos. 102-103, Repeal Direct Primary for Candidate Nominations Requirement Amendment (September 1922)
2. Arizona Proposition 121, Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative (2012)
3. Arizona Proposition 133, Require Partisan Primaries and Prohibit Primaries Where Candidates Compete Regardless of Party Affiliation Amendment (2024)
4. Arizona Proposition 140, Single Primary for All Candidates and Possible RCV General Election Initiative (2024)

Arkansas

1. Arkansas Repeal of Double Primary, Proposed Amendment 30 (1940)

California

1. California Proposition 14, Top-Two Primaries Amendment (June 2010)
2. California Proposition 198, Open Blanket Primary Election Initiative (March 1996)
3. California Proposition 4, Open Presidential Primaries Amendment (June 1972)
4. California Proposition 62, Top-Two Primaries Initiative (2004)
5. California Proposition 7, Changes to Elections Amendment (1972)

Colorado

1. Colorado Amendment 29, Candidates on Primary Ballots Initiative (2002)
2. Colorado Amendment No. 2, Presidential Primary Measure (1990)
3. Colorado Presidential Primary Election, Proposition 107 (2016)
4. Colorado Proposition 131, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)

Florida

1. Florida Amendment 11, Nonpartisan School Board Elections, Ballot Access Requirements, Public Campaign Financing, and Election Processes Amendment (1998)
2. Florida Amendment 3, Top-Two Open Primaries for State Offices Initiative (2020)

Hawaii

1. Hawaii Unopposed Candidate Primary Elections, Amendment 3 (1988)

Idaho

1. Idaho Proposition 1, Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)

Maine

1. Maine Direct Primary, Question No. 4 (1911)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Establish Closed Primary System Measure (1916)
2. Massachusetts Question 2, Fusion Voting Initiative (2006)
3. Massachusetts Question 2, Party Candidate Nominating Conventions Initiative (1932)

Missouri

1. Missouri Amendment 10, Allow Political Parties to Nominate Candidates by Primary Election or Party Convention Measure (February 1924)

Montana

1. Montana CI-126, Top-Four Primary Initiative (2024)

Nebraska

1. Nebraska Referendum 1, Direct Primaries Referendum (1920)

Nevada

1. Nevada Question 3, Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2022)
2. Nevada Question 3, Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)

North Dakota

1. North Dakota Presidential Preference and June Primary Referendum, Measure 7 (1980)

Ohio

1. Ohio Primary Election and Delegate Selection Requirements Amendment (September 1912)
2. Ohio Require Elections for Delegates for National Political Party Conventions Amendment (1975)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma State Question 312, Runoff Primary Elections Measure (July 1944)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 65, Top-Two Primaries Initiative (2008)
2. Oregon Measure 90, Top-Two Primaries Initiative (2014)
3. Oregon Measure Nos. 302-303, Establish Direct Primary System for Party Nominations Initiative (June 1904)
4. Oregon Measure Nos. 356-357, Primary Elections for Presidential Candidates Initiative (1910)

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Amendment V, Top-Two Primary Amendment (2016)
2. South Dakota Constitutional Amendment H, Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative (2024)
3. South Dakota Initiated Law 1, Richard's Primary Law Initiative (1918)
4. South Dakota Measure 1, Richard's Primary Election Law Referendum (1912)
5. South Dakota Referred Law 1, Richard's Primary Law Initiative (1916)
6. South Dakota Referred Law 2, Primary Election Law Referendum (1920)
7. South Dakota Referred Law 3, Primary Elections Law Referendum (1924)

Washington

1. Washington Initiative 872, Top-Two Primaries Measure (2004)

Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin Question 1, Recall Primary Elections Amendment (April 1981)

See also

• List of ballot measures by topic