Religion-related policy ballot measures

Voters have decided on religion-related policy ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, religion-related policy includes measures concerning religious rights, practices, and services. It also covers issues such as religion in public institutions and events, church incorporation, and funding or tax exemptions for religious organizations. The topic is grouped within the social issue policy area.

This page provides information on:

• Related ballot measures
• Upcoming ballot measures
• Comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state

Topic information

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• Local ballot measure topics
• History of ballot measures by topic

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Social issue policy

Religion-related policy

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State ballot measures

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Budget and tax policy

Economic regulations Banking policy Business regulations Insurance policy Public economic investment policy Tax policy Business taxes Carbon taxes and fees Fees, licenses, and charges Food and beverage taxes Fuel taxes Income taxes Property taxes Property tax exemptions Sales taxes Severance taxes Tobacco and cigarette taxes Budget policy Balanced budget requirements Budget stabilization funds Debt limits Revenue allocation Revenue and spending limits Restricted-use funds Bond issues Bond issue requirements Tax and revenue administration

Criminal justice and law enforcement policy

Civil law and trials Civil trials Tort law Criminal sentences and trials Bail policy Criminal sentencing Criminal trials Death penalty Juvenile criminal justice Parole policy Drug regulations Alcohol laws Drug crime policy Marijuana laws Psychedelic substance laws Smoking bans Tobacco laws Law enforcement and corrections Corrections governance Law enforcement funding Law enforcement officers and departments Prison and jail funding Prison work regulations Crime victims' rights Dueling bans

Education policy

Higher education Higher education funding Higher education governance Public K–12 education Public education funding Public education governance Public school teachers and staff Religion in public schools School class size policy Early childhood education School choice policy

Election policy

Direct democracy Ballot measure supermajority requirements Ballot measure process Initiative and referendum process Recall process Electoral systems Cumulative voting Presidential electoral vote Primary election systems Proportional representation Ranked-choice voting Runoff elections Term limits Congressional term limits Executive official term limits Judicial term limits Local official term limits State legislative term limits Voting policy Absentee and mail voting Citizenship voting requirements Early voting Literacy, poll tax, and property voting requirements Primary election participation Race and suffrage Residency voting requirements Voter ID policy Voter registration Voting age policy Voting rights for persons with criminal convictions Women's suffrage Age limits for officials Campaign finance Election administration and governance Redistricting policy

Environment and energy policy

Energy policy Carbon emissions regulations Energy conservation and efficiency Energy funds Energy market regulations Energy transmission projects Fossil fuel energy Hydroelectric energy Nuclear energy Solar energy Hunting and fishing Fisheries and fishing regulations Game and fish commissions Hunting regulations Right to hunt and fish Natural disaster policy Earthquake infrastructure Flood infrastructure and management Storm infrastructure Wildfire management Agriculture policy Animal treatment laws Food policy Forestry and timber Mineral resources Parks, land, and natural area conservation Pollution, waste, and recycling policy

Governance policy

Administrative agencies Administrative organization Administrative powers and rulemaking Local government Local government organization Local government officials and elections Local government finance and taxes State constitutions Constitutional rights Constitutional wording changes State constitution ratification State constitutional conventions State executives Executive branch structure State executive elections State executive powers and duties State legislatures State legislative authority State legislative elections State legislative processes and sessions State legislative structure State legislative vote requirements State judiciary State judicial authority State judicial selection State judiciary oversight State judiciary structure Census policy Civil service Ethics rules and commissions Federal government issues Jury rules Impeachment rules Open meetings and public information Salaries of government officials State capitals State flags, symbols, and holidays Statehood Time standards

Infrastructure policy

Housing policy Homestead tax exemptions Housing assistance programs Housing development funding Rent control and regulations Transportation policy Airport infrastructure Highways and bridges Non-motorized transportation Ports and harbors Public transportation Railways Toll roads Transportation taxes and fees Vehicle and driver regulations Water infrastructure Drinking water systems Sewage and stormwater Water irrigation policy Water storage Eminent domain policy Land use and development policy Public land policy Telecommunications infrastructure Utility policy

Labor, healthcare, and public assistance policy

Labor union policy Collective bargaining Labor disputes and strikes Labor union deductions Right-to-work laws Healthcare policy Complementary and alternative healthcare Healthcare facility funding Healthcare governance Private health insurance Public health insurance Vaccinations and disease policy Work regulations Child labor regulations Gender-based labor regulations Minimum wage laws Paid sick leave laws Workers' compensation laws Working hours regulations Public assistance programs Public employee retirement funds Public works labor and contracting

Military and veteran policy

Defense-related funding Government continuity policy Military service policy Military-related advisory questions Nuclear weapons policy State National Guard and militia Veterans policy

Social issue policy

Abortion policy Affirmative action American Indian issues Assisted death policy Athletics and sports English language policy Family-related policy Firearms policy Gambling policy Immigration policy LGBTQ issues Race and ethnicity issues Religion-related policy Sex and gender issues Sexual content regulations Sunday regulations

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:

2026

1. Vermont Equal Protection of Law Amendment (2026) - Potential
2. West Virginia Incorporation of Churches or Religious Denominations Amendment (2026) - Potential
3. Wisconsin Prohibit Government Closure of Places of Worship During Emergencies Amendment (2026) - On the ballot

List of state ballot measures

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

Years

States

2026

1. Vermont Equal Protection of Law Amendment (2026) - Potential
2. West Virginia Incorporation of Churches or Religious Denominations Amendment (2026) - Potential
3. Wisconsin Prohibit Government Closure of Places of Worship During Emergencies Amendment (2026) - On the ballot

2023

1. Louisiana Amendment 2, Constitutional Right to Worship in a Church or Place of Worship Amendment (October 2023)

2022

1. Arkansas Issue 3, Government Burden of Free Exercise of Religion Amendment (2022)
2. Nevada Question 1, Equality of Rights Amendment (2022)
3. Tennessee Constitutional Amendment 4, Remove Religious Minister Disqualification Amendment (2022)
4. West Virginia Amendment 3, Incorporation of Religious Denominations and Churches Measure (2022)

2021

1. Texas Proposition 3, Prohibition on Limiting Religious Services or Organizations Amendment (2021)

2018

1. Alabama Amendment 1, Ten Commandments Amendment (2018)

2016

1. Oklahoma State Question 790, Repeal of Ban on Public Funding for Religious Institutions Amendment (2016)

2014

1. Illinois Right to Vote Amendment (2014)

2012

1. Florida Amendment 8, Repeal of Ban on Public Funding for Religious Entities Amendment (2012)
2. Missouri Amendment 2, Public Prayer and Public School Students’ Religious Expressions Measure (August 2012)
3. North Dakota Religious Freedom Amendment, Measure 3 (June 2012)

2006

1. Virginia Question 2, Remove Prohibition on the Incorporation of Churches Amendment (2006)

2003

1. Texas Proposition 3, Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations Amendment (September 2003)

1998

1. Alabama Freedom of Religion, Amendment 8 (1998)
2. Georgia Referendum C, Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations Measure (1998)

1996

1. Georgia Referendum A, Tax Exemptions for Religious Groups Measure (1996)
2. Virginia Question 5, Allow Churches to Incorporate Amendment (1996)

1994

1. Oregon Measure 7, Equal Protection of Law Initiative (1994)
2. Utah Proposition 3, Nonsectarian Religious Studies Exemption from Public Funding Restriction Amendment (1994)

1993

1. Washington HJR 4200, Public Employment of Chaplains in Health Facilities Amendment (1993)

1984

1. West Virginia Amendment 3, Prayer or Private Contemplation in Public Schools Measure (1984)

1976

1. Massachusetts Question 1, Equal Rights Regardless of Sex, Race, or Creed Amendment (1976)
2. Massachusetts Question 3, Absentee Voting for Religious Reasons Amendment (1976)

1974

1. Kansas Property Titles, Amendment 5 (1974)
2. New Hampshire Question 2, Equal Rights Regardless of Race, Sex, or Creed Amendment (1974)

1972

1. Florida School Prayer Straw Ballot Measure (March 1972)
2. Idaho HJR 35, Transportation for Sectarian School Students Amendment (1972)
3. Massachusetts Question 9, Voluntary Recitation of Prayer in Public Schools Advisory Question (1972)
4. Nebraska Amendment 16, Educational Funds Amendment (May 1972)
5. Oregon Measure 4, Religious Establishment and Repeal of Public Funding Restriction Amendment (1972)
6. Texas Proposition 7, Equal Rights Regardless of Race, Sex, or Creed Amendment (1972)
7. Wisconsin Question 3, Public School Building Use Amendment (April 1972)
8. Wisconsin Question 4, School Release for Religious Instruction Amendment (April 1972)

1970

1. Georgia Amendment 6, Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations Amendment (1970)
2. Maryland Question 9, Making References to God in Public Institutions and Places Amendment (1970)
3. Virginia Question 1, Constitutional Revision Amendment (1970)

1958

1. California Proposition 16, Removal of Tax Exemption for Religious Schools Initiative (1958)
2. Washington SJR 14, State Employed Chaplains Amendment (1958)

1956

1. California Proposition 6, Property Tax Exemption for Church Parking Lots Amendment (1956)

1954

1. California Proposition 9, Construction of Church Buildings Tax Exemption Amendment (1954)

1952

1. California Proposition 8, Church Building Tax Exemption Amendment (1952)

1948

1. North Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Prohibit Public School Teachers Religious Dress Measure (1948)

1946

1. California Proposition 11, Equal Employment Opportunity Initiative (1946)

1944

1. California Proposition 4, Tax Exemption for Religious, Hospital, or Charitable Properties Amendment (1944)

1942

1. Maryland Religious Grants, Amendment 5 (1942)

1938

1. California Proposition 21, Religious and Orphan Buildings Tax Exemption Amendment (1938)

1936

1. Colorado Property Tax Exemptions for Churches, Schools and Cemeteries, Measure 9 (1936)

1930

1. Utah Amendment 2, Expand Permitted Property Tax Exemptions Measure (1930)

1928

1. Arkansas Act 1, Ban on Teaching Human Evolution in Public Schools and Colleges Initiative (1928)

1926

1. California Proposition 17, Holy Bible in Public Schools Initiative (1926)

1924

1. Missouri Amendment 1, Allow Religious Corporations to Own Property to Conduct Charitable, Educational, and Missionary Activities Measure (February 1924)
2. Missouri Proposition 8, Tax Exemption for Religious Properties and Incomes Initiative (1924)

1920

1. Nebraska Amendment 23, State Aid for Sectarian Institutions Amendment (September 1920)

1915

1. California Proposition 10, Religious Buildings Tax Exemptions Amendment (October 1915)

1908

1. Minnesota Church Property Tax Exemption, Amendment 1 (1908)

1904

1. Washington Allow Chaplains for State Prisons and Reformatory Institutions Amendment (1904)

1877

1. Minnesota Amendment 7, Prohibiting Use of Funds for Sectarian Schools Measure (1877)

Alabama

1. Alabama Amendment 1, Ten Commandments Amendment (2018)
2. Alabama Freedom of Religion, Amendment 8 (1998)

Arkansas

1. Arkansas Act 1, Ban on Teaching Human Evolution in Public Schools and Colleges Initiative (1928)
2. Arkansas Issue 3, Government Burden of Free Exercise of Religion Amendment (2022)

California

1. California Proposition 10, Religious Buildings Tax Exemptions Amendment (October 1915)
2. California Proposition 11, Equal Employment Opportunity Initiative (1946)
3. California Proposition 16, Removal of Tax Exemption for Religious Schools Initiative (1958)
4. California Proposition 17, Holy Bible in Public Schools Initiative (1926)
5. California Proposition 21, Religious and Orphan Buildings Tax Exemption Amendment (1938)
6. California Proposition 4, Tax Exemption for Religious, Hospital, or Charitable Properties Amendment (1944)
7. California Proposition 6, Property Tax Exemption for Church Parking Lots Amendment (1956)
8. California Proposition 8, Church Building Tax Exemption Amendment (1952)
9. California Proposition 9, Construction of Church Buildings Tax Exemption Amendment (1954)

Colorado

1. Colorado Property Tax Exemptions for Churches, Schools and Cemeteries, Measure 9 (1936)

Florida

1. Florida Amendment 8, Repeal of Ban on Public Funding for Religious Entities Amendment (2012)
2. Florida School Prayer Straw Ballot Measure (March 1972)

Georgia

1. Georgia Amendment 6, Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations Amendment (1970)
2. Georgia Referendum A, Tax Exemptions for Religious Groups Measure (1996)
3. Georgia Referendum C, Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations Measure (1998)

Idaho

1. Idaho HJR 35, Transportation for Sectarian School Students Amendment (1972)

Illinois

1. Illinois Right to Vote Amendment (2014)

Kansas

1. Kansas Property Titles, Amendment 5 (1974)

Louisiana

1. Louisiana Amendment 2, Constitutional Right to Worship in a Church or Place of Worship Amendment (October 2023)

Maryland

1. Maryland Question 9, Making References to God in Public Institutions and Places Amendment (1970)
2. Maryland Religious Grants, Amendment 5 (1942)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Question 1, Equal Rights Regardless of Sex, Race, or Creed Amendment (1976)
2. Massachusetts Question 3, Absentee Voting for Religious Reasons Amendment (1976)
3. Massachusetts Question 9, Voluntary Recitation of Prayer in Public Schools Advisory Question (1972)

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Amendment 7, Prohibiting Use of Funds for Sectarian Schools Measure (1877)
2. Minnesota Church Property Tax Exemption, Amendment 1 (1908)

Missouri

1. Missouri Amendment 1, Allow Religious Corporations to Own Property to Conduct Charitable, Educational, and Missionary Activities Measure (February 1924)
2. Missouri Amendment 2, Public Prayer and Public School Students’ Religious Expressions Measure (August 2012)
3. Missouri Proposition 8, Tax Exemption for Religious Properties and Incomes Initiative (1924)

Nebraska

1. Nebraska Amendment 16, Educational Funds Amendment (May 1972)
2. Nebraska Amendment 23, State Aid for Sectarian Institutions Amendment (September 1920)

Nevada

1. Nevada Question 1, Equality of Rights Amendment (2022)

New Hampshire

1. New Hampshire Question 2, Equal Rights Regardless of Race, Sex, or Creed Amendment (1974)

North Dakota

1. North Dakota Initiated Measure 1, Prohibit Public School Teachers Religious Dress Measure (1948)
2. North Dakota Religious Freedom Amendment, Measure 3 (June 2012)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma State Question 790, Repeal of Ban on Public Funding for Religious Institutions Amendment (2016)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 4, Religious Establishment and Repeal of Public Funding Restriction Amendment (1972)
2. Oregon Measure 7, Equal Protection of Law Initiative (1994)

Tennessee

1. Tennessee Constitutional Amendment 4, Remove Religious Minister Disqualification Amendment (2022)

Texas

1. Texas Proposition 3, Prohibition on Limiting Religious Services or Organizations Amendment (2021)
2. Texas Proposition 3, Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations Amendment (September 2003)
3. Texas Proposition 7, Equal Rights Regardless of Race, Sex, or Creed Amendment (1972)

Utah

1. Utah Amendment 2, Expand Permitted Property Tax Exemptions Measure (1930)
2. Utah Proposition 3, Nonsectarian Religious Studies Exemption from Public Funding Restriction Amendment (1994)

Vermont

1. Vermont Equal Protection of Law Amendment (2026) - Potential

Virginia

1. Virginia Question 1, Constitutional Revision Amendment (1970)
2. Virginia Question 2, Remove Prohibition on the Incorporation of Churches Amendment (2006)
3. Virginia Question 5, Allow Churches to Incorporate Amendment (1996)

Washington

1. Washington Allow Chaplains for State Prisons and Reformatory Institutions Amendment (1904)
2. Washington HJR 4200, Public Employment of Chaplains in Health Facilities Amendment (1993)
3. Washington SJR 14, State Employed Chaplains Amendment (1958)

West Virginia

1. West Virginia Amendment 3, Incorporation of Religious Denominations and Churches Measure (2022)
2. West Virginia Amendment 3, Prayer or Private Contemplation in Public Schools Measure (1984)
3. West Virginia Incorporation of Churches or Religious Denominations Amendment (2026) - Potential

Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin Prohibit Government Closure of Places of Worship During Emergencies Amendment (2026) - On the ballot
2. Wisconsin Question 3, Public School Building Use Amendment (April 1972)
3. Wisconsin Question 4, School Release for Religious Instruction Amendment (April 1972)

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Footnotes

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