State Ballot Measure Monthly: April 2026

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April 8, 2026

By Ballot Measures Project staff

Welcome to the State Ballot Measure Monthly—covering the latest ballot measure certifications and news from March 11 to April 7.

In this edition, you will find the latest ballot measure updates for 2026, historical comparisons of recent ballot measure data, and the top headlines from the month.

HIGHLIGHTS

Colorado and Washington will be the first two states in American history to decide on statewide ballot measures addressing sex requirements for eligibility in school sports.

Two measures in Alaska and West Virginia qualified for statewide ballots related to citizenship voting requirements, joining Arkansas, Kansas, and South Dakota in voting on the subject in 2026.

There are 87 statewide ballot measures certified — six above the average number (81) certified for even-numbered year ballots over the last 10 years.

Ballot measures by the numbers

As of April 7, 87 statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in 35 states for elections in 2026.

Certifications in 2026 compared to previous years

The graph below shows the number of certifications in each week of 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, as well as the decade average for 2014-2024. The graph also shows 2026 certifications for each week.

By type

For elections in 2026, 16 of the 87 measures are initiatives, and 71 have been referred to the ballot so far. From 2010 to 2024, an average of 161 statewide ballot measures—53 initiated measures and 108 referred measures—appeared on ballots in even-numbered years. An initiated measure is a proposed law that people collect signatures for to put on the ballot. A referred measure is a proposed law that a legislature or commission, or constitutional provision in the case of automatic referrals, puts on the ballot for voters to decide.

The table below shows the type of measures certified by year.

Ballot measures by type, 2010-2026

Type	2026	2024	2022	2020	2018	2016	2014	2012	2010	Average (2010-2024)
Initiated ballot measures	16	57	30	43	68	76	40	61	50	53
Initiated constitutional amendments	3	23	11	15	26	25	8	19	17	17
Initiated state statutes	11	32	17	25	37	46	27	29	29	30
Veto referendums	2	2	2	4	5	5	5	13	5	6
Referred ballot measures	71	102	110	86	99	86	118	125	134	108
Legislative constitutional amendment	61	73	89	69	66	69	91	98	106	84
Legislative state statute	4	12	8	6	9	2	5	8	8	7
Commission-referred measure	0	0	0	0	7	0	1	0	0	1
Automatically referred measure	2	1	3	1	1	1	1	3	4	2
Bond issues	3	13	7	6	14	11	15	14	15	12
Advisory question	1	3	3	4	2	3	5	2	1	3
Total:	87	159	140	129	167	162	158	186	184	161

By state

Measures are certified in 35 states for 2026. Louisiana has the most measures certified, with six measures. The map below shows the number of measures certified in each state.

2026 certifications

See also: Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2026

The tabs below display the measures certified and pending for elections in 2026.

Certifications

Potential measures

For elections in 2026, 87 statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in 35 states. Twelve new measures were certified for the 2026 ballot between March 11 and April 7. Below are summaries of the newly certified measures. To see the full list of certified ballot measures for 2026 by state, click here.

March 12:

• Washington Sex Verification Requirements for Female School Sports Initiative: The initiative would require school districts and nonprofit organizations that regulate interscholastic activities to "prohibit biologically male students from competing with and against female students" in sports with separate team or individual competitions for male and female students. The ballot initiative would require students seeking to participate in athletic activities designated for female students to submit documentation from their healthcare provider verifying the student’s biological sex based on "reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels."

• Washington Parental Right to Review Education Materials, Receive Notifications, and Opt Out of Sexual-Health Education Initiative: The initiative would re-enact the following rights proposed by Initiative 2081, which HB 1296 repealed:

- to receive prior notification about medical services being offered to their child, except in medical emergencies;

- to receive prior notification about medical services or medications provided that could affect the parent’s or guardian’s health insurance costs; and

- to receive prior notification when the school arranges medical treatment that requires follow-up care after school hours.

The proposed ballot initiative would repeal the following rights, which HB 1296 added, among others:

- to have their child receive a public education in an environment where discrimination based on a protected class is prohibited;

- to file a complaint on behalf of their child relating to harassment, intimidation, and bullying; and

- to receive annual notice of the public school’s language access policies and services.

March 14:

• West Virginia Citizenship Voting Requirement Amendment: The amendment would change the wording in the West Virginia Constitution from saying "Citizens of the state shall be entitled to vote" to "only citizens of the state who are citizens of the United States are entitled to vote." From 2018 to 2025, voters decided on 15 ballot measures related to adding language about citizenship requirements for voting. Voters approved all 14 measures. Similar measures were also certified for the 2026 ballot in Arkansas, Kansas, and South Dakota.

March 16:

• Colorado Sex Requirement for School and College Sports Initiative: The initiative would require school- and association-sponsored athletic teams to be classified in one of three categories based on biological sex: (1) males/men/boys, (2) females/women/girls, or (3) coeducational or mixed. Teams designated for females, women, or girls would not be open to male students or participants. Teams designated for males, men, or boys would not be open to female students or participants unless no corresponding female team is offered for that sport. The measure would not limit participation in teams designated as coeducational or mixed.

March 17:

• Alaska Citizenship Voting Requirement Initiative: The initiative would amend an existing Alaska law regarding voter qualifications. Currently, the law reads: "A person may vote at any election who is a citizen of the United States." Under this initiative, the law would read, "Only a person who is a citizen of the United States … may vote at any election." From 2018 to 2025, voters approved 15 ballot measures adding language about citizenship requirements for voting. In 2024, eight statewide measures to prohibit noncitizen voting were approved by voters—the greatest number of noncitizen-voting-related measures to appear on statewide ballots in any election year.

• Colorado Prohibit Surgeries for Treatment in Response to Minors' Perception of Sex or Gender Measure: The initiative would prohibit healthcare professionals from performing or providing surgeries to anyone under age 18 for the purpose of changing the person’s sex characteristics based on their perception of sex or gender. The ballot initiative would also prohibit state and federal funds, such as Medicaid, or insurance coverage, from paying for these surgeries. These bans would not include "treatment for persons born with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development," "treatment for acquired physical or chemical abnormalities," and male circumcision. As of 2026, medical procedures for transgender minors are legal in Colorado, and health insurance providers are prohibited from denying or limiting coverage for such procedures when a healthcare provider determines the treatment is medically necessary.

March 26:

• New Hampshire Eliminate Office of Register of Probate Amendment: The amendment would eliminate the register of probate offices and references to it within the New Hampshire Constitution. It needs to be approved by two-thirds of voters to be enacted. In the past, New Hampshire’s Register of Probate office handled issues such as simple wills. But in 2011, due to a reorganization of New Hampshire’s court system, most of the duties of this office were eliminated. Currently, the primary responsibility of the office is the preservation of files that have the potential for historical significance. Voters previously decided a similar amendment in 2022, which also would have eliminated references to the register of probate in the constitution. While the amendment received 62.9% of the vote, it did not reach the two-thirds (66.67%) required to amend the constitution.

March 31:

• Georgia Authorize Creation of Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund Amendment: The amendment would allow the state legislature to create and dedicate revenue to a fund titled the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund. The legislatively referred constitutional amendment was voted to the ballot with unanimous bipartisan support.

• Georgia Require Nonpartisan Elections for Probate Judges Amendment: The amendment would require that all probate judges be elected on a nonpartisan basis. The Georgia Probate Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the probate of wills, overseeing of estates, appointment of guardians, and the involuntary hospitalization of incapacitated adults. There is a probate court for every county in the state.

April 1:

• Kentucky Limit Governor's Pardon Power and Commutations Near General Election Amendment: The amendment would prohibit the governor from issuing a pardon or commuting a sentence 60 days prior to the gubernatorial election and up to the fifth Tuesday succeeding the election. According to the National Governors Association, every state authorizes the Governor or a Board of Pardons to grant clemency in some form. Authority and procedures vary by state.

April 2:

• Alabama Require Special Election for Lieutenant Governor Vacancies Amendment: The amendment would require the office of lieutenant governor to be filled by election if a vacancy occurs more than 60 days before the next general election. The lieutenant governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms. Currently, the following line of succession exists to fill a vacancy in the lieutenant governor's office:
  • the President Pro Tem of the Alabama State Senate
  • the Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives
  • the Attorney General of Alabama
  • the Alabama State Auditor
  • the Alabama Secretary of State
  • the Alabama Treasurer

• Idaho Official State Gun Question: The non-binding advisory question will ask voters to choose the official state gun of Idaho from the following options:
  • Winchester Model 1894 (.30-30);
  • Winchester Model 1873 (.44-40);
  • 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver (.45 Colt);
  • M1 Garand rifle (.30-06);
  • Colt M1911 .45 automatic Colt pistol (.45 ACP); and
  • Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle (.30-06).

The list of gun choices could increase before the 2026 election. House Bill 932 (HB 932) grants the Idaho Legislative Council, which is tasked with providing the Secretary of State with the official ballot language before election preparations, the ability to add options to the list of potential state guns. As of 2026, 10 states have an official state gun.

Signatures submitted: There are seven ballot measures pending signature verification.

1. California Homeownership Loan Program and Single-Family Home Construction Initiative (2026)
2. California Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Special Taxes and Charter City Real Estate Transfer Tax Prohibition Initiative (2026)
3. California Limit Compensation of Healthcare Executives Initiative (2026)
4. California Require Transparency in Health Clinic Funding and Regulate Use of Profits Initiative (2026)
5. California Voter Identification and Voter List Maintenance Requirements Initiative (2026)
6. Michigan Citizenship Requirement for Voting Amendment (2026)
7. Missouri Congressional Map Referendum (2026)

Certified to the state legislature: There are currently 12 ballot measures pending before the Massachusetts State Legislature and one ballot measure before the Maine State Legislature.

1. Maine Birth Certificate Sex Requirement for Public School Sports Initiative (2026)
2. Massachusetts Change State Tax Revenue Limit Initiative (2026)
3. Massachusetts Decrease State Income Tax Rate to 4% Initiative (2026)
4. Massachusetts Eliminate Recreational Marijuana Sales and Allow Limited Possession Initiative (2026)
5. Massachusetts Legislative Stipend Calculation and Payment Rules Initiative (2026)
6. Massachusetts Permit Collective Bargaining for Committee for Public Counsel Services Employees Initiative (2026)
7. Massachusetts Permit Same-Day Voter Registration Initiative (2026)
8. Massachusetts Rent Control Initiative (2026)
9. Massachusetts Top-Two Primary Elections Initiative (2026)
10. Massachusetts Public Records Requirements for Legislature and Governor’s Office Initiative (2026)
11. Massachusetts Establish the Nature for All Fund Initiative (2026)
12. Massachusetts Limit on Required Lot Size for Single-Family Homes Initiative (2026)

Historical comparisons

Certifications by month for even-numbered year elections

The following heatmap shows the number of statewide ballot measures certified each month from 2012 through 2026, grouped by two-year election cycles leading up to even-numbered general elections. It highlights both the volume and timing of certifications, helping illustrate the overall rhythm of the ballot measure cycle. The bottom row displays the monthly averages across all years.

Ballot measures certified by year and month across two-year election cycles. Average is listed as the bottom row.

Headlines

• Ballot initiative certification

  Washington to decide ballot initiatives in 2026 related to school sports eligibility based on biological sex and certain parental rights in public schools

  The first initiative that voters in Washington will decide on, known as IL26-638, is also the first statewide measure related to biological sex requirements for eligibility in school sports to qualify for the ballot in American history. The initiative would prohibit biologically male students from participating in sports designated for female students, and would require verification of their biological sex by a health care provider based on "reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels."
  Read More
• Signature submission

  SEIU-UHW submits signatures for California ballot initiatives capping executive pay and requiring clinics to spend 90% on patient care

  Service Employees International Union — United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) filed signatures for two citizen initiatives that would enact laws limiting executive pay and requiring clinics to spend 90% of their revenue on patient care. The SEIU-UHW proposed similar hospital executive compensation limit initiatives in 2014 and 2016 in California, in 2014 in Oregon, and in 2016 in Arizona. None of the initiatives qualified for the ballot.
  Read More
• Local ballot measure elections

  Voters in at least five jurisdictions will decide ballot measures related to data centers in 2026

  In 2026, voters in multiple states will decide on at least five local ballot measures related to data center development, including one to allow data center development, and four to limit, prohibit, or create additional steps for data center development. In addition to these local measures, a state ballot initiative has been proposed in Ohio to prohibit the construction of data centers for digital data processing with an aggregate power demand exceeding 25 megawatts.
  Read More

See also

• 2026 ballot measures
• Ballot initiatives filed for the 2026 ballot
• Ballot Measure Scorecard, 2026
• Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2026

Related articles

• State Ballot Measure Monthly

Footnotes

2026 ballot measures

State ballot measures

States:  • Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Indiana • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Missouri • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Mexico • North Carolina • North Dakota • Oklahoma • Oregon • South Dakota • Tennessee • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

Topics: Abortion policy •  Administrative organization •  Affirmative action •  Age limits for officials •  Agriculture policy •  Athletics and sports •  Bail policy •  Ballot measure process •  Ballot measure supermajority requirements •  Bond issues •  Budget stabilization funds •  Business taxes •  Campaign finance •  Citizenship voting requirements •  Civil service •  Collective bargaining •  Constitutional rights •  Constitutional wording changes •  Crime victims' rights •  Criminal sentencing •  Criminal trials •  Drug crime policy •  Election administration and governance •  English language policy •  Family-related policy •  Firearms policy •  Flood infrastructure and management •  Food and beverage taxes •  Forestry and timber •  Fuel taxes •  Healthcare governance •  Higher education funding •  Higher education governance •  Homestead tax exemptions •  Immigration policy •  Initiative and referendum process •  LGBTQ issues •  Law enforcement officers and departments •  Local government finance and taxes •  Local government officials and elections •  Local government organization •  Marijuana laws •  Minimum wage laws •  Parks, land, and natural area conservation •  Pollution, waste, and recycling policy •  Primary election systems •  Property tax exemptions •  Property taxes •  Psychedelic substances laws •  Public assistance programs •  Public economic investment policy •  Public education funding •  Public education governance •  Public employee retirement funds •  Public health insurance •  Public school teachers and staff •  Race and ethnicity issues •  Ranked-choice voting •  Recall process •  Redistricting policy •  Religion in public schools •  Religion-related policy •  Restricted-use funds •  Salaries of government officials •  Sales taxes •  Sewage and stormwater •  Sex and gender issues •  State constitutional conventions •  State executive branch structure •  State executive elections •  State executive powers and duties •  State flags, symbols, and holidays •  State judicial selection •  State judiciary oversight •  State legislative authority •  State legislative processes and sessions •  State legislative term limits •  Storm infrastructure •  Transportation taxes and fees •  Vehicle and driver regulations •  Voter ID policy •  Voting rights for persons with criminal convictions •  Water irrigation policy

Local ballot measures

 • Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Illinois • Indiana • Kansas • Louisiana • Michigan • Missouri • Nebraska • Nevada • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Texas • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • Wisconsin

Overviews

 • Scorecard •Tuesday Count •Deadlines •Filed ballot initiatives •Potential ballot measures •Polls •Campaign finance •Signature costs •Readability