State Ballot Measure Monthly: October 2025
By Ballot Measures Project staff
Welcome to the State Ballot Measure Monthly—covering the latest ballot measure certifications and news from September 10 to October 7.
In this edition, you will find the latest certifications and ballot measure updates for 2025 and 2026, historical comparisons of recent ballot measure data, and the top headlines from the month.
Ballot measures by the numbers
As of October 7, 30 statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in nine states in 2025, and 56 statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in 28 states for elections in 2026.
Statewide ballot measures certified in 2025 by state
2025 ballot measures
- See also: Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2025
The tabs below display the measures certified and pending for elections in 2025.
2026 ballot measures
- See also: Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2026
The tabs below display the measures certified and pending for elections in 2026.
For elections in 2026, 56 statewide ballot measures were certified for the ballot in 28 states. Two measures were certified for the 2026 ballot between September 10 and October 7. To see the full list of certified ballot measures for 2026 by state, click here.
California
October 2, 2025
- California Allow Public Financing of Election Campaigns Measure: California voters will decide in 2026 whether to allow state and local governments to create public financing programs for election campaigns under Senate Bill 42 (SB 42), which Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed on Oct. 2. The measure would repeal a prohibition, enacted through Proposition 73 in 1988, on public officers and candidates using or receiving public funds for campaign purposes. In California, the Legislature may only amend or repeal a voter-approved initiative if the initiative itself permits such changes; otherwise, any changes must be approved by voters.[1]
Missouri
September 12, 2025
- Missouri Amendment 4, Require Approval in Each Congressional District for Citizen-Initiated Constitutional Amendments and Add Provisions on Petition Fraud and Foreign Contributions Amendment: The Missouri State Legislature voted to refer an amendment to voters that would require voter approval of citizen-initiated constitutional amendments in each congressional district, rather than statewide; add language prohibiting foreign nationals and foreign adversaries, as defined, from spending to support or oppose ballot measures, with penalties for violations; and add language regarding penalties for ballot initiative signature petition fraud, among other changes. No state has a voter approval requirement in each congressional district. While four states, including Missouri, require signatures to be collected from a certain number of congressional districts, none require voter approval in each congressional district. Amendment 4 would create a new type of ballot measure supermajority requirement.[2]
Historical comparisons
Certifications in 2025 compared to previous years by week
The chart below shows the progression of statewide ballot measure certifications over the election cycle by year. One measure was certified in this past month for the 2026 election, which is on track with the average for the last seven even-year election cycles. The average number of measures certified at this point in the election cycle is 34, which is four greater than the number certified for the 2025 ballot.
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.
Headlines
- Ballot measure campaign financeCalifornia Proposition 50 becomes the 7th most expensive ballot measure in state’s history, with four weeks to goProposition 50 became the 7th most expensive ballot measure on record in California on Oct. 6, 2025, with four weeks until the election. As of Oct. 6, campaigns for and against the ballot measure had raised a combined $137.0 million. Supporters of Proposition 50 reported $95.7 million in contributions, while opponents reported $41.3 million. The next regular pre-election campaign finance reports for California Proposition 50 are due on Oct. 31, 2025.
- Certification newsUnder proposed supermajority rule, every Missouri ballot initiative since 2020 would have failedIn 2026, Missouri voters will decide on a constitutional amendment, Amendment 4, to require voter approval of citizen-initiated constitutional amendments in each congressional district, rather than statewide. As of September 2025, 11 states require supermajority approval for certain ballot measures—for example, a 60% vote to amend the constitution or a higher threshold for tax-related amendments. While four states, including Missouri, require signatures to be collected from a certain number of congressional districts, none require voter approval in each congressional district. Amendment 4 would create a new type of ballot measure supermajority requirement.
See also
- 2025 ballot measures
- Ballot initiatives filed for the 2025 ballot
- Ballot Measure Scorecard, 2025
- Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2025
Related articles
Footnotes
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