Types of ballot measures in Delaware

Types of ballot measures
Initiated
• Initiated constitutional amendment
• Initiated state statute
• Veto referendum
Legislative
• Legislative constitutional amendment
• Legislative state statute
• Legislative bond issue
• Advisory question
Other
• Automatic ballot referral
• Commission-referred measure
• Convention-referred amendment
Select a state from the menu below to learn more about that state's types of ballot measures.
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In Delaware, the state Legislature can vote to refer non-binding questions to the ballot. Citizens of Delaware do not have the power to initiate statewide ballot measures, and legislative constitutional amendments do not require voter approval. Delaware is the only state that does not require voter approval to amend the state's constitution.

The type of state ballot measure in Delaware is:

• Advisory questions

Citizen-initiated ballot measures

In Delaware, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level.

Legislative referrals

Advisory questions

See also: Advisory question

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Delaware State Legislature to place a non-binding advisory question on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 21 votes in the Delaware House of Representatives and 11 votes in the Delaware State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Questions require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

The Delaware State Legislature has referred a non-binding question to the ballot on at least two occasions. First, a question asking whether slot machines should be legalized in 1976. Second, a question asking whether charitable organizations should be allowed to conduct lotteries.

Other types of ballot measures

Most ballot measures are placed on the ballot through citizen initiatives or legislative processes. Others are placed on the ballot automatically, by a special commission, or by a state constitutional convention. The following is a list of different types of state ballot measures:

Types of state ballot measures

Citizen-initiated ballot measure

• Initiated constitutional amendment

• Direct initiated constitutional amendment

• Indirect initiated constitutional amendment

• Initiated state statute

• Direct initiated state statute

• Indirect initiated state statute

• Combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute

• Veto referendum

• Statute affirmation (Nevada)

Legislatively referred ballot measure

• Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

• Legislatively referred state statute

• Legislatively referred bond measure

• Advisory question

Other type of state ballot measure

• Automatic ballot referral

• Constitutional convention question

• Commission-referred ballot measure

• Convention-referred constitutional amendment

• Political party advisory question

See also

• List of Delaware ballot measures
• Laws governing ballot measures in Delaware
• Laws governing the initiative process
• States with initiative or referendum
• States without initiative or referendum
• Amending state constitutions