Types of ballot measures in Illinois
 |
| 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. |
In Illinois, statewide ballot measures can be citizen-initiated. The Illinois General Assembly can also vote to refer measures to the ballot. This page provides an overview of the different types of ballot measures that can appear on state ballots in Illinois.
The types of state ballot measures in Illinois are:
- Initiated constitutional amendments
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendments
- Legislatively referred bond measures
- Advisory questions
- Constitutional convention questions
Citizen-initiated ballot measures
In Illinois, citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments. The Illinois State Legislature passed legislation in 1910 that allowed citizens to petition to put non-binding, advisory questions on state or city ballots. Voters in Illinois then approved a new state constitution in 1970, which allowed for citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
Initiated constitutional amendments
- See also: Initiated constitutional amendment
An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
In Illinois, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 8% of votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election. Initiated measures in Illinois may only amend Article IV of the Illinois Constitution, which addresses the structure of the Illinois State Legislature. All amendments must be approved by either a majority of those voting in the election or three-fifths of those voting on the amendment itself.
Initiated advisory question
- See also: Advisory question
In Illinois, the number of signatures required for an initiated non-binding question is equal to 8% of votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election. In 1901, the Illinois General Assembly enacted legislation allowing citizens to propose non-binding ballot measures called questions of public policy.[1]
Legislative referrals
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments
A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Illinois General Assembly to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 71 votes in the Illinois House of Representatives and 36 votes in the Illinois State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Advisory questions
- See also: Advisory question
Advisory questions require a simple majority vote in each legislative chamber during one legislative session. That amounts to a minimum of 60 votes in the Illinois House of Representatives and 30 votes in the Illinois State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Advisory questions require the governor's signature to appear on the ballot.
Legislatively referred bond measures
- See also: Legislatively referred bond measure
According to Article IX, Section 9 of the Illinois Constitution, voter approval or a three-fifths vote of the Illinois General Assembly is required for bond measures. The amount of debt incurred cannot exceed 5% of Illinois state appropriations for that fiscal year, or 15% of state appropriations for that fiscal year to meet deficits caused by emergencies or failures of revenue.
Constitutional convention questions
- See also: State constitutional conventions
According to Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, a question about whether to hold a constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1918. Illinois is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question. A constitutional convention question can also be placed before the state's voters if 60% of the members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly vote in the affirmative. If such a question does appear on the ballot, it must be affirmed by a supermajority vote of 60% of those voting on the question or a majority of those who cast a ballot for any office in that election.
The table below shows the last and next constitutional convention question election years:
| State | Interval | Last question on the ballot | Next question on the ballot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 20 years | 2008 | 2028 |
Historical types of ballot measures
Legislatively referred state statutes
- See also: Legislatively referred state statute
Prior to the approval of a new Illinois Constitution in 1970, Article 5, Section 11 of the previous Illinois Constitution read: "No act of the General Assembly authorizing or creating corporations or associations with banking powers, whether of issue, deposit or discount, nor amendments thereto, shall go into effect or in any manner be in force unless-the same shall be submitted to a vote of the people at the general election next succeeding the passage of the same, and be approved by a majority of all the votes cast at such election for or against such law."
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:
See also
- List of Illinois ballot measures
- Laws governing ballot measures in Illinois
- Laws governing the initiative process
- States with initiative or referendum
- States without initiative or referendum
- Amending state constitutions
Footnotes
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