Types of ballot measures in North Carolina


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.

In North Carolina, the state General Assembly can vote to refer measures to the ballot. Citizens of North Carolina do not have the power to initiate statewide ballot measures. This page provides an overview of the different types of ballot measures that can appear on state ballots in North Carolina.

The types of state ballot measures in North Carolina are:

Legislatively referred constitutional amendments
Legislatively referred bond measures
Constitutional convention questions

Citizen-initiated ballot measures

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

Legislative referrals

Legislatively referred constitutional amendments

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the North Carolina General Assembly to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 72 votes in the North Carolina House of Representatives and 30 votes in the North Carolina State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Legislatively referred bond measures

See also: Legislatively referred bond measure

According to Section 3 of Article V of the North Carolina Constitution, voter approval is required for state bond issues. Exceptions are made for bond issues designed to fund or refund an existing valid debt; to supply an unforeseen deficiency in state revenue; to borrow in anticipation of tax revenue that would make the borrowing payable within the fiscal year; to meet emergencies immediately threatening public health or safety; or to suppress riots and insurrections or repel invasions.

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the North Carolina General Assembly to place a bond issue on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 61 votes in the North Carolina House of Representatives and 26 votes in the North Carolina State Senate, assuming no vacancies. State bond issues require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Constitutional convention questions

See also: Constitutional convention question

According to Article XIII of the North Carolina Constitution, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote vote of both chambers of state Legislature is required to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot. A simple majority vote is required for voters to approve the question. Any amendments proposed by a constitutional convention also require voter approval.

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