Types of local ballot measures

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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A local ballot measure is a ballot measure that is on the ballot of a political subdivision of a state, such as counties, cities and towns, school districts, and special taxing districts. The rules and procedures for local ballot measures are set at the state and local levels.

As with statewide ballot measures, local ballot measures can be citizen-initiated, such as a citizen-initiated charter amendment, or referred, such as a school district bond issue.

Our coverage scope for local ballot measures

In 2025, Ballotpedia is covering local ballot measures that appear on the ballot for voters within the 100 largest cities in the U.S., within state capitals, and throughout California. You can review the coverage scope of the local ballot measures project here.

Ballotpedia is also covering electoral system-related ballot measures, like ranked-choice voting, outside of the largest cities.

See also: Local ballot measure elections in 2025

Other types of state 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

• Forms of direct democracy in the American states
• Types of ballot measures
• Laws governing local ballot measures
• Local ballot measure elections in 2025
• Local ballot measure elections in 2024