Death penalty ballot measures

Voters have decided on death penalty ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, this includes measures regarding legal punishment in which a person is sentenced to death by the state for committing certain crimes. The death penalty is also known as capital punishment. The topic is grouped within the criminal justice and law enforcement policy area.

This page provides information on:

• Related ballot measures
• Upcoming ballot measures
• Comprehensive list of ballot measures by year and state

Topic information

• State ballot measure topics
• Local ballot measure topics
• History of ballot measures by topic

Topic path

State ballot measure

Criminal justice and law enforcement policy

Criminal sentences and trials

Death penalty

Related ballot measures

Related state and local ballot measure topics

State ballot measures

Corrections governance Criminal sentencing Criminal trials

Local ballot measures

Local criminal justice and law enforcement policy

Explore more state ballot measure topics

Scroll to explore topics. Click a topic to view more information.

Budget and tax policy

Economic regulations Banking policy Business regulations Insurance policy Public economic investment policy Tax policy Business taxes Carbon taxes and fees Fees, licenses, and charges Food and beverage taxes Fuel taxes Income taxes Property taxes Property tax exemptions Sales taxes Severance taxes Tobacco and cigarette taxes Budget policy Balanced budget requirements Budget stabilization funds Debt limits Revenue allocation Revenue and spending limits Restricted-use funds Bond issues Bond issue requirements Tax and revenue administration

Criminal justice and law enforcement policy

Civil law and trials Civil trials Tort law Criminal sentences and trials Bail policy Criminal sentencing Criminal trials Death penalty Juvenile criminal justice Parole policy Drug regulations Alcohol laws Drug crime policy Marijuana laws Psychedelic substance laws Smoking bans Tobacco laws Law enforcement and corrections Corrections governance Law enforcement funding Law enforcement officers and departments Prison and jail funding Prison work regulations Crime victims' rights Dueling bans

Education policy

Higher education Higher education funding Higher education governance Public K–12 education Public education funding Public education governance Public school teachers and staff Religion in public schools School class size policy Early childhood education School choice policy

Election policy

Direct democracy Ballot measure supermajority requirements Ballot measure process Initiative and referendum process Recall process Electoral systems Cumulative voting Presidential electoral vote Primary election systems Proportional representation Ranked-choice voting Runoff elections Term limits Congressional term limits Executive official term limits Judicial term limits Local official term limits State legislative term limits Voting policy Absentee and mail voting Citizenship voting requirements Early voting Literacy, poll tax, and property voting requirements Primary election participation Race and suffrage Residency voting requirements Voter ID policy Voter registration Voting age policy Voting rights for persons with criminal convictions Women's suffrage Age limits for officials Campaign finance Election administration and governance Redistricting policy

Environment and energy policy

Energy policy Carbon emissions regulations Energy conservation and efficiency Energy market regulations Energy transmission projects Fossil fuel energy Hydroelectric energy Nuclear energy Solar and wind energy Hunting and fishing Fisheries and fishing regulations Game and fish commissions Hunting regulations Right to hunt and fish Natural disaster policy Earthquake infrastructure Flood infrastructure and management Storm infrastructure Wildfire management Agriculture policy Animal treatment laws Food policy Forestry and timber Mineral resources Parks, land, and natural area conservation Pollution, waste, and recycling policy

Governance policy

Administrative agencies Administrative organization Administrative powers and rulemaking Local government Local government organization Local government officials and elections Local government finance and taxes State constitutions Constitutional rights Constitutional wording changes State constitution ratification State constitutional conventions State executives Executive branch structure State executive elections State executive powers and duties State legislatures State legislative authority State legislative elections State legislative processes and sessions State legislative structure State legislative vote requirements State judiciary State judicial authority State judicial selection State judiciary oversight State judiciary structure Census policy Civil service Ethics rules and commissions Federal government issues Jury rules Impeachment rules Open meetings and public information Salaries of government officials State capitals State flags, symbols, and holidays Statehood Time standards

Infrastructure policy

Housing policy Homestead tax exemptions Housing assistance programs Housing development funding Rent control and regulations Transportation policy Airport infrastructure Highways and bridges Non-motorized transportation Ports and harbors Public transportation Railways Toll roads Transportation taxes and fees Vehicle and driver regulations Water infrastructure Drinking water systems Sewage and stormwater Water irrigation policy Water storage Eminent domain policy Land use and development policy Public land policy Telecommunications infrastructure Utility policy

Labor, healthcare, and public assistance policy

Labor union policy Collective bargaining Labor disputes and strikes Labor union deductions Right-to-work laws Healthcare policy Complementary and alternative healthcare Healthcare facility funding Healthcare governance Private health insurance Public health insurance Vaccinations and disease policy Work regulations Child labor regulations Gender-based labor regulations Minimum wage laws Paid sick leave laws Workers' compensation laws Working hours regulations Public assistance programs Public employee retirement funds Public works labor and contracting

Military and veteran policy

Defense-related funding Government continuity policy Military service policy Military-related advisory questions Nuclear weapons policy State National Guard and militia Veterans policy

Social issue policy

Abortion policy Affirmative action American Indian issues Assisted death policy Athletics and sports English language policy Family-related policy Firearms policy Gambling policy Immigration policy LGBTQ issues Race and ethnicity issues Religion-related policy Sex and gender issues Sexual content regulations Sunday regulations

Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2026 ballot measures and 2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to this topic that are certified or potential for this year and future elections:

There are no ballot measures related to this topic that have qualified for the ballot.

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

Years

States

2022

1. Alabama Amendment 3, Notice to Victim's Family Required for Commutation or Reprieve of Death Sentences Amendment (2022)

2016

1. California Proposition 62, Abolition of Death Penalty Measure (2016)
2. California Proposition 66, Death Penalty Procedures Measure (2016)
3. Nebraska Referendum 426, Death Penalty Measure (2016)
4. Oklahoma State Question 776, Allow State to Impose Death Penalty Amendment (2016)

2012

1. California Proposition 34, Abolition of the Death Penalty Initiative (2012)

2006

1. Wisconsin Question 2, Death Penalty for First Degree Murder Advisory Question (2006)

2002

1. Florida Amendment 1, Permit Death Penalty For Capital Crimes Amendment (2002)

2000

1. California Proposition 18, Permit Death Penalty or Life Sentence for Lying in Wait First Degree Murder Measure (March 2000)

1998

1. Florida Amendment 2, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1998)

1996

1. California Proposition 195, Permit Death Penalty or Life Sentence for Certain First-Degree Murders Measure (March 1996)
2. California Proposition 196, Death Penalty or Life Imprisonment for Drive-by Shooting Murders Measure (March 1996)

1994

1. Ohio Jurisdiction of Death Penalty Appeals Amendment (1994)
2. Wyoming Amendment 1, Legislative Authority to Create Penalty of Life Imprisonment Without Parole Not Subject to Commutation by Governor Amendment (1994)

1992

1. Arizona Proposition 103, Require Lethal Injection for Death Penalty Amendment (1992)
2. New Jersey Public Question No. 3, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1992)

1990

1. California Proposition 114, Reclassification of Peace Officers Covered by the Death Penalty Measure (June 1990)

1984

1. Oregon Measure 6, Permit Death Penalty for Aggravated Murder Initiative (1984)
2. Oregon Measure 7, Require Death Penalty by Lethal Injection for Aggravated Murder Initiative (1984)

1982

1. Massachusetts Question 2, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1982)

1978

1. California Proposition 7, Expand Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment for Murders Initiative (1978)
2. Oregon Measure 8, Require Separate Sentencing and Death Penalty for Murders Initiative (1978)

1975

1. Washington Initiative 316, Require Death Penalty for Aggravated Murder Measure (1975)

1974

1. Colorado Amendment No. 2, Require Death Penalty for Certain Class One Felonies Amendment (1974)

1973

1. Rhode Island Proposal 3, Require Grand Jury Indictment for Crimes Punishable by Death or Imprisonment for Life Amendment (1973)

1972

1. California Proposition 17, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1972)

1970

1. Illinois Abolition of Death Penalty Amendment (December 1970)

1968

1. Massachusetts Question 6, Permit Death Penalty Advisory Question (1968)

1966

1. Colorado Referred Law No. 2, Abolition of Death Penalty Measure (1966)

1964

1. Oregon Measure 1, Abolition of Death Penalty Amendment (1964)

1958

1. Oregon Measure 4, Repeal of Capital Punishment Amendment (1958)

1944

1. Virginia Board for the Review of Capital Punishment, Reprieves, and Pardons Amendment (1944)

1933

1. Arizona Measure Nos. 102-103, Permit Death Penalty by Lethal Gas Amendment (1933)

1931

1. Michigan Define Murder in the First Degree and Require Death Penalty by Electrocution Referendum (April 1931)

1920

1. Oregon Measure Nos. 304-305, Permit Death Penalty for First Degree Murder Amendment (May 1920)

1918

1. Arizona Measure Nos. 306-307, Require Life Imprisonment or Death Penalty for First-Degree Murder Convictions Initiative (1918)

1916

1. Arizona Measure Nos. 300-301, Abolition of Death Penalty Initiative (1916)

1914

1. Arizona Measure Nos. 308-309, Abolition of Death Penalty Initiative (1914)
2. Oregon Measure Nos. 334-335, Abolition of the Death Penalty Initiative (1914)

1912

1. Ohio Abolition of the Death Penalty Amendment (September 1912)
2. Oregon Measure Nos. 366-367, Abolition of the Death Penalty Initiative (1912)

Alabama

1. Alabama Amendment 3, Notice to Victim's Family Required for Commutation or Reprieve of Death Sentences Amendment (2022)

Arizona

1. Arizona Measure Nos. 102-103, Permit Death Penalty by Lethal Gas Amendment (1933)
2. Arizona Measure Nos. 300-301, Abolition of Death Penalty Initiative (1916)
3. Arizona Measure Nos. 306-307, Require Life Imprisonment or Death Penalty for First-Degree Murder Convictions Initiative (1918)
4. Arizona Measure Nos. 308-309, Abolition of Death Penalty Initiative (1914)
5. Arizona Proposition 103, Require Lethal Injection for Death Penalty Amendment (1992)

California

1. California Proposition 114, Reclassification of Peace Officers Covered by the Death Penalty Measure (June 1990)
2. California Proposition 17, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1972)
3. California Proposition 18, Permit Death Penalty or Life Sentence for Lying in Wait First Degree Murder Measure (March 2000)
4. California Proposition 195, Permit Death Penalty or Life Sentence for Certain First-Degree Murders Measure (March 1996)
5. California Proposition 196, Death Penalty or Life Imprisonment for Drive-by Shooting Murders Measure (March 1996)
6. California Proposition 34, Abolition of the Death Penalty Initiative (2012)
7. California Proposition 62, Abolition of Death Penalty Measure (2016)
8. California Proposition 66, Death Penalty Procedures Measure (2016)
9. California Proposition 7, Expand Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment for Murders Initiative (1978)

Colorado

1. Colorado Amendment No. 2, Require Death Penalty for Certain Class One Felonies Amendment (1974)
2. Colorado Referred Law No. 2, Abolition of Death Penalty Measure (1966)

Florida

1. Florida Amendment 1, Permit Death Penalty For Capital Crimes Amendment (2002)
2. Florida Amendment 2, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1998)

Illinois

1. Illinois Abolition of Death Penalty Amendment (December 1970)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Question 2, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1982)
2. Massachusetts Question 6, Permit Death Penalty Advisory Question (1968)

Michigan

1. Michigan Define Murder in the First Degree and Require Death Penalty by Electrocution Referendum (April 1931)

Nebraska

1. Nebraska Referendum 426, Death Penalty Measure (2016)

New Jersey

1. New Jersey Public Question No. 3, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1992)

Ohio

1. Ohio Abolition of the Death Penalty Amendment (September 1912)
2. Ohio Jurisdiction of Death Penalty Appeals Amendment (1994)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma State Question 776, Allow State to Impose Death Penalty Amendment (2016)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 1, Abolition of Death Penalty Amendment (1964)
2. Oregon Measure 4, Repeal of Capital Punishment Amendment (1958)
3. Oregon Measure 6, Permit Death Penalty for Aggravated Murder Initiative (1984)
4. Oregon Measure 7, Require Death Penalty by Lethal Injection for Aggravated Murder Initiative (1984)
5. Oregon Measure 8, Require Separate Sentencing and Death Penalty for Murders Initiative (1978)
6. Oregon Measure Nos. 304-305, Permit Death Penalty for First Degree Murder Amendment (May 1920)
7. Oregon Measure Nos. 334-335, Abolition of the Death Penalty Initiative (1914)
8. Oregon Measure Nos. 366-367, Abolition of the Death Penalty Initiative (1912)

Rhode Island

1. Rhode Island Proposal 3, Require Grand Jury Indictment for Crimes Punishable by Death or Imprisonment for Life Amendment (1973)

Virginia

1. Virginia Board for the Review of Capital Punishment, Reprieves, and Pardons Amendment (1944)

Washington

1. Washington Initiative 316, Require Death Penalty for Aggravated Murder Measure (1975)

Wisconsin

1. Wisconsin Question 2, Death Penalty for First Degree Murder Advisory Question (2006)

Wyoming

1. Wyoming Amendment 1, Legislative Authority to Create Penalty of Life Imprisonment Without Parole Not Subject to Commutation by Governor Amendment (1994)

See also

State & Local Ballot Measures

Ballotpedia

Measures

• • State ballot measures
• • Local ballot measures
• • Analyses

Topics

• • State ballot measure topics
• • Local ballot measure topics

Laws

• • Laws governing ballot measures
• • Changes to laws governing ballot measures
• • Types of ballot measures
• • Ballot measure policy topics

History

• • Historical Ballot Measures (HBM) Factbooks
• • History of ballot measures by topic

Campaigns

• • Campaign finance
• • Endorsements
• • Polls

Footnotes

State ballot measures

State

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

By year

2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • 1998 • 1997 • 1996 • 1995 • 1994 • 1993 • 1992 • 1991 • 1990 • 1989 • 1988 • 1987 • 1986 • 1985 • 1984 • 1983 • 1982 • 1981 • 1980 • 1979 • 1978 • 1977 • 1976 • 1975 • 1974 • 1973 • 1972 • 1971 • 1970 • 1969 • 1968 • 1967 • 1966 • 1965 • 1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1956 • 1955 • 1954 • 1953 • 1952 • 1951 • 1950 • 1949 • 1948 • 1947 • 1946 • 1945 • 1944 • 1943 • 1942 • 1941 • 1940 • 1939 • 1938 • 1937 • 1936 • 1935 • 1934 • 1933 • 1932 • 1931 • 1930 • 1929 • 1928 • 1927 • 1926 • 1925 • 1924 • 1923 • 1922 • 1921 • 1920 • 1919 • 1918 • 1917 • 1916 • 1915 • 1914 • 1913 • 1912 • 1911 • 1910 • 1909 • 1908 • 1907 • 1906 • 1905 • 1904 • 1903 • 1902 • 1901 • 1900