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Law enforcement and corrections ballot measures

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Voters have decided on law enforcement and corrections ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, this includes measures regarding policing and correctional facilities. The topic is grouped within the criminal justice and law enforcement policy area.

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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:

List of state ballot measures

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

2026

  1. Colorado Notification of U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Certain Criminal Charges and Immigration Status Initiative (2026) - On the ballot
  2. Ohio Right to Civil Action Against Government Actors and Prohibit Immunity Defenses for Constitutional Violations Initiative (2026) - Potential

2024

  1. Arizona Proposition 314, Immigration and Border Law Enforcement Measure (2024) Approved
  2. Missouri Amendment 4, Allow Legislature to Require a City to Increase Funding without State Reimbursement for a Police Force Established by State Board Measure (August 2024) Approved
  3. Utah Amendment C, Elections of County Sheriffs Amendment (2024) Approved
  4. Washington Initiative 2113, Remove Certain Restrictions on Police Vehicular Pursuits Initiative (2024)
  5. Woodlawn Estates Crime Prevention and Improvement District, Louisiana, Renew Annual Parcel Fee Measure (November 2024) Approved

2022

  1. Missouri Amendment 4, Allow Legislature to Require a City to Increase Funding without State Reimbursement for a Police Force Established by State Board Amendment (2022) Overturned
  2. Montana C-48, Search Warrant for Electronic Data Amendment (2022) Approved

2020

  1. California Proposition 20, Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative (2020) Defeated
  2. Michigan Proposal 2, Search Warrant for Electronic Data Amendment (2020) Approved

2018

  1. Florida Amendment 7, First Responder and Military Member Survivor Benefits, Supermajority Board Votes for College Fees, and State College System Amendment (2018) Approved
  2. Washington Initiative 940, Police Training and Criminal Liability in Cases of Deadly Force Measure (2018) Approved

2016

  1. Alabama Restriction of Police and Planning Jurisdiction in Calhoun County, Amendment 10 (2016) Approved
  2. Florida Amendment 3, Tax Exemptions for Disabled First Responders Measure (2016) Approved

2012

  1. California Proposition 35, Ban on Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery Initiative (2012) Approved
  2. Florida Amendment 9, Surviving Spouse Homestead Property Tax Exemption Amendment (2012) Approved
  3. Idaho State Prison Control Amendment, SJR 102 (2012) Approved
  4. Missouri Municipal Police Amendment, Proposition A (2012) Approved

2009

  1. New York Amendment 2, Prisoner Nonprofit Volunteer Work Amendment (2009) Approved

2008

  1. California Proposition 6, Gang-Related Crimes, Law Enforcement Spending, and Parolee Caseload Initiative (2008) Defeated

2007

  1. Washington SJR 8212, Inmate Labor Programs Amendment (2007) Approved

2006

  1. Arizona Proposition 104, Allow Municipalities to Include Public Safety and Transportation Debt in Debt Limit Amendment (2006) Approved

2004

  1. California Proposition 69, Required Collection of Felon DNA Samples Initiative (2004) Approved

2002

  1. Maine Question 1, Bond Issue to Fund Machias and South Windham Correctional Facilities Measure (2002) Defeated
  2. Texas Proposition 1, Eliminate Vacant Constable Office Amendment (2002) Approved

2000

  1. Connecticut Question 1, Eliminate the County Sheriff System Amendment (2000) Approved
  2. Georgia Amendment 3, Compensation for Injured First Responders Amendment (2000) Approved

1999

  1. Oregon Measure 68, Firms Protected from Prison Labor Competition Amendment (1999) Approved

1998

  1. Oklahoma State Question 682, State Prisoners in County Jails Amendment (1998) Approved
  2. Tennessee Prisoner Treatment and Conditions, Amendment 1 (1998) Approved

1997

  1. Oregon Measure 49, State Prisoner Employees' Rights and Interstate Commerce for Prison-Made Products Measure (May 1997) Approved

1996

  1. California Proposition 194, Employed Prisoners Not Eligible for Unemployment Benefits Upon Release Measure (March 1996) Approved
  2. California Proposition 205, County Jail Bond Measure (1996) Defeated
  3. Colorado Referendum C, Qualifications for County Sheriff Amendment (1996) Approved
  4. Michigan Proposal E, Casino Gambling Initiative (1996) Approved
  5. Oregon Measure 26, Principles for Punishment of Crime Amendment (1996) Approved

1995

  1. Colorado Referendum A, Contracts for Non-State Prisons Measure (1995) Defeated
  2. Texas Proposition 8, County Office of Constable Amendment (1995) Approved

1994

  1. Alabama Lee County Municipalities Amendment (1994) Approved
  2. Missouri Amendment 4, Maintenance for State Facilities Bonds Measure (August 1994) Approved
  3. Oregon Measure 17, Require Full-Time Work for State Prison Inmates Initiative (1994) Approved

1993

  1. Texas Proposition 14, Bonds for Corrections Facilities Amendment (1993) Approved

1991

  1. Maine Question 2, Bond Issue to Fund Correctional Facilities Measure (1991) Defeated
  2. Texas Proposition 4, Bonds for Corrections and Mental Health Facilities Amendment (1991) Approved

1990

  1. California Proposition 120, Prison Construction Bond Issue (June 1990) Approved
  2. California Proposition 139, Prison Inmate Labor Initiative (1990) Approved
  3. California Proposition 144, New Prison Construction Bond Measure (1990) Defeated
  4. California Proposition 147, County Jail Bond Measure (1990) Defeated
  5. Maine Question 6, Bond Issue to Fund Correctional Facilities Measure (1990) Defeated
  6. Mississippi Administration of Prisons, Amendment 2 (1990) Approved
  7. North Carolina Prison and Youth Facilities Bonds Referendum (1990) Approved
  8. Pennsylvania Question 1, Prison Bond Measure (1990) Approved

1989

  1. Maine Question 3A, Bond Issue to Fund Juvenile and Adult Correctional Facilities Measure (1989) Approved
  2. Maine Question 3B, Bond Issue to Fund Adult Correctional Facilities Measure (1989) Defeated
  3. New York Proposal 1, Acts of a Sheriff Amendment (1989) Approved
  4. Texas Proposition 8, Bonds for Corrections Projects Amendment (1989) Approved

1988

  1. California Proposition 80, Construction of New Prisons Bond (1988) Approved
  2. Georgia Amendment 7, Additional Court Penalties Measure (1988) Approved
  3. South Carolina Age and Qualifications of Sheriffs, Amendment 3 (1988) Approved
  4. South Dakota Amendment D, Charitable and Penal Institutions Measure (1988) Approved

1987

  1. New Jersey Public Question No. 6 (1987) Defeated
  2. Texas Proposition 18, Jail Districts Amendment (1987) Approved

1986

  1. California Proposition 52, County Correctional Facilities Bond Measure (June 1986) Approved
  2. California Proposition 54, Prison Construction Bond Measure (1986) Approved
  3. Maine Question 2, Correctional Facilities Building Repairs and Renovations Bond Measure (1986) Approved
  4. New Mexico Ballot Proposal: Enhance Law Enforcement (1986) Approved
  5. Oklahoma State Question 593, Parole for Convicts Sentenced to Death or Life Imprisonment Amendment (1986) Approved
  6. Oregon Measure 5, Bonds for Prison Buildings Amendment (May 1986) Defeated

1985

  1. Texas Proposition 6, Prisoner Placement Amendment (1985) Approved

1984

  1. California Proposition 16, County Jail Construction and Improvements Bond Measure (June 1984) Approved
  2. California Proposition 17, State Correctional Facilities Construction and Improvements Bond Measure (June 1984) Approved
  3. Florida Amendment 2, Disbursement of State Funds and Removal of Obsolete Language Amendment (1984) Approved
  4. Kentucky Term Limits on Sheriffs, Amendment 1 (1984) Approved
  5. Maine Question 4, Bond Issue to Fund Correctional Facilities Measure (1984) Approved
  6. Nebraska Amendment 1, Division of Confiscated Property Measure (1984) Approved
  7. Oklahoma State Question 573, Tax for Roads and Jails Amendment (1984) Defeated

1983

  1. Maine Question 4, Bond Issue to Fund State Facilities Measure (1983) Defeated

1982

  1. Alabama Bullock County Development Authority Amendment (1982) Approved
  2. California Proposition 1, Prison Construction Bond Measure (June 1982) Approved
  3. California Proposition 2, Construction of County Jails Bond Measure (1982) Approved
  4. Michigan Proposal B, Michigan Department of State Police Initiative (1982) Defeated
  5. Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Proposal 5 (1982) Defeated
  6. Wisconsin Question 1, County Responsibility for Acts of Sheriff Amendment (April 1982) Approved

1981

  1. New York Proposal 1, Correctional Facilities Bond Measure (1981) Defeated

1980

  1. Alaska Bonding Proposition D, Correctional Facilities Bond Measure (1980) Approved
  2. Georgia Amendment 6, Indemnification for First Responders Measure (1980) Approved
  3. Michigan Proposal E, Development of Correctional Facilities Referendum (1980) Defeated
  4. Utah Proposition 3, Permit Women to Work in Mines and Allow Creation of Work Release Programs for Inmates Amendment (1980) Approved

1978

  1. Alabama Prison Bond Amendment (1978) Approved
  2. Alaska Bonding Proposition 6, Correctional and Public Safety Facilities Bond Measure (1978) Approved
  3. Georgia Amendment 9, Criminal Penalty Assessments Measure (1978) Approved
  4. Indiana County Sheriff Term Limits, Amendment 2 (1978) Defeated
  5. Michigan Proposal G, Collective Bargaining for State Troopers Initiative (1978) Approved
  6. Ohio Regulations on Prison Labor Amendment (1978) Approved
  7. Wyoming Building of State Prisons, Amendment 3 (1978)

1977

  1. Alabama Mobile County Penal Facility Amendment (September 1977) Defeated
  2. Virginia Correctional Facilities Bond Measure (1977) Approved

1976

  1. Alaska Bonding Proposition 9, Justice Facilities Bond Measure (1976) Defeated
  2. Georgia Amendment 11, Sheriff Training Requirements Measure (1976) Approved
  3. Georgia Amendment 25, Board of Pardons and Paroles Procedures Measure (1976) Approved

1973

  1. New York Amendment 5, State Commission of Correction Amendment (1973) Approved

1972

  1. Georgia Amendment 6, State Board of Corrections Amendment (1972) Defeated
  2. Maine Question 3, Mental and Correctional Institutions Expansion and Improvement Bond Measure (June 1972) Approved
  3. Oregon Measure 2, County Sheriff Qualifications Amendment (1972) Approved

1970

  1. Alaska Proposition 5, Correctional Facilities Bond Measure (1970) Approved
  2. Louisiana Law Enforcement Officers Amendment (1970) Defeated
  3. Oregon Measure 8, Allow Penal Institutions Throughout the State Measure (1970) Approved
  4. South Carolina Amendment on Moving Inmates to other States, Amendment 6 (1970) Approved
  5. Tennessee Sheriffs' Term Limits, Amendment 1 (1970) Approved

1969

  1. Maine Question 12, Mental and Correctional Institutions Expansion and Improvement Bond Measures (1969) Approved

1967

  1. Maine Question 3, Mental Hospitals and Correctional Institutions Expansion Bond Measure (1967) Approved
  2. Oklahoma State 446, Authorization for Legislatively Established Pardon and Parole Board Amendment (May 1967) Defeated

1966

  1. Texas Proposition 6, Assistance for Families of Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen Killed in the Line of Duty Amendment (1966) Approved

1965

  1. Maine Question 5, Boys' Training Center, State Prison and Stevens School Bond Measure (1965) Approved

1964

  1. Georgia Amendment 10, Credit for Service in Medical and Correctional Facilities Measure (1964) Approved

1962

  1. Georgia Amendment 5, Peace Officer Compensation Amendment (1962) Defeated
  2. New Jersey Public Question No. 1 (1962) Defeated

1961

  1. North Carolina Correctional Schools Improvement Bonds Referendum (1961) Defeated
  2. Wisconsin Question 2, Sheriff Term Limits Amendment (April 1961) Defeated

1960

  1. Montana Prison Bond Issue, R-62 (1960) Defeated
  2. South Dakota Amendment C, Board of Pardons and Paroles Measure (1960) Approved
  3. Utah Petition 1, Establish Merit Systems for the Employment of Deputy Sheriffs Initiative (1960) Approved

1959

  1. Kentucky Sheriff Succession Referendum (1959) Defeated
  2. North Carolina Referendum 6, Correctional Institution Improvement Bonds Referendum (October 1959) Approved

1958

  1. California Proposition 3, State Educational, Mental, and Correctional Institutions Bond Measure (1958) Approved
  2. Washington Initiative 23, Civil Service Status for Sheriff's Employees Measure (1958) Approved

1956

  1. California Proposition 3, State Construction Program Bond Measure (1956) Approved
  2. New Jersey Public Question No. 1 (1956) Defeated
  3. Wisconsin Question 3, Sheriff Term Limits Amendment (April 1956) Defeated

1952

  1. Alabama County Sheriff, Amendment 2 (1952) Defeated
  2. South Dakota Amendment B, Board of Pardons Measure (1952) Defeated

1946

  1. Wisconsin Question 1, Sheriff Term Limits Amendment (April 1946) Defeated

1944

  1. Alabama Election of the Sheriff, Amendment 4 (1944) Defeated
  2. Idaho Abolish State Board of Prison Commissioners, HJR 3 (1944) Defeated

1942

  1. Idaho Abolish State Board of Prison Commissioners, SJR 6 (1942) Defeated
  2. Idaho Establish Board of Corrections, SJR 5 (1942) Approved

1940

  1. California Proposition 3, Legislature to Provide for Institutions for Felons Amendment (1940) Approved
  2. Florida Parole Commission Amendment (1940) Approved

1938

  1. Missouri Amendment 9, Succession of Sheriffs and Coroners Initiative (1938) Defeated
  2. Nebraska Amendment 5, Board of Pardons Membership Amendment (1938) Defeated

1937

  1. New York Proposition 1, State Bond for the Construction of State Buildings Bond Measure (1937) Approved

1936

  1. California Proposition 21, Institutions for Women with Felony Convictions Amendment (1936) Approved

1934

  1. Missouri Amendment 1, Penal and Eleemosynary Buildings Bond Measure (May 1934) Approved

1932

  1. Alabama Regarding the County Sheriff, Amendment 3 (1932) Defeated
  2. Nebraska Initiative 1, Public Safety Commission Initiative (1932) Defeated

1930

  1. Missouri Proposition 7, Succession of Sheriffs and Coroners Initiative (1930) Defeated

1929

  1. Wisconsin Question 2, Sheriff Term Limits Amendment (April 1929) Approved

1928

  1. Missouri Proposition 2, Police Pensions Initiative (1928) Defeated

1926

  1. Michigan Office of County Sheriff Amendment (1926) Approved
  2. Missouri Proposition 2, Police Pensions Initiative (1926) Approved
  3. Oklahoma State Question 135, Convict-Made Product Labels Referendum (1926) Defeated
  4. Texas Proposition 3, Board of Prison Commissioners Amendment (1926) Approved

1922

  1. South Dakota Referred Law 2, State Constabulary Abolition Referendum (1922) Defeated
  2. Wisconsin Question 1, Sheriff Term Limits Amendment (1922) Defeated

1921

  1. Texas Proposition 5, Board of Prison Commissioners Amendment (July 1921) Defeated

1920

  1. North Dakota State Sheriff Referendum (1920) Defeated
  2. South Dakota Amendment B, Replace Board of Charities and Corrections Measure (1920) Defeated

1919

  1. Texas Proposition 10, Allow Prison Profit-Sharing with Prisoners or Their Dependents Amendment (1919) Defeated

1917

  1. Maine Question 2, Removal of Sheriffs Amendment (September 1917) Approved
  2. Oregon Measure Nos. 312-313, Oregon Tax Levy for State Penitentiary Measure (June 1917) Defeated

1916

  1. Maryland Sheriff Elections, Amendment 3 (1916) Approved
  2. Montana Bond Issue for Twine Factory, Referendum 1 (1916) Defeated

1914

  1. Colorado Measure 12, Appointment of Peace Officers Referendum (1914) Defeated
  2. Missouri Proposition 12, Mayoral Appointed Board of Police Commissioners Referendum (1914) Defeated
  3. Washington Initiative 10, Convict Labor for Highway Construction Measure (1914) Defeated

1912

  1. Colorado Measure 6, Funds for State Immigration Bureau Initiative (1912) Defeated
  2. Idaho Repeal Section Regarding Labor of Convicts , HJR 24 (1912) Approved
  3. Missouri Amendment 8, Procedure for a Grand Jury Investigation of Elections Initiative (1912) Defeated
  4. Ohio Abolition of Prison Contract Labor Amendment (September 1912) Approved
  5. Oregon Measure Nos. 336-337, Prohibition of State Prisoner Employment by Private Firms Initiative (1912) Approved
  6. Oregon Measure Nos. 338-339, Prohibition of County and City Prisoner Employment by Private Firms Initiative (1912) Approved
  7. Texas Proposition 4, Six-Year Terms for Board of Prison Commissioners Amendment (1912) Approved

1910

  1. Missouri Amendment 1, Police Pension Measure (1910) Defeated

1908

  1. Nevada State Police Bill Referendum (1908) Approved
  2. Oregon Measure Nos. 308-309, Regulation of Prison Costs Referendum (June 1908) Approved

1907

  1. Michigan Repeal of Prohibition on Teaching Convicts Mechanical Trades Amendment (April 1907) Approved

1906

  1. Oregon Measure Nos. 300-301, Funding for Psychiatric Hospitals, Schools, and Prisons Referendum (June 1906) Approved
  2. South Dakota Twine Plant at Penitentiary Amendment (1906) Approved

1904

  1. Washington Allow Chaplains for State Prisons and Reformatory Institutions Amendment (1904) Approved

1896

  1. Texas Allow Investment of Public School Land Sale Proceeds for Penitentiary System Amendment (1896) Defeated

1894

  1. Nevada State Question 33, Board of State Prison Commissioners Amendment (1894) Defeated

1886

  1. Illinois Anti-Contract Convict Labor Amendment (1886) Approved

1872

  1. Minnesota Amendment 1, Authorizing Loans to Construct Asylum Facilities Measure (1872) Approved

1871

  1. Minnesota Amendment 2, Authorizing Loans to Construct Asylum Facilities Measure (1871) Defeated

See also

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