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Iowa 2022 ballot measures
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One statewide ballot measure was certified for the 2022 ballot in the state of Iowa. It was approved.
On the ballot
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Provide for a state constitutional right to own and bear firearms |
|
748,363 (65%) |
399,959 (35%) |
Getting measures on the ballot
Iowa is one of the 24 states that do not have initiative and referendum. Thus, Iowa citizens cannot qualify a ballot measure for the statewide ballot through collecting signatures. All states but Delaware require voter approval of constitutional amendments proposed by the legislature.
To put a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on the ballot for voter ratification, a simple majority vote is required in both the Iowa State Senate and the Iowa House of Representatives in two successive legislative sessions with an election for state legislators in between. Every two years, half of the state senators and all of the members of the state House are up for election. Once an amendment is on the ballot, it must be approved by "a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of the general assembly, voting thereon" in order to become part of the constitution.
Publication process
When a constitutional amendment has passed the general assembly in the first session and thus been referred to the succeeding legislature, the state legislature is required by Article X in the Iowa Constitution to publish the amendment in two newspapers in each of Iowa's congressional districts and on the legislature's website once per month for three months.[1] Before the approval of House File 764 of 2019, this was the duty of the Secretary of State. House File 764 of 2019 also provided that a proposed amendment that has been agreed to by two succeeding sessions of the general assembly cannot be invalidated due to an error or omission in the publication process.[2]
Constitutional conventions
Constitutional convention questions may appear on the statewide ballot under these conditions:
- Since 1970, a question asking whether or not to hold a constitutional convention must automatically appear on the ballot every 10 years.
- The Iowa General Assembly can vote to put a constitutional convention question on a statewide ballot at other times.
- If either the legislatively referred question or the automatic question are approved, a constitutional convention must be held.
- Any changes to the constitution proposed by the convention must be ratified by a majority vote of the electors at a statewide election.
An automatic ballot referral question concerning a constitutional convention appeared on the 2020 ballot where it was rejected by a vote of 29.58% to 70.42%.
Historical facts
- See also: List of Iowa ballot measures
In Iowa, a total of 16 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2020. Nine ballot measures were approved, and 7 ballot measures were defeated.
| Iowa statewide ballot measures, 1985-2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Annual average | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | Approved | Defeated | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Amendment | Suffrage | Restores the right to vote for most people with prior felony convictions upon completion of their sentences | 
|
See also
