Minimum wage laws ballot measures
Minimum wage on the ballot: This subtopic of "wages and pay" refers to ballot measures regarding minimum wage. Specifically, this has included the increase and establishment of minimum wage.
Outcomes of minimum wage measures, 1996-2023
From 1996 to 2025, there were 32 ballot measures to increase state minimum wages. Voters approved 28 (87.50%) and rejected four (12.50%).[1] In 2024, California and Massachusetts became the first states to reject minimum wage increase ballot measures since 1996. The other two defeated measures were on the ballot in 1996 in Missouri and Montana.
The following chart shows the outcomes of minimum-wage increase ballot measures from 1996 to 2025.
| Year | State | Measure | Wage | Type | Yes votes (%) | No votes (%) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | California | Proposition 32 | $18.00 (2026) | Initiative | 49.29% | 50.71% | |
| 2024 | Massachusetts | Question 5 | $15.00 (2029)[2] | Initiative | 35.87% | 64.13% | |
| 2024 | Missouri | Proposition A | $15.00 (2026) | Initiative | 57.57% | 42.43% | |
| 2024 | Alaska | Ballot Measure 1 | $15.00 (2027) | Initiative | 57.98% | 42.02% | |
| 2022 | Nebraska | Initiative 433 | $15.00 (2026) | Initiative | 58.66% | 41.34% | |
| 2022 | Nevada | Amendment 2 | $12.00 (2024) | Referral | 55.18% | 44.82% | |
| 2020 | Florida | Amendment 2 | $15.00 (2026) | Initiative | 60.82% | 39.18% | |
| 2018 | Arkansas | Issue 5 | $11.00 (2021) | Initiative | 68.46% | 31.54% | |
| 2018 | Missouri | Proposition B | $12.00 (2023) | Initiative | 62.34% | 37.66% | |
| 2016 | Arizona | Proposition 206 | $12.00 (2020) | Initiative | 58.33% | 41.67% | |
| 2016 | Colorado | Amendment 70 | $12.00 (2020) | Initiative | 55.36% | 44.64% | |
| 2016 | Maine | Question 4 | $12.00 (2020) | Initiative | 55.50% | 44.50% | |
| 2016 | Washington | Initiative 1433 | $13.50 (2020) | Initiative | 57.42% | 42.58% | |
| 2014 | Alaska | Measure 3 | $9.75 (2016) | Initiative | 69.35% | 30.65% | |
| 2014 | Arkansas | Issue 5 | $8.50 (2017) | Initiative | 65.94% | 34.06% | |
| 2014 | Nebraska | Initiative 425 | $9.00 (2016) | Initiative | 59.47% | 40.53% | |
| 2014 | South Dakota | Measure 18 | $8.50 (2015) | Initiative | 55.05% | 44.95% | |
| 2013 | New Jersey | Question 2 | $8.25 (2014) | Referral | 61.26% | 38.74% | |
| 2006 | Arizona | Proposition 202 | $6.75 (2007) | Initiative | 65.37% | 34.63% | |
| 2006 | Colorado | Initiative 42 | $6.85 (2007) | Initiative | 53.30% | 46.70% | |
| 2006 | Missouri | Proposition B | $6.50 (2007) | Initiative | 75.94% | 24.06% | |
| 2006 | Montana | I-151 | $6.50 (2007) | Initiative | 72.69% | 27.31% | |
| 2006 | Nevada | Question 6 | $6.15 (2006)[3] | Initiative | 68.71% | 31.29% | |
| 2006 | Ohio | Amendment 2 | $6.85 (2007) | Initiative | 56.65% | 43.35% | |
| 2004 | Florida | Amendment 5 | $6.15 (2005) | Initiative | 71.25% | 28.75% | |
| 2004 | Nevada | Question 6 | $6.15 (2006)[3] | Initiative | 68.39% | 31.61% | |
| 2002 | Oregon | Measure 25 | $6.90 (2003) | Initiative | 51.33% | 48.67% | |
| 1998 | Washington | Initiative 688 | $6.50 (2000) | Initiative | 66.14% | 33.86% | |
| 1996 | California | Proposition 210 | $5.75 (1998) | Initiative | 61.45% | 38.55% | |
| 1996 | Missouri | Proposition A | $6.75 (1999)[4] | Initiative | 28.70% | 71.30% | |
| 1996 | Montana | I-121 | $6.25 (2000) | Initiative | 43.53% | 56.47% | |
| 1996 | Oregon | Measure 36 | $6.50 (1999) | Initiative | 56.85% | 43.15% | |
| Average | 58.88% | 41.12% |
Ballot measures lists
See also
- Minimum wage laws ballot measures
- Minimum wage by state in the United States
- Minimum wage increases in 2025
- Minimum wage increases in 2024
- Minimum wage increases in 2023
- Minimum wage increases in 2022
- Minimum wage increases in 2021
- Minimum wage increases in 2020
- Minimum wage increases in 2019
- Minimum wage increases in 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ In 2014, voters approved an advisory question on increasing the minimum wage in Illinois. As this question was nonbinding, the measure is not counted here.
- ↑ Question 5 would have increased the minimum wage for tipped employees to match the general state minimum wage, which was $15.00 in 2024.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Question 6 required employers to compensate employees $5.15 per hour when the employer provides health benefits or $6.15 per hour when the employer does not provide health benefits.
- ↑ Proposition A would have also added 15 cents to the minimum wage each year beginning in 2000.