Direct Democracy 50-State Survey

South Carolina does not have statewide initiatives or veto referendums but has legislatively referred amendments. A proposed amendment must be submitted to voters at the next general election for state representatives. The state legislature prepares …

In Pennsylvania, legislatively referred amendments are the only form of statewide direct democracy available. For a typical, “non-emergency” constitutional amendment, the Pennsylvania legislature is to determine the manner and time at which a proposed amendment …

Oregon has statutory and constitutional initiatives, veto referendums, and legislatively referred amendments. Oregon is distinctive in its use of citizen juries to create public education materials about selected voter initiatives. This gives members of the …

Oklahoma has statutory and constitutional initiatives, veto referendums, and legislatively referred amendments. The timing of an election may depend on the type of ballot measure. An initiative or veto referendum is submitted to voters at …

Ohio has statutory and constitutional initiatives, veto referendums, and legislatively referred amendments. Its direct democracy processes vary somewhat depending on whether a measure is initiated by voters or referred by the legislature. For instance, the …

North Dakota has statutory and constitutional initiatives, veto referendums, and legislatively referred amendments. The timing of an election may vary depending on the type of ballot measure; while most ballot measures must be submitted to …

In New York, legislatively referred amendments are the only available form of statewide direct democracy. New York is distinctive in that once an amendment is first proposed by the legislature, it is referred to the …

In North Carolina, legislatively referred amendments are the only available form of statewide direct democracy. Legislatively referred amendments are submitted “at the time and in the manner prescribed by the General Assembly.”  North Carolina provisions …

New Mexico is one of just two states that authorizes the veto referendum but not the initiative. The state also provides for legislatively referred amendments and amendments proposed by an independent commission. A veto referendum …

In New Jersey, legislatively referred amendments are the only available form of statewide direct democracy. Under the state constitution, a proposed amendment must be submitted to voters at the next general election after a public …