Initiated state statute
From Ballotpedia
| Ballot Basics |
|---|
|
| Amendments |
| Legislative referrals Citizen initiatives |
| Statutes |
| Legislative referrals Citizen initiatives |
| Veto referendum |
| Bond issue |
| Recall |
An initiated state statute, also known as an initiative statute, is a new law that a state adopts via the ballot initiative process. The most common form of initiated state statute is when groups collect signatures and once those signatures are collected, election officials place the measure on the ballot for a vote. A less common form is the indirect initiated state statute.
22 states allow citizens to proposed new state statutes via initiative.
Indirect
- Main article: Indirect initiative statute
In the indirect form, initiative sponsors collect signatures and once the signatures are collected, the measure is taken up by the state legislature in their state. The legislature has these options:
- Enact the measure as written in the petition.
- Refuse to act on the measure, in which case it goes on the ballot.
In some states, the picture is slightly more complicated. In these states, which include Maine and Washington, the state legislature has a third option:
- The Legislature can write an alternative version of the proposed initiative; in this case, the initiated measure and the legislature's version of it both go on the same ballot where their respective fates are determined by the voters.
