In 2026, petitioners filed 692 ballot initiatives in the 26 states that authorize the initiative and referendum power — the fewest filed since 2014, when 616 were filed. Of the 692 filed this year, 53 initiatives qualified for statewide ballots, in line with the average number certified in even-numbered years from 2010 to 2024.
For elections in 2026, 15 of the 26 states did or will feature a ballot initiative. The number of initiatives filed in the 26 states ranged from zero in Illinois and New Mexico to 190 in Colorado. Colorado will also feature the most initiatives of any state in 2026, with 13.
The initiatives address a wide range of topics. The top topics include income taxes (six measures), campaign finance (four measures), and LGBTQ issues (four). Other notable topics include abortion, drug crime policy, voter ID, the initiative and referendum process, housing, and firearms.
