Since 1821, New York voters have decided on 430 statewide ballot measures. Of those, 316 (73%) were approved, and 114 (27%) were defeated.
In New York, the state legislature can refer measures to the ballot. Citizens of New York do not have the power to initiate statewide ballot measures.
Ballot measures can also take the form of an automatic constitutional convention question, which appears on the ballot every 20 years under the New York Constitution. Alternatively, the state legislature can refer a constitutional convention question to the ballot. If a state constitutional convention is held, any amendments approved by delegates would be placed on the ballot for voters to decide.
