Reference table for the ~24 US states that allow citizen-initiated ballot measures. Focused on statutory initiatives (proactive lawmaking), which are directly relevant to the Citizens Assembly Lawmaking Initiative. Sorted by estimated total signature collection cost.
| State | Scope | Process | Sig % | Base | Sigs Req. | Geo Req. | Window | Deadline | Pass Threshold | CPRS | Est. Cost | Ballot Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Statute only | Indirect | 10% | Gen. election votes | ~29–33k | 7% of district vote in 30 of 40 House districts | 365 days | Even years Due: ~August |
Simple majority | ~$8–12 | ~$250–400k | Moderate No const. amendment; legislature sees it first |
| Arizona | Statute + Const. | Direct | 10% statute 15% amendment |
Gov. election votes | ~237,000 statute ~356,000 amendment |
None (Prop. 134 adding geo req. defeated Nov. 2024) | 2 years | Even years Due: ~July 3within 2-year window |
Simple majority | ~$10–14 | ~$2.4–3.3M | Easy Path 2-year window; no geo distribution; simple majority — no process barriers. ~$2.4–3.3M is the variable |
| Arkansas | Statute + Const. | Direct | 8% statute 10% amendment |
Gov. election votes | ~91,000 statute ~114,000 amendment |
½ of required % from each of 15 of 75 counties ⚑ 50-county law blocked by court — verify | 4 months before election | Even years Due: ~July120 days before Nov election |
Simple majority | ~$21 | ~$1.9M | Moderate ~$1.9M; highest CPRS (~$21) due to volunteer-only rules; 15-county req (50-county blocked by court); litigation ongoing — verify current req before filing |
| California | Statute + Const. | Direct | 5% statute 8% amendment |
Gov. election votes | ~547,000 statute ~874,000 amendment |
None | 180 days | Even years Due: ~June 25within 180-day window |
Simple majority | ~$13–18 | ~$7.1–9.9M | Easy Path No geo distribution; simple majority; 180-day window needs parallel ops but no structural barriers. ~$8–10M is the variable; nationally visible win |
| Colorado | Statute + Const. | Direct | 5% | Sec. of State election votes | ~124,000 | Must collect from all 35 Senate districts | 180 days | Even years Due: ~August 3 |
Simple majority (statute); 55% supermajority (amendment) | ~$8–12 | ~$1.0–1.5M | High Statute path: simple majority, 35 Senate districts in 180 days is demanding but manageable; 55% req applies to const. amendment only |
| Florida | Constitutional only | Direct | 8% | Presidential election votes | ~880,000 | 8% from each of 14 of 28 congressional districts | 2 years (new 2025 restrictions narrow effective window) | Even years Due: ~February2025 law: no collection Jul–Sep |
60% supermajority; Supreme Court pre-clears language | ~$15–25 | ~$13–22M | Not now No statute initiative (constitutional only); ~880k sigs; 2025 restrictions narrow the window; 60% supermajority to pass. Not a first-state target — revisit if the measure polls 70%+ |
| Idaho | Statute only | Indirect | 6% | Registered voters | ~70,000 | 6% in each of 18 of 35 legislative districts | 18 months | Even years Due: ~May |
Simple majority | ~$3–8 | ~$210–560k | Moderate ⚑ SJR 101 could kill process |
| Illinois | Constitutional only — Art. IV structural/procedural | Direct | 8% | Gov. election votes | ~364,000 | None | 24 months | Even years Due: ~May |
60% of those voting OR majority of total ballots cast | — | — | Not viable Subject restriction makes it unusable for citizen assembly lawmaking |
| Maine | Statute only | Indirect | 10% | Gov. election votes | ~67,000 | No more than 25% from any single county | 18 months | Even years Due: ~July prior yearindirect: legislature sees it first Jan–Apr |
Simple majority | ~$5–9 | ~$335–600k | High No const. amendment; legislature sees it first; no single-subject rule |
| Massachusetts | Statute + Const. | Both (indirect statute; very slow amendment) | 3% + 0.5% (two rounds) | Gov. election votes | ~72,000 (total both rounds) | No more than 25% from any single county | Two windows: ~9 wks + ~8 wks | Even years Due: Round 1: ~Nov (odd yr) Round 2: ~July (even yr)two-round process |
Simple majority; ≥30% of total ballots must vote on measure | ~$5–9 | ~$360–648k | High Legislature-dependent; excluded topics (tax/appropriation); amendment process takes 4–6 years |
| Michigan | Statute + Const. | Statute: Indirect; Const.: Direct | 8% statute 10% amendment |
Gov. election votes | ~340,000 statute ~425,000 amendment |
None | 180 days | Even years Due: ~July |
Simple majority | ~$8–12 | ~$2.7–4.1M | Moderate Large raw count; 180-day window is tight |
| Mississippi | Voided | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Unusable Process voided by Supreme Court (2021) — 5-district requirement impossible with only 4 congressional districts |
| Missouri | Statute + Const. | Direct | 5% statute 8% amendment |
Gov. election votes (per congressional district) | ~106,000 statute ~170,000 amendment |
5%/8% from each of at least 6 of 8 congressional districts | 18 months | Even years Due: ~May |
Simple majority ⚑ Legislature seeking district-majority-required-to-pass rule | ~$8–14 | ~$850k–1.5M | Easy Path 6/8 congressional districts (manageable spread); statute path; simple majority; ~$850k–1.5M ⚑ watch passage restrictions |
| Montana | Statute + Const. | Direct | 5% statute 10% amendment |
Gov. election votes | ~24,000 statute ~48,000 amendment |
5% in each of 34 of 100 legislative districts (statute) | 365 days | Even years Due: ~March |
Simple majority; pay-per-sig banned | ~$16 | ~$384k | Moderate High CPRS; rural; dist. req. |
| Nebraska | Statute + Const. | Direct | 7% statute 10% amendment |
Registered voters | ~87,000 statute ~124,000 amendment |
5% of registered voters in 38 of 93 counties | 2 years | Even years Due: ~July 6 |
Simple majority; ≥35% of all ballots cast must include a vote on the measure | ~$6–12 | ~$522k–1.04M | Easy Path |
| Nevada | Statute + Const. | Statute: Indirect; Const.: Direct | 10% | Gen. election votes | ~148,800 (both types same %) | 10% from each of all 4 congressional districts (~37,200/district) | ~291–316 days | Even years Due: ~Junestatute: indirect — legislature first |
Simple majority; const. amendment must pass TWO consecutive elections | ~$8–14 | ~$1.2–2.1M | Easy Path Statute path: indirect (legislature first), then ballot — use this path; no geo distribution. Const. amendment: unique 2-election requirement (avoid). ~$1.2–2.1M |
| North Dakota | Statute + Const. | Direct | 2% statute 4% amendment |
Population | ~15,600 statute ~31,200 amendment |
None | 365 days | Even years Due: ~Julyverify annually |
Simple majority | ~$3–5 | ~$47–78k | High |
| Ohio | Statute + Const. | Direct | 6% statute 10% amendment |
Gov. election votes | ~300,000 statute ~413,000 amendment |
5% of gov. vote in 44 of 88 counties | No time limit | Even years Due: ~July (self-select)no fixed deadline; submit when ready |
Simple majority (voters defeated 60% supermajority proposal Aug. 2023) ⚑ legislature still attempting restrictions | ~$14–16 | ~$4.2–4.8M | Easy Path No time limit = set your own pace; 44/88 counties is broad but achievable; ~$4.2–4.8M; flag: legislature hostile but initiative passed their 60% repeal attempt |
| Oklahoma | Statute + Const. | Direct | 8% statute 15% amendment |
Gov. election votes | ~168,000 statute ~315,000 amendment |
No more than 11.5% (statute) / 20.8% (amendment) from any single county | 90 days | Even years Due: ~August 390 days before Nov election |
Simple majority; pay-per-sig banned May 2025; circulator residency req. | ~$25+ | ~$4.2M+ | Very Challenging 90-day window requires broad, pre-organized grassroots commitment — not a pro campaign. Pay-per-sig ban + residency req. (May 2025, SB 1027) add real friction; under legal challenge. Historically several state questions did qualify under the 90-day window (medical marijuana 2018, recreational 2022, others) — the 2025 rules are the new unknown. Doable but needs serious groundwork first. |
| Oregon | Statute + Const. | Direct | 6% statute 8% amendment |
Gov. election votes | ~117,000 statute ~158,000 amendment |
None | 2 years | Even years Due: ~July 6within 2-year window |
Simple majority; pay-per-sig banned | ~$5–9 | ~$585k–1.05M | High No distribution req.; 2-year window; volunteer-friendly |
| South Dakota | Statute + Const. | Direct | 5% statute 10% amendment |
Gov. election votes | ~17,500 statute ~35,000 amendment |
None (proposed 2025, status unclear) | 2 years | Even years Due: ~Nov prior year |
Simple majority ⚑ 60% proposed 2026 ballot | $0–$10 | $0–$175k | High ⚑ watch 2026 |
| Utah | Statute only | Direct | 8% | Active registered voters | ~175,000 | 8% in each of 26 of 29 Senate districts | 316 days | Even years Due: ~April 15 |
Simple majority; pay-per-sig banned | ~$5–10 | ~$875k–1.75M | Easy Path No const. amendment option; Senate district requirement in 26/29 districts |
| Washington | Statute only | Both (ITP direct; ITL indirect) | 8% | Gov. election votes | ~324,000 | None | ITP: 180 days; ITL: ~295 days | Even years Due: ITP: ~July 2 ITL: ~Dec prior year |
Simple majority; pay-per-sig banned | ~$4 | ~$1.3M | High Lowest CPRS in nation ($4.01); dense urban pools; ITL path gives legislature first look |
| Wyoming | Statute only | Direct | 15% | Gen. election votes | ~38–45k | 15% from each of 16 of 23 counties | 2 years | Even years Due: ~Junewithin 2-year window |
Simple majority; pay-per-sig banned | ~$10–18 | ~$380–810k | Challenging 15% req (highest in nation) + rural county distribution + pay-per-sig ban; post-2024 jump to ~38–45k sigs; ~$380–810k — structurally hardest volunteer-only campaign |
CPRS = Cost Per Required Signature. Estimates based on Ballotpedia 2016–2024 averages for professionally run campaigns. Volunteer-heavy campaigns can reduce total cost significantly. All figures approximate — verify before budgeting. Note: Est. Total Cost is shown for reference but is not used to determine Ballot Path rating — a well-funded campaign changes the calculus on many states rated Workable.
| State | Distribution Requirement |
|---|---|
| Alaska | 7% of district vote in each of 30 of 40 House districts |
| Arkansas | ½ of required % from each of 15 of 75 counties (50-county law blocked — verify) |
| Colorado | Must collect from all 35 Senate districts |
| Florida | 8% from each of 14 of 28 congressional districts |
| Idaho | 6% of registered voters in each of 18 of 35 legislative districts |
| Maine | No more than 25% from any single county |
| Massachusetts | No more than 25% from any single county |
| Missouri | 5% (statute) / 8% (amendment) from each of at least 6 of 8 congressional districts |
| Montana (statute) | 5% in each of at least 34 of 100 legislative districts |
| Montana (amendment) | 10% in each of at least 40 of 100 legislative districts |
| Nebraska | 5% of registered voters in each of at least 38 of 93 counties |
| Nevada | 10% from each of all 4 congressional districts (~37,200/district) |
| Ohio | 5% of gubernatorial vote from each of at least 44 of 88 counties |
| Oklahoma | No more than 11.5% (statute) or 20.8% (amendment) from any single county |
| Utah | 8% of active voters in each of at least 26 of 29 Senate districts |
| Wyoming | 15% from each of at least 16 of 23 counties |
| AZ, CA, ID, MA, ME, MI, ND, OR, SD, WA | No geographic distribution requirement |
A supermajority threshold is a factor — not an automatic disqualifier. Whether it's achievable depends on how the measure polls. A well-framed citizen assembly initiative may poll at 65–70%, which clears a 60% bar. These thresholds are noted here for planning, not weighted heavily in Ballot Path ratings.
| State | Threshold | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 55% | Constitutional amendments only |
| Florida | 60% | All citizen initiatives (all are constitutional) |
| Illinois | 60% of those voting OR majority of all ballots cast | Constitutional amendments (limited subject) |
| Nebraska | Simple majority + ≥35% of all ballots cast must vote on measure | All citizen-initiated measures |
| Massachusetts | Simple majority + ≥30% of all ballots cast must vote on measure | Initiated statutes |
| South Dakota | Simple majority currently — ⚑ 60% proposed for const. amendments on 2026 ballot | |
| All other initiative states | Simple majority | All citizen-initiated measures |