Category Archives: direct democracy

“Low voter turnout eases ballot-measure requirement”

November 15, 2014, 8:02 amballot access, direct democracyRick Hasen

SacBee: Got a ballot measure for 2016? You’re in luck. Ballot initiatives two years from now will need about 30 percent fewer qualifying signatures than they did this year, according to the political-consulting types at Sacramento’s Redwood Pacific Public… Continue reading

Slim MT Campaign Against EDR

October 18, 2014, 12:36 pmdirect democracy, voter registrationJustin Levitt

From the Helena Independent Record: Progressive groups are putting money and shoe leather into defeating a Republican-sponsored ballot measure that would end Election Day voter-registration in Montana. Yet the campaign for the measure, known as Legislative Referendum 126, is… Continue reading

A New Way to Sort Through Ballot Propositions

October 17, 2014, 10:30 amdirect democracyJustin Levitt

California is (in)famous for its direct democracy, with a hefty portion of each cycle’s ballot devoted to initiatives that are often long and complicated. Here’s a new way to understand what’s what: video reviews of the major arguments pro and … Continue reading

“Ballot Item Would Reform Redistricting, at Least in Theory”

October 13, 2014, 9:34 amdirect democracy, redistrictingJustin Levitt

A NY Times report about the constitutional amendment on the ballot in New York to change the redistricting structure. Unlike other states that have recently changed their redistricting process (like California and Florida), New York has no citizens’ ballot… Continue reading

Ah, Direct Democracy…

October 11, 2014, 5:17 pmdirect democracyJustin Levitt

In a referendum, does a “For” vote mean a vote in favor of an enacted ordinance, or a vote in favor of its repeal? (An Arkansas lawsuit seeks an answer…)

Battles over Municipal Charter Amendment

October 11, 2014, 4:02 pmballot access, direct democracy, legislation and legislaturesJustin Levitt

An interesting story in Ohio at the intersection of citizen initiatives, delegation of legislative duties, election administration, and last-minute court orders, in the municipal context. A charter amendment has been placed on the ballot, off the ballot, off the ballot,… Continue reading

Ninth Circuit Taking Initiative Proponent Disclosure Case En Banc

October 7, 2014, 3:29 pmcampaigns, direct democracyRick Hasen

The order is here. Here is my post on the panel’s original decision, a decision which is wiped out by today’s grant of an en banc hearing: Breaking: Divided 9th Circuit Strikes Down CA Law Requiring Identity of Ballot… Continue reading

“Prop. 47 asks Californians to reduce drug, theft penalties”

October 2, 2014, 7:22 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

Bob Egelko: “The ballot measures reflect a recurring legislative logjam on crime issues in which prosecutors and defense lawyers have been far more successful at blocking their opponents’ bills than at passing their own.”

“Jerry Brown signs initiative and student suspension bills; vetoes money for UC, CSU”

September 28, 2014, 3:40 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

SacBee: “Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Saturday giving the proponents of California ballot initiatives more time to collect signatures and allowing them to withdraw their initiatives or add amendments.”

“J.H. Snider and Beverly Clay: R.I. handbook shows blatant bias”

September 26, 2014, 3:23 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

Providence Journal oped.

Californians Continue to Like Initiative Process, But to Worry About “Special Interest” Influence

September 24, 2014, 11:28 amdirect democracyRick Hasen

See page 17 of the latest PPIC survey, finding 55% of Californians believe the initiative process is controlled “a lot” by special intereests.

“Judge Edits ‘Independent’ From Ballot Proposition”

September 17, 2014, 8:13 pmcitizen commissions, direct democracy, redistrictingRick Hasen

NY Law Journal: A judge Wednesday ordered state elections officials to delete the word “independent” from the description and text of a proposition on November’s general election ballot that would create a new commission to oversee the redrawing of… Continue reading

When Was the Last Time a Rich Person Failed to Qualify a Measure for CA Ballot?

September 12, 2014, 1:32 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

Six Californias fails to qualify for ballot, per Chris Megarian.

Survey of State Constitutional Convention Procedures

August 21, 2014, 6:01 amdirect democracy, referendumDan Tokaji

Jim Snider has compiled this survey of 14 states with periodic state constitutional convention referendums along with a preliminary ranking at the Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse.