Ballot initiative signature requirements and deadlines, state by state
How many valid signatures each initiative state demands, where they have to come from, when they are due, and what changes now that the 2026 votes are in.
Each state sets its own signature number for a ballot initiative, almost always as a percentage of a recent vote. For the 2026 ballot, California required 546,651 valid signatures for a statute and 874,641 for a constitutional amendment, Florida required 880,062 for an amendment, and Colorado required 124,238, according to Ballotpedia's state chart. Montana required 30,121 for a statute (Montana Free Press). Only 26 states plus Washington, D.C. have a statewide citizen initiative or veto referendum process at all. Most of the requirements reset after a governor's race, so many of these numbers will change for 2028 once the November 3, 2026 results are certified.
The raw total is only the first hurdle. Distribution rules, collection windows and signature verification can sink a drive that clears the headline number.
How many signatures are needed for a ballot initiative?
Every initiative state ties its requirement to a base number. The most common base is the total vote for governor in the last election. Others use the vote for secretary of state, the presidential vote, the number of registered voters, or the state's population.
- Votes for governor: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri and Montana all use it. California, for example, requires 8 percent of the governor vote for an amendment and 5 percent for a statute (California Secretary of State).
- Votes for secretary of state: Colorado requires 5 percent of the votes cast for secretary of state in the preceding general election (Ballotpedia).
- Presidential vote: Florida requires 8 percent of the votes cast in the last presidential election (Ballotpedia).
- Registered voters: Idaho uses 6 percent of registered voters as of the last general election (Ballotpedia News). Nebraska counts registered voters at the filing deadline, so petitioners cannot know their exact target until they turn in signatures (Ballotpedia).
Amendments need more signatures than statutes in nearly every state that offers both (in Michigan, 446,198 versus 356,958). Decide early which kind you are running, because that choice sets the size of the whole field program.
Ballot initiative signature requirements by state (2026 cycle)
The table lists 2026 requirements verified against state election offices and Ballotpedia. For states not listed (including North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and South Dakota), use Ballotpedia's state pages and confirm the figure with the secretary of state before you print a single petition.
| State | What citizens can put on the ballot | Formula | 2026 valid signatures required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Statute (indirect), veto referendum | 10% of votes cast in the last general election | 34,098 |
| Arizona | Amendment, statute, referendum | 15% / 10% / 5% of the governor vote | 383,923 / 255,949 / 127,975 |
| Arkansas | Amendment, statute, referendum | 10% / 8% / 6% of the governor vote | 90,704 / 72,563 / 54,422 |
| California | Amendment, statute, referendum | 8% / 5% / 5% of the governor vote | 874,641 / 546,651 / 546,651 |
| Colorado | Amendment, statute, referendum | 5% of the secretary of state vote | 124,238 for each |
| Florida | Amendment only | 8% of the last presidential vote | 880,062 |
| Idaho | Statute, referendum | 6% of registered voters | 70,725 |
| Illinois | Amendment (limited subjects) | 8% of the governor vote | 328,371 |
| Maine | Statute (indirect), people's veto | 10% of the governor vote | 67,682 |
| Massachusetts | Amendment and statute (indirect), referendum | 3% of the governor vote, plus 0.5% in a second round for statutes | 74,574, then 12,429 more |
| Michigan | Amendment, statute, referendum | 10% / 8% / 5% of the governor vote | 446,198 / 356,958 / 223,099 |
| Missouri | Amendment, statute, referendum | 8% (amendment) or 5% (statute) of the governor vote in 6 of 8 congressional districts | 170,215 minimum for an amendment and 106,384 for a statute, depending on which districts |
| Montana | Amendment, statute, referendum | 10% / 5% / 5% of the governor vote | 60,241 / 30,121 / 30,121 |
| Nebraska | Amendment, statute, referendum | 10% (amendment) or 7% (statute) of registered voters | Set at the filing deadline |
| Nevada | Amendment, statute (indirect), referendum | 10% of votes cast in the last general election | 102,362 for an indirect statute filed in 2024; 148,788 for an amendment or referendum filed in 2026 |
| Utah | Statute (direct or indirect) | Percentage of active voters | 140,748 direct; 70,374 per round indirect |
| Washington | Statute (initiative to the legislature) | 8% of the governor vote | 308,911 |
| Wyoming | Statute (indirect) | 15% of votes in the last general election | 40,669 |
Sources: Ballotpedia, Arizona, Arkansas, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Missouri, Nevada, Wyoming.
"Indirect" means the petition goes to the legislature first and reaches the ballot only if lawmakers do not pass it. In Massachusetts, the 12,429 extra signatures come due after the legislature declines to act (CommonWealth Beacon).
Initiative signature deadlines by state
Some states count back from Election Day and some fix a calendar date. Indirect states tie the deadline to the legislative session, which can put it more than a year before the vote.
| State | Deadline rule | 2026 deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Before the legislative session convenes | January 20, 2026 |
| Arizona | Four months before the general election | July 2, 2026 |
| Arkansas | Four months before the general election | July 3, 2026 |
| California | Signatures certified at least 131 days before the election | June 25, 2026 |
| Colorado | About three months before the election | August 3, 2026 |
| Florida | Signatures verified by February 1 of the election year | February 1, 2026 |
| Idaho | May 1 of the election year | May 1, 2026 |
| Maine | Early in the legislative session | February 2, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | First round in late fall of the prior year, second round by early July | November 19, 2025 to local registrars; July 1, 2026 |
| Michigan | Amendments filed 120 days before the election | July 6, 2026 |
| Missouri | Six months before the election | May 3, 2026 |
| Montana | Filed with county clerks in June | June 19, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Four months before the election | July 2, 2026 |
| Nevada (indirect) | 15 days after the prior general election | November 20, 2024 |
| Utah | February 15 (direct); November 15 of the prior year for indirect round one | February 15, 2026 |
| Washington (to legislature) | At least 10 days before the session | January 2, 2026 |
| Wyoming | Before the legislative session | February 6, 2026 |
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nevada, Colorado, Missouri, Michigan, Massachusetts.
Read the Nevada row twice. Indirect statutes there are filed 15 days after a general election and go to the next legislature. They reach the ballot two years later. A 2028 Nevada statute is due to the counties November 18, 2026 (Nevada Secretary of State).
Collection windows
The deadline is half the story. The other half is how long a signature stays good.
In Michigan, all signatures must be gathered within a 180-day window (Bridge Michigan).
A short window like Michigan's changes the staffing math. You cannot spread 450,000 signatures over two years with volunteers. You need a paid canvass at full speed for six months.
Signature distribution requirements: where the signatures have to come from
Distribution rules stop a campaign from qualifying on one metro area alone. Rural counties and districts are slow and expensive to work, and that is where drives get into trouble.
| State | Distribution requirement |
|---|---|
| Alaska | A minimum share of the district vote in at least 30 of the 40 House districts (Alaska Lieutenant Governor) |
| Arkansas | Half the required percentage in each of at least 50 counties (Arkansas handbook) |
| Idaho | 6% of registered voters in 18 of 35 legislative districts (Ballotpedia News) |
| Massachusetts | No more than 25% of certified signatures from any one county (Ballotpedia) |
| Missouri | The percentage must be met in 6 of the 8 congressional districts (Missouri Secretary of State) |
| Montana | Amendments: 10% of qualified electors in 40 of 100 legislative districts; statutes: 5% in 34 House districts (Ballotpedia, Montana Free Press) |
| Nebraska | 5% of registered voters in 38 counties (Lancaster County Election Commission) |
Arkansas raised its bar from 15 counties to 50. A judge ruled the 50-county law unconstitutional and the state appealed to the Arkansas Supreme Court, so 2026 campaigns kept collecting in 50 counties as a precaution (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, Arkansas Ballot Issues Newsletter). A drive that hits its statewide total with thin numbers in a dozen counties fails. Build county or district targets on day one and track them weekly, separately from the statewide count.
How many signatures are needed for a ballot initiative in California?
For 2026, California required 874,641 valid signatures for a constitutional amendment and 546,651 for a statute or referendum. Those equal 8 and 5 percent of the 2022 governor vote (California Secretary of State). The secretary of state must certify a measure at least 131 days before the election, which was June 25, 2026.
Counties verify by random sample first. Below 95 percent of the requirement, the measure fails. Above 110 percent, it qualifies. In between, every signature gets checked, so serious campaigns file early and well past the minimum.
The 2028 figures will be based on the November 3, 2026 governor vote, so lock your target when the state publishes it.
Why you need a signature cushion
Officials strike signatures when the signer is not registered or is registered in the wrong county. They also strike duplicate signatures and sheets where the circulator made an error. Look at what 2026 drives turned in:
| Campaign (2026) | Valid signatures required | Signatures submitted |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri, Respect Missouri Voters amendment | 177,713 (per the campaign's lawsuit) | More than 367,000 (Missouri Independent) |
| Idaho, two statutory initiatives | 70,725 each | More than 100,000 each (Ballotpedia News) |
The Missouri case carries a second lesson. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected that petition on single-subject grounds, not for lack of signatures. The campaign sued. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously that he lacked the authority to reject it, and voters approved it as Amendment 6 on November 3, 2026 (ABC17, KY3). Get legal review of the text before you print.
A good planning rule: aim for at least 30 percent above the requirement, and more where distribution rules are tight. Sample your own validity rate every week so you know where you stand long before filing day.
What changes for 2028
Three things will move the numbers and rules before the 2028 deadlines.
- New base numbers. Every state tied to the 2026 governor vote will recalculate, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Michigan. Colorado's number resets on the 2026 secretary of state vote. Florida's 880,062 is based on the 2024 presidential vote and holds through 2028. Montana and Washington elected governors in 2024, so their governor-based figures should hold until those offices are on the ballot again. Nevada petitions filed in 2026 already use the 2024 vote: 148,788 signatures (Nevada Secretary of State).
- New process laws and court fights. The Department of State announced that no citizen initiative made Florida's 2026 ballot (Florida Politics). State records showed the marijuana amendment about 100,000 signatures short after the deadline (CBS News Miami). The appeal over Arkansas's 50-county rule could change the map there.
- Amendments voters just decided. On August 4, 2026, Missouri voters rejected Amendment 4 by 80 to 20 percent. It would have required initiated amendments to win a majority in every congressional district (Missouri Independent). On November 3, they approved Amendment 6, which requires an 80 percent vote in both chambers before lawmakers change a voter-approved statute (KY3). North Dakota voters rejected Constitutional Measure 1, which would have required a 60 percent vote for constitutional amendments (Ballotpedia, MultiState). Check the certified results before you write a 2028 plan in those states.
A working timeline for a November 2028 initiative
| Months before the state deadline | What should be done |
|---|---|
| 18 to 24 | Draft the measure, get legal review, pick statute or amendment, form the committee |
| 12 to 18 | File for title and summary or ballot language approval, build the budget and the district targets |
| 9 to 12 | Recruit and train circulators, print approved forms, set up validation |
| 3 to 9 | Full-speed collection, weekly validity sampling, distribution tracking |
| 0 to 3 | Fill distribution gaps, clean and count, file early |
Start a full year earlier in indirect states. Florida's verification deadline is February 1, 2028. California's 131-day certification deadline for the November 7, 2028 election lands on June 29, 2028.
Frequently asked questions
How many signatures are needed for a ballot initiative?
It depends on the state and the type of measure. For the 2026 ballot, a Montana statute needed 30,121 and a Florida amendment needed 880,062, per Ballotpedia. Most states set the number as a percentage of the last governor vote, and amendments need more than statutes.
How many signatures are needed for a ballot initiative in California?
For 2026, 874,641 valid signatures for a constitutional amendment and 546,651 for a statute (California Secretary of State). Those equal 8 and 5 percent of the 2022 governor vote. The 2028 numbers will be based on the 2026 governor vote once it is certified.
How many signatures are needed to get an initiative on a ballot in Texas?
Texas has no statewide citizen initiative, so there is no statewide number. It is not among the 26 states on Ballotpedia's list. Local petitions, such as city charter amendments, follow city charters and Texas law. Confirm the local rule with your city secretary before collecting.
Which states allow ballot initiatives?
According to Ballotpedia, 26 states and Washington, D.C. have a process for citizen initiatives, veto referendums or both. Twenty-four states allow citizen initiatives (Bridge Michigan). Some, like Florida and Illinois, allow only constitutional amendments, while Alaska, Idaho, Maine and others allow only statutes.
Do people who sign a petition have to be registered voters?
In California, yes (California Secretary of State), and the same rule applies in the large majority of initiative states. Signatures from unregistered people or voters registered at an old address are among the most common reasons signatures get thrown out.
How are initiative signatures verified?
Many states sample. Colorado certifies a measure if the sample projects more than 110 percent of the requirement and rejects it below 90 percent. In between, it does a full count (Ballotpedia). California's floor is 95 percent.
How many extra signatures should you collect?
Plan for at least 30 percent above the requirement, more where distribution rules are strict. 2026 drives in Missouri and Idaho submitted roughly 41 to 107 percent more than the minimum.
Can you sign a ballot petition online?
Not in most states. Initiatives to allow electronic signatures were filed in Florida and Missouri for 2026. That tells you the default is still a handwritten signature on an approved form.
How Leo Operations approaches this
Leo Operations is a national field, media and creative firm headquartered in Nashville, and petition and signature drives are part of our field work. Our founder, Rodriquez Wright II, has served as project director on signature drives for Arizona's Invest in Ed measure (Prop 207, 2018), All for Transportation in Hillsborough County, Florida (2018), Montana's I-181, a Massachusetts hospital pricing measure and a 2019 Chicago petition drive. Our field programs have knocked more than 650,000 doors, and we have done campaign, ballot and organizing work in 25 states.
Our field programs cover paid canvassing, voter registration, GOTV and petition drives. The same team produces the political media, video, photography, campaign website and digital strategy a measure needs once it qualifies.
For more on paid collection, read our guide to ballot measure signature gathering or see our canvassing company page. If you are planning a 2028 initiative, email us your state, your measure type and your target filing date, and we will tell you what it takes.