The American Fifth Estate
@americanfifthestate.org
A Member Organization for citizen-led ballot measures.
Write, vote, and fund state-level laws you want on the ballot.
Powered by regular people, not political insiders.
AmericanFifthEstate.org
Write, vote, and fund state-level laws you want on the ballot.
Powered by regular people, not political insiders.
AmericanFifthEstate.org
How does one undermine the will of elected representatives by having the people vote on it? Seems like your ability to create ballot measures is perceived as a threat to establishment power...
Missouri AG Now Siccing ICE on Gerrymander Referendum Signature Gatherers
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
How does one undermine the will of elected representatives by having the people vote on it? Seems like your ability to create ballot measures is perceived as a threat to establishment power...
Hope everyone gets a quiet moment today. Holidays are a reminder that most of the good in our communities comes from regular people showing up for each other.
November 27, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Hope everyone gets a quiet moment today. Holidays are a reminder that most of the good in our communities comes from regular people showing up for each other.
Should states start taxing data centers more?
Or charging impact fees based on energy use?
What other tools could regulate this at the state level? Zoning? Reporting? Utility oversight?
Or charging impact fees based on energy use?
What other tools could regulate this at the state level? Zoning? Reporting? Utility oversight?
data centers are driving up electricity prices for households — and price relief may not be coming anytime soon… Residential retail electricity prices in September were up 7.4%, to about 18 cents per kilowatt hour, according the Energy Information Administration... www.cnbc.com/2025/11/26/a...
AI data center 'frenzy' is pushing up your electric bill — here's why
Energy-hungry data centers that underpin artificial intelligence are contributing to higher residential electricity bills, say experts.
www.cnbc.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Should states start taxing data centers more?
Or charging impact fees based on energy use?
What other tools could regulate this at the state level? Zoning? Reporting? Utility oversight?
Or charging impact fees based on energy use?
What other tools could regulate this at the state level? Zoning? Reporting? Utility oversight?
Together for School Meals plans to file a petition to give every public‑school student in North Dakota free breakfast and lunch. If 31,164 signatures are gathered and verified, the measure could appear on the 2026 ballot.
Ballot measure effort seeks to provide free school meals to North Dakota students • North Dakota Monitor
North Dakotans may have the chance to cast their ballot on whether every public school student in the state can have breakfast and lunch for free.
northdakotamonitor.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Together for School Meals plans to file a petition to give every public‑school student in North Dakota free breakfast and lunch. If 31,164 signatures are gathered and verified, the measure could appear on the 2026 ballot.
A ballot initiative isn’t a petition to lawmakers. It’s a draft law written by citizens. Once it qualifies, it goes directly to the ballot for voters to decide.
November 24, 2025 at 11:00 PM
A ballot initiative isn’t a petition to lawmakers. It’s a draft law written by citizens. Once it qualifies, it goes directly to the ballot for voters to decide.
After Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed the “Arizona ICE Act,” which would have required law‑enforcement agencies and even schools to comply with ICE detainers, Republican leaders said they may put the proposal on the 2026 ballot to bypass her veto.
GOP threatens 2026 ballot measure after Hobbs vetoes Arizona ICE Act
Republicans consider sending Arizona ICE Act ballot measure to voters in 2026, despite concerns about wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens
azmirror.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:02 PM
After Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed the “Arizona ICE Act,” which would have required law‑enforcement agencies and even schools to comply with ICE detainers, Republican leaders said they may put the proposal on the 2026 ballot to bypass her veto.
SEIU United Healthcare Workers West is backing a 2026 ballot initiative that would cap Arizona hospital executive pay at 15× the state minimum wage (~$458 k). Health care workers plan to start gathering signatures this fall and will need about 256 k valid signatures.
Health care group pushes ballot initiative to cap health care executives' salaries in Arizona
Health care workers say they’ll begin gathering signatures this fall for a ballot initiative to cap the pay of health care executives.
www.kjzz.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:00 AM
SEIU United Healthcare Workers West is backing a 2026 ballot initiative that would cap Arizona hospital executive pay at 15× the state minimum wage (~$458 k). Health care workers plan to start gathering signatures this fall and will need about 256 k valid signatures.
Some states let voters propose constitutional amendments. Others only allow statutory changes. That difference determines how durable a proposal is once passed.
Should lawmakers be able to overturn the will of the voters after theyve passed a measure?
Should lawmakers be able to overturn the will of the voters after theyve passed a measure?
November 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Some states let voters propose constitutional amendments. Others only allow statutory changes. That difference determines how durable a proposal is once passed.
Should lawmakers be able to overturn the will of the voters after theyve passed a measure?
Should lawmakers be able to overturn the will of the voters after theyve passed a measure?
School voucher rules come from state law, not federal policy. That means voters in many states can write their own limits or guardrails through a ballot measure if they think the current system isn’t working well.
November 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
School voucher rules come from state law, not federal policy. That means voters in many states can write their own limits or guardrails through a ballot measure if they think the current system isn’t working well.
Some states require signatures from multiple counties. It sounds neutral, but it often makes qualifying much harder for grassroots groups.
It’s one of the most commonly debated access rules.
It’s one of the most commonly debated access rules.
November 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Some states require signatures from multiple counties. It sounds neutral, but it often makes qualifying much harder for grassroots groups.
It’s one of the most commonly debated access rules.
It’s one of the most commonly debated access rules.
A new California ballot initiative aims to repeal Proposition 103, the 1988 law that requires insurance companies to get elected‑commissioner approval for rate hikes. The proposal would let the governor appoint the insurance commissioner and remove public rate challenges.
Long-shot ballot initiative could have huge effect on California insurance
Proposed ballot initiative aims to repeal Prop. 103, the California law that regulates home and auto insurance.
calmatters.org
November 23, 2025 at 2:01 AM
A new California ballot initiative aims to repeal Proposition 103, the 1988 law that requires insurance companies to get elected‑commissioner approval for rate hikes. The proposal would let the governor appoint the insurance commissioner and remove public rate challenges.
Not all ballot measures create new laws. Some repeal old ones. A ‘voter veto’ is one of the oldest tools in states like Oregon and Colorado.
November 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Not all ballot measures create new laws. Some repeal old ones. A ‘voter veto’ is one of the oldest tools in states like Oregon and Colorado.
What policy would you like to create to regulate AI in your state?
Trump administration drafts an executive order to challenge state AI laws
The draft executive order would try to block states from enacting their own laws regulating AI, according to a person familiar with the matter.
www.nbcnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:18 PM
What policy would you like to create to regulate AI in your state?
In states with large voucher programs, the cost comes straight from the state budget.
When the program grows faster than expected, it can strain the general fund.
That’s why some states require fiscal caps or yearly audits.
When the program grows faster than expected, it can strain the general fund.
That’s why some states require fiscal caps or yearly audits.
November 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
In states with large voucher programs, the cost comes straight from the state budget.
When the program grows faster than expected, it can strain the general fund.
That’s why some states require fiscal caps or yearly audits.
When the program grows faster than expected, it can strain the general fund.
That’s why some states require fiscal caps or yearly audits.
Signature thresholds come from state statute or constitutional rules. They usually range between 5–15% of the last statewide election.
The percentage determines how accessible the process is for regular people.
The percentage determines how accessible the process is for regular people.
November 22, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Signature thresholds come from state statute or constitutional rules. They usually range between 5–15% of the last statewide election.
The percentage determines how accessible the process is for regular people.
The percentage determines how accessible the process is for regular people.
The group Montanans Decide filed a constitutional amendment to safeguard Montanans’ right to propose laws via ballot initiatives. It mandates impartial, timely petition processes and needs signatures from at least 10 percent of voters to appear on the Nov 2026 ballot.
Constitutional amendment would protect ballot initiatives • Daily Montanan
A group aiming to protect ballot initiatives has filed a Constitutional amendment to ensure Montanans can petition without interference.
dailymontanan.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:01 AM
The group Montanans Decide filed a constitutional amendment to safeguard Montanans’ right to propose laws via ballot initiatives. It mandates impartial, timely petition processes and needs signatures from at least 10 percent of voters to appear on the Nov 2026 ballot.
Every ballot measure has two documents:
• the full legal text
• the ballot summary
The summary is what most voters read first, so states have rules about clarity and neutrality.
• the full legal text
• the ballot summary
The summary is what most voters read first, so states have rules about clarity and neutrality.
November 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Every ballot measure has two documents:
• the full legal text
• the ballot summary
The summary is what most voters read first, so states have rules about clarity and neutrality.
• the full legal text
• the ballot summary
The summary is what most voters read first, so states have rules about clarity and neutrality.
A lot of people don’t realize voucher programs are sometimes ‘open ended.’ If more families apply than expected, the state has to cover the difference. Some states handle this with enrollment limits or income tiers.
November 21, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A lot of people don’t realize voucher programs are sometimes ‘open ended.’ If more families apply than expected, the state has to cover the difference. Some states handle this with enrollment limits or income tiers.
A ballot initiative isn’t a petition to lawmakers. It’s a draft law written by citizens.
Once it qualifies, it goes directly to the ballot for voters to decide.
Once it qualifies, it goes directly to the ballot for voters to decide.
November 21, 2025 at 4:02 PM
A ballot initiative isn’t a petition to lawmakers. It’s a draft law written by citizens.
Once it qualifies, it goes directly to the ballot for voters to decide.
Once it qualifies, it goes directly to the ballot for voters to decide.
The ballot measure process is a right to be protected
A win for democracy advocates in Arkansas:
This spring, I wrote the GOP had passed a real barrage of laws there to effectively kill the ballot initiative process. See below.
A federal judge yesterday granted a preliminary injunction against many of the laws: arkansasadvocate.com/2025/11/19/j...
This spring, I wrote the GOP had passed a real barrage of laws there to effectively kill the ballot initiative process. See below.
A federal judge yesterday granted a preliminary injunction against many of the laws: arkansasadvocate.com/2025/11/19/j...
“It Just Feels Like Death”: Barrage of New Rules Target Arkansas Ballot Initiatives - Bolts
It’s a familiar sight in Arkansas: Canvassers stop passersby in front of a local grocery store or town library and ask them if they’d be willing to sign a petition... Read More
boltsmag.org
November 21, 2025 at 3:10 AM
The ballot measure process is a right to be protected
Oregon Business & Industry filed a ballot measure to let cities more easily clear homeless camps by repealing a 2021 law requiring sweeps be “objectively reasonable.”
Proponents need 117,173 signatures by July to reach the Nov 2026 ballot.
Proponents need 117,173 signatures by July to reach the Nov 2026 ballot.
Proposed Oregon ballot measure would make it easier for cities to sweep homeless camps
The effort is backed by the mayor of Salem and Oregon’s largest business lobby.
www.opb.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Oregon Business & Industry filed a ballot measure to let cities more easily clear homeless camps by repealing a 2021 law requiring sweeps be “objectively reasonable.”
Proponents need 117,173 signatures by July to reach the Nov 2026 ballot.
Proponents need 117,173 signatures by July to reach the Nov 2026 ballot.
Would you support a ballot measure to ban forms of surveillance like flock cameras or automatic plate readers in your state?
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Would you support a ballot measure to ban forms of surveillance like flock cameras or automatic plate readers in your state?
Vote Nevada PAC filed two initiatives with the Nevada Secretary of State: one would create an independent redistricting commission and block mid‑cycle map changes, while the other would amend the state’s Voter Bill of Rights to open primaries to all voters.
Independent redistricting commission, nonpartisan voting ballot measures proposed in Nevada • Nevada Current
Hoping to capitalize on public interest in, and outrage over, partisan gerrymandering, a grassroots group of Nevadans has filed a proposed ballot measure to establish an independent redistricting comm...
nevadacurrent.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Vote Nevada PAC filed two initiatives with the Nevada Secretary of State: one would create an independent redistricting commission and block mid‑cycle map changes, while the other would amend the state’s Voter Bill of Rights to open primaries to all voters.
Ballot measures pass with a simple majority in most states. But some lawmakers have tried raising that to 60% or more.
Since this affects voter power, some states require a public vote before changing the threshold.
Since this affects voter power, some states require a public vote before changing the threshold.
November 20, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Ballot measures pass with a simple majority in most states. But some lawmakers have tried raising that to 60% or more.
Since this affects voter power, some states require a public vote before changing the threshold.
Since this affects voter power, some states require a public vote before changing the threshold.
Whether someone supports vouchers or not, everyone benefits from clear guardrails. Ballot measures allow voters to define the structure instead of relying only on legislative swings.
November 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Whether someone supports vouchers or not, everyone benefits from clear guardrails. Ballot measures allow voters to define the structure instead of relying only on legislative swings.