Put a measure before voters

Know which process you are using

• Initiative: citizens propose statutory or constitutional text, or a local measure where permitted.
• Popular or veto referendum: citizens seek a vote on a legislative act under the jurisdiction’s rules.
• Legislative referral: the governing body places a measure before voters.

The available subjects, officials, thresholds and deadlines vary. State-level availability does not establish a local route, and a local route does not establish a statewide one. This guide makes no nationwide count of qualifying jurisdictions.

First locate the official election office and the current initiative or referendum manual for the exact government body. Read the governing constitution, charter or law cited there. If the desired route is unavailable, consider a legislative proposal through an authorized sponsor.

Settle these questions before collecting qualifying signatures

1. Authority and subject. Is the proposal permitted? Is it legislative in character? Are there excluded subjects, single-subject rules or limits imposed by higher law? Obtain review of the actual text.
2. Text and initial filing. Who may act as proponent or chief petitioner? What form, proposed wording, title review, fee or preliminary signatures must come first? Which edits require restarting the process?
3. Calendar. What event starts the clock? Record dates for initial filing, title challenges, circulation, submission, validation and the target election. Do not infer a deadline from election day alone.
4. Signature rules. Who may sign and circulate? What registration, residence, geography, sheet format, declaration and paid-circulator rules apply? Use the approved form and required wording.
5. Campaign responsibilities. Check committee registration, treasurer, banking, contribution, spending, reporting and disclaimer rules with the responsible campaign-finance office. A volunteer effort may still have legal obligations.
6. Capacity. Estimate staffing, accessible materials, printing, legal review and collection time. Plan for invalid signatures without representing unverified totals as valid.

Ask the election office: “We are considering [initiative or referendum] concerning [subject and government body]. Please identify the controlling procedure, filing officer, current forms, required approvals, deadlines and campaign-reporting resources.” Save the answer with the official instructions.

For a referendum on an enacted law, promptly verify the filing trigger and whether the law is eligible. Do not assume that starting a petition suspends the law or that every legislative act can be challenged this way.

Oregon shows why the steps must be separated

The Oregon statewide process begins with a prospective petition. For initiatives, 1,000 sponsorship signatures precede the attorney general’s ballot-title process. Qualifying-signature circulation follows completion of that process, written approval and review of circulator requirements. Those early sponsorship signatures are a distinct stage.

The same official page describes a different referendum route for nonemergency acts: written approval precedes circulation, and signatures must be submitted no later than 90 days after the legislature adjourns sine die. This is an Oregon rule, not a national deadline. The page links current manuals and forms; verify them for the intended election.

Oregon’s local process assigns different filing officers for county, city and district measures. It warns that local charters or ordinances can supersede some procedures. Local initiatives use a separate prospective-petition form and require written approval to circulate after the ballot title is complete. A statewide checklist cannot simply be copied into a city campaign.

Qualification is its own finding

The California Secretary of State’s status page separates measures being circulated, undergoing signature verification, and becoming eligible or qualified for a ballot. Use the relevant election office’s status labels and official determination. A campaign’s signature count is not proof of ballot placement.

These examples were checked September 5, 2026. They illustrate procedural differences; they are not a filing calendar for an unspecified proposal.

A ballot-measure action card

Keep signed petition sheets through the legally required process. Limit access to personal information and do not substitute public photographs of signatures for the required official submission. Give circulators accurate instructions and a contact for questions.

After qualification and voting

Explain the official text, fiscal effects, trade-offs and arguments accurately. Distinguish your position from the election office’s neutral description. After voting, save the certified result and inspect the final operative text, effective date and any court order affecting implementation.

Assign follow-through: who must fund, administer or enforce the measure? What record will show the promised benefit? Winning a vote and delivering the result are separate milestones.