Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Ballot initiatives are proposals or measures that are placed on the ballot for a public vote, often originating from citizen petitions rather than government bodies. These allow voters to directly decide on legislation or constitutional amendments.
Related terms
Referendum: A general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.
Petition: A formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause.
Direct Democracy: A form of democracy in which people decide on policy initiatives directly