Automatic ballot referral

An automatic ballot referral (or compulsory referral) is a type of referendum that is legally required to automatically be placed on a ballot. In the United States, many states have laws in their constitution requiring a question to hold a constitutional convention to appear before the voters after a scheduled amount of time.[1]

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Types

Constitutional Convention

In the United States, fourteen states' constitutions state that they must give voters a chance to decide if they want to amend the constitution at set times.

State Upcoming year of vote Years between

vote[1]

 Percent voted yes

at last vote[2]

Alaska 2022[3] 10 32.3
Connecticut 2028[4] 20 40.1
Hawaii 2028[5] 10 23.7
Iowa 2020[6] 10 32.8
Illinois 2028[2] 20 32.6
Maryland 2030[7] 20 48.1
Michigan 2026[8] 16 33.4
Missouri 2022[9] 20 34.7
Montana 2030[10] 20 41.5
New Hampshire 2022[2] 10 35.9
New York 2037[11] 20 16
Ohio 2032[12] 20 31.7
Oklahoma 2030[13][lower-alpha 1] 20 23.7
Rhode Island 2024[15] 10 44.9

Notes
  1. Oklahoma has not voted on a convention since 1970, even though the constitution states that they must be held every 20 years.[14]

References
  1. "Automatic ballot referral". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  2. Legislatures, National Conference of State. "Ballot Measures Database". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  3. Gorden, Harrison. "Alaska's Constitution." (n.d.): n. pag. Alaska Legislative Affairs Agency. Web. 24 Dec. 2016.
  4. "Constitution of the State of Connecticut". www.cga.ct.gov. Archived from the original on 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  5. "Hawai`i State Constitution - Article 17". lrbhawaii.org. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  6. "The Constitution of the State of Iowa". publications.iowa.gov. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  7. "Maryland Constitution - Declaration of Rights". maryland.gov. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  8. "Michigan Legislature - Article XII § 3". www.legislature.mi.gov. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  9. "Section: 12.003.(a).1 Referendum on constitutional convention--qualifications of delegates --selection of nominees for district delegates and delegates-at-large --election procedure". www.moga.mo.gov. Retrieved 2017-01-10. At the general election on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November 1962, and every twenty years thereafter, the secretary of state shall, and at any general or special election the general assembly by law may, submit to the electors of the state the question "Shall there be a convention to revise and amend the constitution?"
  10. "The Constitution of the State of Montana" (PDF). Montana Supreme Court. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-12. Retrieved 2017-01-10. If the question of holding a convention is not otherwise submitted during any period of 20 years, it shall be submitted as provided by law at the general election in the twentieth year following the last submission.
  11. "New York State Constitution". www.dos.ny.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
  12. "Ohio Constitution (The 1851 Constitution with Amendments to 2015): Article XVI - Amendments". The Ohio Legislature. Retrieved 2017-01-10. At the general election to be held in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-two, and in each twentieth year thereafter, the question: "Shall there be a convention to revise, alter, or amend the constitution[,]" shall be submitted to the electors of the state...
  13. "Mandatory vote about whether a statewide constitutional convention shall be held - Ballotpedia". Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  14. "Oklahoma House passes constitutional convention bill". Associated Press. 2014-03-12. Archived from the original on 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  15. "State of Rhode Island General Assembly". www.rilin.state.ri.us. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
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