Valid petition signature rate for 2026 initiatives tracks historical average
Fifty-three citizen-initiated measures qualified for the 2026 ballot across 15 states. The average share of submitted signatures found valid was 77.96%, close to the 78.8% ten-year average. Campaigns submitted an average of 162.66% of the signatures needed to qualify, according to the report.
Across 15 states, 53 citizen-initiated measures reached the 2026 ballot. To qualify them, sponsors needed 11,578,713 valid signatures in total, or about 218,466 per measure. Requirements ranged from 26,705 in Alaska to 874,641 for California constitutional amendments.
The largest raw submission came from the California Proposition 42 campaign, which turned in 1,638,055 signatures and had 1,044,143 validated. The No Tax Oregon campaign submitted 250,949, or 321.25% of the 78,116 required. On average, campaigns filed 363,616 signatures, equal to 162.66% of what was needed.
The validity rates could affect how much time and money campaigns spend on signature collection, since rejected signatures may require costly rework. Voters may see fewer or more measures depending on whether campaigns build sufficient margins. Election officials may face continued pressure to verify large volumes efficiently, while courts and lawmakers could revisit petition rules if disputes arise. The figures do not by themselves determine outcomes, but they may shape strategic choices for organizers and the scope of choices presented to the public.