Expanding Citizen-Led Policy
A project of Political Reform
Amid deepening political dysfunction and distrust, ballot initiatives offer a time-tested mechanism for democratic correction. At the state level, these citizen-led ballot measures—sometimes referred to as direct democracy or initiative and referendum (I&R)—allow voters to propose and vote on legislation or constitutional amendments, bypassing state legislatures when necessary to advance policies with broad public support.
Show More
Expanding Citizen-Led Policy, a project of New America’s Political Reform program, maps the uneven landscape of citizen-led policymaking in the United States, evaluates the feasibility and advantages of expanding ballot initiative processes to more states, and identifies strategic paths reformers might take toward that goal.
Featured
Low Awareness, Strong Appetite: New Polling on Ballot Initiative Access in 10 Non-Initiative States
Collection
By the People: Expanding Citizen-Led Policy in the United States
Why California’s Prop 50 Is a Victory for Democracy—Even in Its Irony
Experts
Oscar Pocasangre
Senior Data Analyst, Political Reform Program
Mark Schmitt
Senior Director, Political Reform Program
Maresa Strano
Deputy Director, Political Reform Program