Benefits of Initiatives

Better Policy

Ballot initiatives allow citizens to enact meaningful policy changes that otherwise have little chance of being passed by politicians.

Legislator Competition

The initiative process helps hold government accountable to the people.

Higher Voter Turnout

Ballot initiatives and referendums create more interest, therefore higher voter turnout, in elections.

Better Policy

Ballot initiatives allow citizens to enact meaningful policy changes that otherwise have little chance of being passed by politicians.Just like legislators, voters can pass bad laws or fail to pass good ones. But historically, voters have a far better record.

Better Tax Policy

States where citizens enjoy initiative and referendum rights not only have lower taxes, they also have more tax and spending decisions made at the local level, rather than statewide. Furthermore, a recent study by scholars at Wellesley College says I&R states have significantly less government waste and better economic performance than do states without I&R.

Beating Big Money

People are far less swayed by money than politicians are. Multiple studies reveal that citizens tend to favor “grassroots” initiatives over “big money” initiatives, whereas legislatures usually vote on the side of big money. Special interests may be able to pay to play with elected officials, but it’s far more difficult to bribe a majority of the voters of a state. As just one example, that citizens of California enacted term limits despite being outspent by more than a 6 to 1 margin.

Higher Voter Turnout

Studies have consistently shown that entrusting citizens with the ballot initiative process results in more people voting.

Legislator Competition

Initiatives foster competition for legislators. Allowing citizens to challenge bad laws or introduce new laws puts a much-needed check on the monopoly power of state legislatures. In this way, the initiative helps hold government accountable to the people.