Community Corner
Indy Explains: How Ballot Initiatives Can Change State Laws And The State Constitution
Nevada voters get the chance to say yes or no to a handful of ballot questions but getting a question onto the ballot takes a lot of work.
July 4th, 2021
Every election cycle, Nevada voters get the chance to say yes or no to a handful of ballot questions — everything from major higher education governance changes, legalizing cannabis, automatic voter registration and more.
Find out what's happening in Las Vegasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
But getting a question onto the ballot takes a lot of work — individuals can go through the state’s legislative process or use one of three methods to circumvent the Legislature altogether through constitutional initiatives, statutory initiatives and referendums.
However, to succeed with the alternative processes, proposed measures need to meet minimum signature requirements and survive any legal challenges thrown their way.
Find out what's happening in Las Vegasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
To learn more about each of the three methods and how to codify a proposed measure into law, check out this video explainer:
The Nevada Independent is a nonprofit, reader-supported news site. Since 2017, we have provided nonpartisan reporting on Nevada public policy, politics and people. Sign up here for our free morning newsletter.