The U.S. state of Wyoming has had a system of direct voting since 1968, when voters adopted a constitutional amendment allowing measures to be placed on the ballot. Only years when ballot measures were on the general election ballot are listed.
Background Wyoming's ballot measure procedure has been described by the Initiative & Referendum Institute as "one of the most onerous" in the nation. In order to place a citizen-initiated initiative on the ballot, measure sponsors must gather signatures equal to 15% of ballots cast in the previous election, along with at least 15% of voters in two-thirds of Wyoming counties. These requirements, coupled with the legislature's ability to remove ballot measures if they adopt a substantially similar law, make placing measures on the ballot exceptionally difficult. As a result, most measures voted on in the general election are placed on the ballot by the legislature, not the voters.
There are three types of ballot measures in Wyoming:
Initiated state statues are measures that would create new state law. They are sponsored by voters and placed on the ballot after meeting signature requirements. Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments are changes to the Wyoming Constitution and are automatically placed on the ballot after approval by the legislature. Veto referendums are measures to repeal state law. They are sponsored by voters and placed on the ballot after meeting signature requirements.
1968–1999
1968 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment No. 1A constitutional amendment to repeal the school poll tax73,872 (69.47%)32,457 (30.53%)Amendment No. 2A constitutional amendment to create an initiative & referendum system in Wyoming, provided such measures receive at least 100 signatures in support72,009 (74.77%)24,299 (25.23%)
1970 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment relating to public funds75,996 (78.63%)20,648 (21.37%)Amendment 2A constitutional amendment lowering the voting age to 1953,997 (52.72%)48,418 (47.28%)Amendment 3A constitutional amendment allowing the state to invest education funds64,970 (62.29%)30,170 (31.71%)Amendment 4A constitutional amendment relating to the salaries of public officials56,940 (60.01%)37,940 (39.99%)Amendment 5A constitutional amendment relating to the investment of county school funds63,554 (67.52%)30,570 (32.48%)
1972 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment providing a form of home rule for cities and towns97,026 (76.18%)30,339 (23.82%)Amendment 3A constitutional amendment permitting state legislators to accept appointments to other offices72,798 (56.71%)55,580 (43.29%)Amendment 4A constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the number of justices on the Wyoming Supreme Court86,539 (66.97%)42,676 (33.03%)Amendment 5A constitutional amendment stating that the legislature should meet for no more than 60 working days per period76,170 (60.27%)50,209 (39.73%)Amendment 6A constitutional amendment allowing counties to levy an annual tax51,895 (40.69%)75,630 (59.31%)Amendment 7A constitutional amendment allowing counties to create indebtedness63,239 (49.97%)63,315 (50.03%)
1974 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment creating new protections against double taxation Unclear 77,513 (68.42%) 35,771 (31.58%)Amendment 2A constitutional amendment creating a mineral excise tax Unclear 78,842 (70.87%) 32,414 (29.13%)Amendment 3A constitutional amendment establishing a statewide school levy 51,392 (45.06%) 62,667 (54.94%)
1976 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment relating to judges92,559 (66.48%)46,664 (33.52%)Amendment 2A constitutional amendment increasing the city, county, and school indebtedness limit43,951 (31.29%)96,526 (68.71%)Amendment 3A constitutional amendment relating to the Wyoming criminal code106,931 (77.50%)31,045 (22.50%)
1978 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment permitting women to work in mines82,957 (66.11%)44,446 (34.89%)Amendment 2A constitutional amendment equalizing school funding across all districts83,552 (66.24%)42,586 (33.76%)Amendment 3A constitutional amendment permitting the construction of a state prison for men and a state prison for women82,537 (65.00%)44,445 (35.00%)
1980 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment providing for juries of less than twelve members in misdemeanor trials 44,446 (19.71%) 181,004 (80.29%)
1982 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment permitting the legislature to invest state funds77,005 (50.81%)74,548 (49.19%)Amendment 2A constitutional amendment increase state education taxes100,820 (65.80%)52,409 (34.20%)Amendment 3A constitutional amendment allowing the state treasurer to seek re-election126,985 (82.58%)26,788 (17.42%)
1984 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to write off uncollected debts in certain circumstances119,757 (67.98%)56,402 (32.02%)Amendment 2A constitutional amendment allowing the investment of employee retirement funds116,791 (66.20%)59,637 (33.80%)Amendment 3A constitutional amendment clarifying that officials appointed by the governor can be removed by the governor87,920 (50.31%)86,829 (49.69%)
1986 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment modifying the pass requirements for ballot measures in Wyoming104,759 (72.19%)40,357 (27.81%)Amendment 2A constitutional amendment allowing the governor to remove state officials appointed by the same governor128,476 (84.07%)24,348 (15.93%)Amendment 3A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to modify the duties of the state board of equalization107,507 (73.86%)38,050 (26.14%)Amendment 4A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to create a state investment fund for economic development loans111,590 (72.93%)41,420 (27.07%)Amendment 5A constitutional amendment providing that any increase in judicial salaries apply to all judges79,557 (52.98%)70,602 (47.02%)Amendment 6A constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to expand workers compensation106,591 (71.57%)42,339 (28.43%)
1988 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to create three classes of property for the purposes of taxation133,677 (77.15%)39,597 (22.85%)
1990 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesAmendment 1A constitutional amendment to prevent sheriffs from keeping fees collected in civil cases124,789 (81.11%)29,054 (18.89%)Amendment 2A constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to appoint a state examiner, geologist, and inspector of mines82,233 (55.73%)65,317 (44.27%)Amendment 3A constitutional amendment transferring the powers of the Wyoming state board of charities to the legislature86,195 (59.88%)57,763 (40.12%)Amendment 4A constitutional amendment restricting the use of public employee retirement funds to purposes directly benefiting public employees112,213 (75.45%)36,511 (24.55%)
1992 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesConstitutional Amendment 1A constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to invest the state permanent fund in equities Unclear -- --Initiative 1An initiative to ban triple trailers in Wyoming 165,879 (83.83%) 31,997 (16.17%)Initiative 2An initiative to establish term limits for elected officials in Wyoming 150,113 (77.00%) 44,424 (23.00%)Initiative 3An initiative to increase railroad regulation 130,646 (71.28%) 52,835 (28.72%)
1994 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesConstitutional Amendment 1A constitutional amendment to create a criminal sentence of life without parole and to limit the governor's parole power -- --Constitutional Amendment 2A constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to invest up to 25% of the state's permanent fund in equities -- --Initiative 1An initiative to prohibit abortions except in cases where pregnancy endangers the mother's life, rape, or incest 61,980 (31.09%) 137,379 (68.91%)Initiative 2An initiative to permit some forms of gambling at the county level subject to a vote of the people 75,547 (60.20%) 114,273 (39.80%)Initiative 3An initiative to allow the state treasurer to invest up to $500 million in financial institutions 78,978 (39.94%) 118,760 (60.06%)
1996 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesConstitutional Amendment AA constitutional amendment relating to redistricting91,081 (48.46%)96,857 (51.54%)Constitutional Amendment BA constitutional amendment restoring voting rights to most mentally ill people122,658 (65.46%)64,722 (34.54%)Constitutional Amendment CA constitutional amendment allowing state funds to be invested in corporate stocks if the legislature dictates126,587 (64.81%)68,727 (35.19%)Constitutional Amendment DA constitutional amendment strengthening the Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics177,513 (89.08%)21,751 (10.92%)Initiative No. 1An initiative requiring candidates for office to indicate whether they support term limits on the ballot105,093 (54.14%)89,018 (45.86%)Initiative No. 2An initiative to repeal Senate Enrolled Act 4, which extended term limits for legislators104,544 (53.70%)90,138 (46.30%)
1998 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesConstitutional Amendment AA constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to reapportion its membership as soon as census data is available117,638 (74.95%)39,321 (25.05%)Constitutional Amendment BA constitutional amendment modifying the requirements for citizen-initiated measures to be placed on the ballot97,846 (61.76%)60,582 (38.24%)Constitutional Amendment CA constitutional amendment mandating that funds allocated to Wyoming's Workers Compensation Fund only be used for specific purposes143,920 (88.24%)19,178 (11.76%)
2000–present
2000 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesConstitutional Amendment BA constitutional amendment expanding the eligibility requirements for the Wyoming National Guard125,841 (64.61%)68,927 (35.39%)
2002 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesConstitutional Amendment AA constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to convene special legislative sessions if a majority of members agree112,438 (66.29%)57,187 (33.71%)Constitutional Amendment BA constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to handle disputes relating to presidential electors110,906 (65.78%)57,708 (34.22%)Constitutional Amendment CA constitutional amendment limiting the governor's line-item veto authority only to general appropriations bills73,240 (44.22%)92,396 (55.78%)Constitutional Amendment DA constitutional amendment requiring constitutional amendments be submitted to the voters before being approved by the Governor87,786 (52.74%)78,679 (47.26%)
2004 Measure NameDescriptionStatusYes VotesNo VotesConstitutional Amendment AA constitutional amendment to allow school districts to bring in more revenue yearly122,038 (55.78%)96,762 (44.22%)Constitutional Amendment BA constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to authorize local governments to access expanded funding sources provided they receive vocal approval148,808 (66.16%)76,115 (33.84%)Constitutional Amendment CA constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to create laws requiring dispute resolution before medical malpractice lawsuits124,178 (52.99%)110,169 (47.01%)Constitutional Amendment DA constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to create laws limiting damages in medical malpractice lawsuits115,981 (49.65%)117,602 (50.35%)
2006