On the Ballot6 Aug 2024

Texas ballot measures: A brief history

On this episode: Texans have decided on 708 ballot measures in the nearly 150 years since the state adopted its constitution. Five hundred twenty-eight (528) measures were approved, meaning the constitution has been amended 528 times. One hundred eighty (180) measures were defeated, giving Texas measures a lifetime approval rating of roughly 75%.

In the first episode of what will become a recurring series on On the Ballot, our ballot measures expert Victoria Rose joins the show to walk us through how ballot measures work in the state, explains why Texas doesn't allow citizen initiated measures at the state level (but does at the local level), and shares some of what she found most interesting digging through 200+ years of Texas history.

The inventory of Texas statewide ballot measures is part of Ballotpedia's Historic Ballot Measure Fact Book, which will document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States.

Check out our Texas HBM page: https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Ballot_Measures:_Historic_Ballot_Measures_Factbook

Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.

*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

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