States Push to Raise Vote Thresholds for Constitutional Amendments

Voters in North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah will decide whether to raise the approval requirement for state constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60% of the vote. Utah’s proposal applies only to tax-related amendments, while California will consider a measure that raises the threshold for certain local tax issues. In Missouri’s August primary, Amendment 4 would require any citizen-initiated amendment to win a majority in each congressional district, though measures placed by lawmakers would still need only a statewide majority.

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Twenty-six states currently allow citizen-initiated measures, but only Florida requires a 60% supermajority for constitutional changes—a rule that blocked a 2024 abortion-rights amendment that earned 57% support. Recent Republican-led reforms have added signature-gathering restrictions and other limits on the initiative process. Missouri voters have previously approved a minimum-wage increase, Medicaid expansion and a statewide right to reproductive health care, each passing a simple majority but not a district-by-district majority.

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Republican legislators argue that low thresholds “clutter” state constitutions with items that belong in statutes, which can be more easily amended. Rep. Robin Weisz (North Dakota) says many constitutional provisions are “trivializing” the document, while Rep. John Hughes (South Dakota) warns that voters often confuse constitutional amendments with statutory initiatives. Proponents contend that a higher bar protects minority rights and prevents frequent, potentially destabilizing changes.

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Advocates for direct democracy contend that raising thresholds undermines majority rule. Kelly Hall, executive director of the Fairness Project, describes the push as “patronizing” and “infantilizing,” arguing that it reflects lawmakers’ disagreement with popular policies such as reproductive rights and paid sick leave. Quentin Savwoir of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center calls the efforts “the antithesis of democracy,” emphasizing that American democracy is anchored in a 50%-plus-one rule.

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• “The theme of 2026 is the battle over direct democracy availability itself,” — Kelly Hall, Fairness Project

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• “We're seeing a lot of issues that to me don't belong in the constitution,” — Rep. Robin Weisz, North Dakota

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• “Despite the rhetoric surrounding this resolution, South Dakotans are not amending our constitution every election cycle and do not take these proposed amendments lightly," he said.” — Zebadiah Johnson, Voter Defense Association of South Dakota

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