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Death penalty ballot measures

From Ballotpedia

Voters have decided ondeath penalty ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, this includes measures regarding legal punishment in which a person is sentenced to death by the state for committing certain crimes. The death penalty is also known as capital punishment. The topic is grouped within thecriminal justice and law enforcement policy area.

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Upcoming ballot measures

See also:2026 ballot measures and2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to this topic that are certified or potential for this year and future elections:
There are no ballot measures related to this topic that have qualified for the ballot.

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

Years
States

2022

  1. Alabama Amendment 3, Notice to Victim's Family Required for Commutation or Reprieve of Death Sentences Amendment (2022)Approved

2016

  1. California Proposition 62, Abolition of Death Penalty Measure (2016)Defeated
  2. California Proposition 66, Death Penalty Procedures Measure (2016)Approved
  3. Nebraska Referendum 426, Death Penalty Measure (2016)Defeated
  4. Oklahoma State Question 776, Allow State to Impose Death Penalty Amendment (2016)Approved

2012

  1. California Proposition 34, Abolition of the Death Penalty Initiative (2012)Defeated

2006

  1. Wisconsin Question 2, Death Penalty for First Degree Murder Advisory Question (2006)Approved

2002

  1. Florida Amendment 1, Permit Death Penalty For Capital Crimes Amendment (2002)Approved

2000

  1. California Proposition 18, Permit Death Penalty or Life Sentence for Lying in Wait First Degree Murder Measure (March 2000)Approved

1998

  1. Florida Amendment 2, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1998)Approved

1996

  1. California Proposition 195, Permit Death Penalty or Life Sentence for Certain First-Degree Murders Measure (March 1996)Approved
  2. California Proposition 196, Death Penalty or Life Imprisonment for Drive-by Shooting Murders Measure (March 1996)Approved

1994

  1. Ohio Jurisdiction of Death Penalty Appeals Amendment (1994)Approved
  2. Wyoming Amendment 1, Legislative Authority to Create Penalty of Life Imprisonment Without Parole Not Subject to Commutation by Governor Amendment (1994)Approved

1992

  1. Arizona Proposition 103, Require Lethal Injection for Death Penalty Amendment (1992)Approved
  2. New Jersey Public Question No. 3, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1992)Approved

1990

  1. California Proposition 114, Reclassification of Peace Officers Covered by the Death Penalty Measure (June 1990)Approved

1984

  1. Oregon Measure 6, Permit Death Penalty for Aggravated Murder Initiative (1984)Approved
  2. Oregon Measure 7, Require Death Penalty by Lethal Injection for Aggravated Murder Initiative (1984)Approved

1982

  1. Massachusetts Question 2, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1982)Approved

1978

  1. California Proposition 7, Expand Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment for Murders Initiative (1978)Approved
  2. Oregon Measure 8, Require Separate Sentencing and Death Penalty for Murders Initiative (1978)Approved

1975

  1. Washington Initiative 316, Require Death Penalty for Aggravated Murder Measure (1975)Approved

1974

  1. Colorado Amendment No. 2, Require Death Penalty for Certain Class One Felonies Amendment (1974)Approved

1973

  1. Rhode Island Proposal 3, Require Grand Jury Indictment for Crimes Punishable by Death or Imprisonment for Life Amendment (1973)Approved

1972

  1. California Proposition 17, Permit Death Penalty Amendment (1972)Approved

1970

  1. Illinois Abolition of Death Penalty Amendment (December 1970)Defeated

1968

  1. Massachusetts Question 6, Permit Death Penalty Advisory Question (1968)Approved

1966

  1. Colorado Referred Law No. 2, Abolition of Death Penalty Measure (1966)Defeated

1964

  1. Oregon Measure 1, Abolition of Death Penalty Amendment (1964)Approved

1958

  1. Oregon Measure 4, Repeal of Capital Punishment Amendment (1958)Defeated

1944

  1. Virginia Board for the Review of Capital Punishment, Reprieves, and Pardons Amendment (1944)Approved

1933

  1. Arizona Measure Nos. 102-103, Permit Death Penalty by Lethal Gas Amendment (1933)Approved

1931

  1. Michigan Define Murder in the First Degree and Require Death Penalty by Electrocution Referendum (April 1931)Defeated

1920

  1. Oregon Measure Nos. 304-305, Permit Death Penalty for First Degree Murder Amendment (May 1920)Approved

1918

  1. Arizona Measure Nos. 306-307, Require Life Imprisonment or Death Penalty for First-Degree Murder Convictions Initiative (1918)Approved

1916

  1. Arizona Measure Nos. 300-301, Abolition of Death Penalty Initiative (1916)Approved

1914

  1. Arizona Measure Nos. 308-309, Abolition of Death Penalty Initiative (1914)Defeated
  2. Oregon Measure Nos. 334-335, Abolition of the Death Penalty Initiative (1914)Approved

1912

  1. Ohio Abolition of the Death Penalty Amendment (September 1912)Defeated
  2. Oregon Measure Nos. 366-367, Abolition of the Death Penalty Initiative (1912)Defeated

See also

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