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PBS News Hour

How lawmakers are restricting citizen-led ballot initiatives

Season 2025 Episode 151 | 5m 05s

Voters in 24 states and the District of Columbia can bypass their legislatures by gathering signatures to get proposed laws or constitutional amendments on the ballot. But about 40 bills in roughly a dozen states are now being considered or have been signed into law to restrict this process. Dane Waters, head of the non-partisan Initiative and Referendum Institute, joins John Yang to discuss.

Major corporate funding for the PBS News Hour is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, American Cruise Lines, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by Consumer Cellular and Cunard Cruise Line. For a complete list of funders for the PBS NewsHour and PBS NewsHour weekend, click here.
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