When Maine voters cast ballots Tuesday on referendum Questions 1 and 2, it will mark the 30th and 31st time in the last two decades that they have participated in citizen-led ballot initiatives.
Since 2004, Maine has passed 14 citizen-initiated measures establishing laws for medical marijuana, later legalizing recreational cannabis, expanding Medicaid, and allowing same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, 15 initiatives have failed, including several efforts to reduce taxes, attempts to establish casinos in different parts of the state, and a proposed tax on wealthy households intended to fund universal home health care for seniors and disabled residents.
Roughly half of all U.S. states have some form of citizen initiative, though Massachusetts is the only other state in New England to do so. Some states, such as California, have considered citizen initiatives at a much higher frequency. Maine’s citizen initiative process has been in existence for over 100 years, reflecting a long tradition of direct voter engagement. Recently, Maine has seen multiple statewide initiatives on the ballot, notably four in 2023 and five in 2016. However, there were none in 2019, 2020, or 2022.
“The idea is to give regular citizens more of a voice in the policy process,” said Dan Shea, a professor of government at Colby College. He explained that Maine’s process originated at a time when corrupt party machines often controlled legislative efforts around the turn of the 20th century. “The process was designed to allow citizens to step beyond leaders of the parties in the Legislature and get stuff done,” Shea added.
Despite these advantages, there are some downsides to passing legislation via referendum. Citizen initiatives can attract out-of-state influence and funding, especially from activists who see Maine’s relatively low media costs as an invitation to test policies. Additionally, these proposals are often complex, making it challenging for voters to fully understand all the details and potential impacts.
“Maine is a pretty cheap state for advertising,” noted Michael Franz, a professor of government and legal studies at Bowdoin College. “Because Mainers see it as part of their political culture to vote on these measures, it becomes a perfect place for advocates of different ideas to put them on the ballot and test them in the state.”
Franz added, “Given the political polarization today and the frustration many people have with elected officials, it’s an opportunity for people who have an idea and want to get things in front of people to just bypass elected officials entirely.”
While many Maine voters remain wary of out-of-state influence and acknowledge the complexity of some measures, Franz emphasized that the electorate as a whole has proven to be “pretty savvy” when deciding on citizen initiatives. However, since these measures bypass the usual legislative process, many end up facing legal challenges.
To qualify for the ballot in Maine, supporters must gather signatures equaling 10% of the turnout for the most recent gubernatorial election. This year, that threshold was set at 67,682 signatures. Political scientists say this requirement is high enough to prevent the process from being overused or abused.
Citizen-led initiatives have often been used to push for laws that the Legislature is unwilling to address or support. Some view them as an opportunity for lawmakers to “pass the buck” and avoid making decisions on controversial issues themselves, Shea said. At the same time, these initiatives have put Maine on the leading edge of some national issues.
Here’s a look at 10 high-profile citizen-led initiatives that have passed or failed in recent years.
*Staff writer Rachel Ohm contributed to this report.*
https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/11/01/maine-has-a-mixed-recent-history-on-citizens-initiatives-heres-a-closer-look/
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