Single subject, titles, and post-election review

Single subject, titles, and post-election review

Most initiative states impose a single-subject rule: a measure must address one subject, so voters are not forced to accept a provision they oppose to obtain one they want. Single-subject challenges are among the most common ways a measure is struck before or after a vote.

The ballot title and summary matter more than proponents expect, because most voters read only those. Who drafts them varies — in some states the attorney general, in others a neutral legislative office — and the wording is frequently litigated.

Passage is not the end. A measure remains subject to constitutional review, and courts have invalidated approved measures on single-subject, preemption, or constitutional grounds.