Ballot measures in 40 U.S. states average graduate-level reading difficulty

A new report from Ballotpedia reveals that statewide ballot measures in the United States are written at an average reading level requiring 17 years of education, equivalent to a first-year graduate student. The analysis covered 164 measures across 40 states, covering topics such as abortion, property taxes, and firearms.

While titles average a graduate-school level, summaries average 15 years of education. Readability varies significantly by state; for example, an Idaho question was rated at a fifth-grade level, while a Colorado constitutional amendment reached an extreme rating of 48th-grade level complexity. Researchers noted that many voters decide how to vote based solely on titles, which often lack supplemental summaries.

In Colorado, Amendment 85 has been proposed to require all state and local ballot questions to be written at an eighth-grade reading level or lower. Supporters argue this would increase voter understanding, while opponents suggest that imposing a vague readability standard into the state constitution could create further legal and practical confusion.