Gun Policy Ballot Measures in 2026

Gun policy has become one of the most active areas of direct democracy in American politics. When state legislatures decline to act — or when voters want to override legislative action — ballot measures give citizens a direct say on firearms regulation. The 2026 midterm elections are shaping up to feature several gun-related ballot initiatives across the country, continuing a trend that has accelerated since 2014. This guide covers the measures expected on 2026 ballots, the historical context of gun policy ballot initiatives, and the arguments on both sides.

Note: Ballot measure qualification is an ongoing process. Some measures described below are still collecting signatures or awaiting certification as of early 2026. This page will be updated as measures are officially certified for the November 3, 2026 ballot.

The Landscape: Gun Policy Through the Ballot Box

The ballot initiative process allows citizens to bypass their state legislatures and put policy questions directly to voters. Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia allow some form of citizen-initiated ballot measures, and gun policy has become a frequent subject — particularly in Western states where the initiative process is well-established.

Gun-related ballot measures have addressed a wide range of topics, including:

• Universal background checks for all gun sales
• Bans or restrictions on specific types of firearms or accessories (e.g., assault-style weapons, high-capacity magazines)
• Permit requirements for purchasing or carrying firearms
• Safe storage and child access prevention laws
• Extreme risk protection orders (also called "red flag" laws)
• Preemption laws that prevent local governments from passing their own gun regulations
• Constitutional amendments strengthening or clarifying the right to bear arms

Potential Gun Policy Measures on the 2026 Ballot

Several states have active signature-gathering campaigns or legislative referrals related to gun policy heading into the 2026 cycle. Here is a state-by-state overview of the measures most likely to appear on ballots.

Florida: Assault Weapons Ban Initiative

Advocacy groups in Florida have been working to place an assault weapons ban on the statewide ballot. The proposed measure would prohibit the sale and possession of semi-automatic rifles and shotguns capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Florida requires petitions to gather signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast in the preceding presidential election — roughly 891,000 valid signatures — and the measure must also survive Florida Supreme Court review of its ballot language. Previous attempts to qualify a similar measure in 2020 and 2022 fell short of the signature threshold. Organizers have reported increased signature collection in the current cycle.

Arizona: Firearms in Sensitive Places

An initiative in Arizona seeks to establish gun-free zones around schools, government buildings, polling places, and public events with more than 1,000 attendees. Arizona currently has relatively permissive gun laws, including permitless concealed carry, and the measure would create new restrictions on where firearms can be carried. The initiative needs approximately 383,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Oregon: Implementation and Modification of Measure 114

Oregon voters approved Measure 114 in November 2022 by a margin of 50.7% to 49.3%. The measure required permits for gun purchases and banned magazines holding more than 10 rounds. However, the measure has been tied up in state and federal courts since passage, with judges issuing injunctions blocking key provisions. A 2026 ballot measure could seek to modify certain provisions of Measure 114 to address court concerns while preserving the core permit-to-purchase requirement, or alternatively, opponents could seek to repeal the measure outright.

Nevada: Background Check Enforcement

Nevada voters approved universal background checks via ballot measure in 2016 (Question 1) with 50.5% of the vote, but implementation was delayed for years due to a dispute with the FBI over whether the state or federal government would conduct the checks. The state eventually implemented the law through state-level enforcement in 2020. A new 2026 initiative could expand these requirements to cover private sales at gun shows and online transactions more explicitly, closing perceived gaps in the existing law.

Missouri: Extreme Risk Protection Orders

Advocates in Missouri have filed language for a ballot initiative that would establish a red flag law, allowing family members or law enforcement to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. Missouri currently has no such law, and the legislature has shown no inclination to pass one. The initiative would need approximately 172,000 signatures from registered voters across six of the state's eight congressional districts.

States to Watch for Pro-Gun-Rights Measures

Ballot measures do not move in only one direction on gun policy. Several states may see initiatives aimed at expanding gun rights or preventing future restrictions:

• Ohio: A proposed constitutional amendment would enshrine the right to carry firearms without a permit (constitutional carry) in the state constitution, making it harder for future legislatures to impose permit requirements.
• Montana: An initiative would prohibit state and local law enforcement from enforcing any federal firearms regulations that do not have a corresponding state law, building on the state's existing Firearms Freedom Act.
• New Hampshire: A proposed constitutional amendment would strengthen the state's existing right-to-bear-arms provision, adding language that any restriction on firearms must pass "strict scrutiny" — the highest standard of judicial review.

Historical Context: Gun Measures on Past Ballots

The current wave of gun policy ballot measures builds on more than a decade of direct democracy on firearms issues.

Washington State: A Trailblazer

Washington has been the most active state for gun-related ballot measures in recent years:

• Initiative 594 (2014): Required universal background checks for all gun sales and transfers. Passed with 59.3% of the vote, making Washington one of the first states to enact universal background checks via ballot measure.
• Initiative 1639 (2018): Raised the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, imposed enhanced background checks and waiting periods for semi-automatic rifle purchases, and established safe storage requirements. Passed with 59.4% of the vote.
• Initiative 1491 (2016): Established extreme risk protection orders (red flag law), allowing courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals in crisis. Passed with 69.1% of the vote.

Other Key Historical Measures

• Colorado, Proposition 104 (2000): Required background checks for all gun sales at gun shows. Passed with 70.4% of the vote in one of the earliest successful gun-related ballot measures.
• Maine, Question 3 (2016): Would have required background checks for nearly all gun sales. Rejected with 51.8% voting no — one of the few gun-regulation measures to fail at the ballot box in recent years.
• California, Proposition 63 (2016): Required background checks for ammunition purchases, banned large-capacity magazines, and created a process for confiscating guns from prohibited persons. Passed with 63.1% of the vote.
• Nebraska, Initiative 434 (2024): A constitutional carry measure that enshrined permitless carry in the state constitution. Passed with broad support.

Both Sides of the Debate

Gun policy ballot measures generate intense debate, with well-funded organizations and passionate grassroots movements on both sides. Here is a fair summary of the primary arguments.

Arguments for Stricter Regulations

• Public safety: Supporters point to data showing that states with stricter gun laws tend to have lower rates of gun deaths. According to the CDC, the U.S. saw approximately 48,000 gun-related deaths in 2021, including suicides, homicides, and accidental deaths.
• Closing loopholes: Universal background check measures aim to prevent sales to prohibited buyers (felons, domestic abusers, individuals adjudicated as mentally ill) who might otherwise purchase firearms through private sales that do not require a check.
• Public opinion: Polling consistently shows that specific gun safety measures enjoy broad support. Gallup has found that around 80-90% of Americans support universal background checks, though support drops for measures like assault weapons bans (typically 55-65%).
• Democratic mandate: When legislatures fail to act on measures with broad public support, the ballot initiative process allows voters to implement policy directly.

Arguments Against Additional Restrictions

• Second Amendment rights: Opponents argue that new regulations infringe on the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision, which established that firearms regulations must be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearms regulation.
• Enforcement concerns: Critics contend that criminals will not comply with new regulations, and that measures like universal background checks are difficult to enforce for private sales.
• Complexity through ballot measures: Gun policy opponents argue that complex regulatory frameworks are poorly suited to the ballot initiative process, which requires voters to approve or reject an entire measure without the ability to amend specific provisions.
• Self-defense: Many gun owners view firearms as essential tools for personal and home defense, and argue that regulations create barriers for law-abiding citizens while doing little to deter criminals.
• Rural vs. urban divide: Gun policy measures that pass statewide can impose regulations that feel unnecessary or burdensome in rural areas where firearms are a normal part of daily life, hunting culture, and wildlife management.

The Legal Landscape After Bruen

The Supreme Court's June 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen fundamentally changed the legal framework for evaluating gun regulations. The Court struck down New York's "proper cause" requirement for concealed carry permits and held that firearms regulations must be justified by reference to historical analogues from American tradition. This ruling has led to a wave of legal challenges to existing gun laws and could affect the enforceability of new ballot measures. Courts have cited Bruen in challenges to assault weapons bans, magazine capacity limits, and sensitive-places restrictions, though results have been mixed.

Voters considering gun-related ballot measures in 2026 should be aware that even if a measure passes, it may face legal challenges that delay or prevent implementation — as happened with Oregon's Measure 114.

How to Research Gun Measures on Your Ballot

If a gun-related measure appears on your 2026 ballot, here are steps to make an informed decision:

• Read the full text. Ballot summaries can be misleading. Most states publish the complete text of ballot measures on the Secretary of State's website.
• Check who is funding each side. Campaign finance disclosures reveal which organizations and donors are backing or opposing the measure. Major national organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety, the National Rifle Association (NRA), and Gun Owners of America frequently fund state-level ballot campaigns.
• Review nonpartisan analyses. Many states have independent legislative analysts who prepare fiscal impact statements and neutral summaries of ballot measures.
• Consider enforceability. In the post-Bruen legal environment, a measure that passes at the ballot box may face years of court challenges before taking effect.

Additional Resources

• Find Your Ballot — See whether gun-related measures appear on your specific 2026 ballot
• Poll Tracker — Follow polling on ballot measures and candidate races
• How to Register to Vote — Make sure you are registered before your state's deadline
• Midterm vs Presidential Elections — Understand what else is on the 2026 ballot