Signature Requirement for Statewide Initiative Petitions

According to Article V, Section 1(2) of the Colorado Constitution, the number of signatures required for a statewide initiative petition is “at least five percent of the total number of votes cast for all candidates for the office of secretary of state at the previous general election”. Article V, Section 1(3) of the Colorado Constitution also requires the same number of signatures for a statewide referendum petition.

The total number of votes cast for all candidates for the office of secretary of state at the November 8, 2022 General Election was 2,484,758. As a result, the signature requirement for statewide initiative petitions and statewide referendum petitions for 2023 through 2026 is:


124,238* 

(124,632 for 2019-2022)

*Initiatives that wish to make a change to the Colorado constitution must be signed by at least 2% of the total registered electors in each of the 35 Colorado state senate districts in addition to meeting the requirements outlined above (Article V, Section 1(2.5) of the Colorado constitution).

Revised July 8, 2024