Ballotpedia Report Finds Complex Language in 2026 Ballot Measures Across 40 States
A new report by Ballotpedia indicates that ballot measures across 40 states in 2026 are written at a reading level equivalent to a first-year graduate student. Titles average a 17-year education requirement, while summaries average 15 years. The report says…
Little Rock Pine Bluff, AR, October 27, 2026 —
A new report by Ballotpedia says ballot measure titles and summaries across 40 states in 2026 use language at an advanced reading level. The report describes the overall complexity as equivalent to the level of a first-year graduate student.
According to the report, ballot measure titles average a reading level associated with 17 years of education, while summaries average 15 years. The figures point to a difference between the two types of voter-facing text, with titles requiring a higher level of education on average than summaries.
The report notes that this complexity could discourage voter engagement. It does not specify in the information provided how many voters might be affected or measure whether reading difficulty has changed participation. The report’s methodology, publication date and the names of the other states included were also not provided in the summary.
Some states have laws intended to make ballot language more accessible. Arkansas is cited as requiring simpler wording for ballot titles, with a target reading level of eighth grade. The summary does not provide further details about how that requirement is implemented or whether Arkansas’s ballot titles meet the target.
The findings focus on the reading level of ballot measure titles and summaries across the 40 states covered by the report. The information provided does not identify individual measures or explain what subjects they address. It also does not provide state-by-state comparisons or details about the process used to assess reading levels.
As reported, the averages describe the education level associated with the language in the titles and summaries; they do not establish how any particular voter understood the material. The report’s central concern, as summarized, is that complex wording may present a barrier to voter engagement, while examples such as Arkansas show that some states set simpler-language requirements for ballot titles.
Story summarized from the original created by Anna Claire Vollers on arkansasadvocate.com, see more information here.
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