Referendum Ready: Preparing for a Successful Ballot Measure

How to Win Your Next Ballot Measure: Insights From the “Referendum Ready” Webinar

What happens when the nation’s leading civic data platform teams up with a social media strategy powerhouse? You get Referendum Ready - Polco and CiviSocial’s new partnership built to help local governments pass their most ambitious ballot initiatives.

This webinar captures the key insights and takeaways from the Referendum Ready launch event, hosted by Polco’s Head of Strategy, Alex Pedersen, and featuring Polco CEO Nick Mastronardi and CiviSocial Founder Sam Toles. Together, they offered a data-driven, communications-first blueprint for communities preparing for 2026 ballot measures.

Why This Webinar Matters

With over $500 billion in debt issuance projected for 2025 and more than $600 billion in 2026, the stakes for public ballot initiatives are rising fast. But many well-intentioned measures still fail, sometimes unexpectedly. Referendum Ready is a proactive solution, helping local governments leverage performance data, public sentiment, and digital storytelling to build widespread support.

What’s Driving the Ballot Boom?

Nick Mastronardi kicked off with a big-picture look at why communities are turning to ballot measures in record numbers:

• Post-ARPA budget gaps are forcing cities to seek new funding streams.
• Rising costs and shifting demographics are increasing demand for services.
• Community transformation, from AI readiness to aging populations, is pushing governments to act boldly.

But more initiatives also mean more scrutiny, and higher failure rates. To succeed, governments must align residents' needs, public data, and clear communications.

The Top 3 Reasons Referenda Fail

CiviSocial’s Sam Toles delivered a powerful analysis of why good ballot initiatives often go down in flames. According to Sam, the three biggest pitfalls are:

1. Narrative Hijacking by the Same Ten People
   – The Same Ten People who dominate Facebook groups can hijack the story if governments don’t act early to control the narrative.
2. Misunderstanding and Misinformation
   – Voters often misunderstand what a measure is about, and governments often misunderstand what their communities truly care about.
3. Lack of Planning and Platform Strategy
   – Many cities are still stuck in the  Facebook era, while younger voters are on Instagram, YouTube, and beyond.

Case Study: What Laredo, TX Got Wrong

A $400 million referendum in Laredo failed, despite decades of fiscal stewardship and real community need. Why?

• Muddled Messaging: Multiple ballot items bundled together with no clear “why now.”
• Missed Demographics: The city focused on Facebook, while the median age was just 30.
• Outdated Outreach: Expensive marketing videos felt corporate and defensive, with no real storytelling or engagement.

Polco’s GPAL data showed Laredo had real deficits in health and wellness, yet those were underemphasized. A data-first narrative could have made the difference.

The Referendum Ready Solution: Data + Digital Storytelling

Polco + CiviSocial offer a turnkey package to flip these outcomes around. Here’s what it includes:

1. Data-Driven Narrative Creation (Polco)

• Use Track dashboards and the GPAL database to identify performance gaps and community needs.
• Layer in sentiment surveys to understand what residents value most with Polco’s full suite of engagement tools
• Build a targeted story around data that justifies your referendum and deploy a Benchmark Survey.

2. Social Media Strategy + Execution (CiviSocial)

• Five days of on-site training to activate your internal talent as storytellers.
• Create content that actually connects with your voters, especially digital natives.
• Reduce negativity by 80% in 3–6 months, based on past results.

Real Results: Success Stories From the Field

Communities using this approach have seen major wins:

• Cathedral City, CA passed Measure W with 74% approval.
• Dona Ana County, NM secured $140M in funding with two winning initiatives.
• Plainville, CT passed 5 ballot questions with average support over 70%.

When to Start? Right Now.

Referendum timelines stretch across months. Starting early allows:

• More time for data collection and analysis
• Smarter testing of messaging and narratives
• Space to build an authentic presence across digital platforms

Both Polco and CiviSocial are already booking Q1 2026 work. If you're aiming for a fall 2026 election, now is the time to begin.

Talk to our experts about Referendum Ready >>

Final Thoughts: Be the Smartest Voice in the Room

In the words of Nick Mastronardi:

“We don’t just want you to understand your community, we want you to control the narrative with clarity, confidence, and truth.”

And Sam Toles reminds us:

“If you can tie your referendum to what your community truly values, whether it’s safety, equity, or even home values, you win hearts, not just votes.”

Ready to Win Your Referendum?

Reach out to Polco or CiviSocial today to learn more about Referendum Ready, and see if you qualify for contingency-based pricing.

• Smart data.
• Compelling stories.
• Measurable impact.

Let’s make your next ballot initiative a win.