What happens in an indirect initiative?

In an indirect initiative, a petition does not lead directly to a vote by the residents. Instead, the procedure allows citizens to propose legislation that is submitted to the state legislature for consideration. If enough signatures are gathered, the legislature has the opportunity to review, modify, or approve the proposed measure. If the legislature chooses to take action, it may enact the proposal itself without putting it to a public vote. However, if the legislature does not act on the proposal within a specified timeframe, the measure may then be placed on the ballot for residents to vote on in the next election. This mechanism allows for a deliberative process wherein elected representatives can assess and potentially enact citizen-initiated laws before resorting to a direct vote by the populace.