Initiative, Referendum, and Recall are powers enjoyed by voters in 24 states, via which they may take a direct role in government in advance of the next schedule election for state officials. Currently, Connecticut voters do not have any of these powers.

Initiative is the right of a single voter or group of voters to circulate a petition to place a particular bill on the ballot (so called because the legislative process in this case "initiates" with the voters themselves). If a sufficient number of signatures are collected (usually a small fraction of the total number of votes cast in the last regular election), the bill is placed on the ballot. Depending on the timing, a special election may be called, or the bill may be placed on the ballot of the next regularly scheduled election.

Referendum is the right of a voter or group of voters to circulate a petition to stop a bill passed by the legislature from becoming law. Again, the signature requirement is usually a small fraction of the votes cast in the last election. If this number is met, the bill cannot become law until the people have a chance to vote on it.

Recall, the most rarely used of the three powers, is the right of a voter or group of voters to circulate a petition to remove a particular elected official from office before his or her term is up. If the requisite number of signatures is reached (usually a higher fraction of votes cast in the last election than with initiative or recall), the removal of the official is placed upon the ballot, along with a choice of replacement candidates in the event the official is removed by a majority vote. Often the power of recall cannot be used at times near the beginning or end of an official's regular term. Sometimes the power requires the original circulator(s) of the petitions to state a reason for the recall attempt. Although one wouldn't expect voters to remove an official for a trivial reason, there usually is no ability to review the reason given. That is, if a majority of the people vote for removal, no court can overturn that decision by arguing that the reason for the recall was not good enough.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was first elected governor of California during a recall vote, when his predecessor was removed.

We have proposed 4 initiatives on the left which could be passed by the people should a constitutional convention result in the power of initiative for Connecticut voters.