Virginia voters currently have no option for enacting statutes or constitutional amendments without General Assembly approval. By contrast, the citizens of 24 states, mainly in the West and Midwest, can petition to bring proposed laws and/or constitutional amendments up for popular vote. Citizen initiatives can be an effective tool when a state's General Assembly fails to enact legislation that aligns with the opinion of the majority of voters. However, the citizen initiative process also can be used in ways that are undeniably detrimental to the common good.