Analysis of the 2025 local ballot measures in California
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California voters decided 42 local ballot measures on eight different election dates in 2025.
Measures by outcome
Of the 42 local ballot measures in California in 2025, voters approved 32 (76.2%) and defeated 10 (23.8%).
- In 2023, there were 45 local measures on the ballot in California, of which 34 (76%) were approved and 11 (24%) were defeated.
- In 2021, there were 46 local measures on the ballot in California, of which 35 (76%) were approved and 11 (24%) were defeated.
- In 2019, there were 78 local measures on the ballot in California, of which 62 (79%) were approved and 16 (21%) were defeated.
- In 2017, there were 135 local measures on the ballot in California, of which 87 (64%) were approved and 48 (36%) were defeated.
Measures by county
In 2025, there were 42 local ballot measures across 17 counties in California. The number of measures in each county ranged from zero to 11 in Los Angeles County. In 2023, there were 45 local measures in 22 counties.
Measures by topic
Of the 42 local ballot measures, 27 were related to taxes, nine were related to charter amendments, three were related to housing, two were related to local spending limits, and one was related to bonds.
Taxes
Taxes made up approximately 64% of the measures on local ballots in California in 2025. There were 27 measures related to taxes on the ballot, with some covering multiple subject matters at once, including:
- Parcel taxes (17 measures)
- Sales taxes (9 measures)
- City taxes (3 measures)
- District taxes (1 measure)
Parcel taxes
- See also: Parcel tax elections in California
Seventeen (17) of the 27 tax measures on the local California ballots in 2025 were parcel taxes. Of these measures, eight were approved and nine were defeated.
Parcel taxes are a form of special property tax, which must be paid by the owners of parcels, or units, of real estate. However, unlike standard property taxes, which are based on the value of the property, a parcel tax is an assessment based on the characteristics of the parcel. These assessments can include taxing a parcel based on square footage or by dwelling unit, or the tax may be a flat rate per parcel. Parcel taxes are all special taxes, meaning that they are designed to fund specific purposes. Special taxes proposed by local governments require a two-thirds (66.67%) vote for approval in California.
Sales taxes
In 2025, there were nine sales tax measures on the local ballot in California. Eight (8) were approved and one was defeated.
In 2025, the state sales tax rate in California was 7.25%. Local jurisdictions in the state are permitted to implement additional sales taxes for either general purposes or specific uses. While general sales tax measures require a simple majority vote, sales tax measures proposed by local governments for specific uses require a two-thirds (66.67%) supermajority vote.
Local bonds
In 2025, there was one local bond measure on the ballot in California. The measure was approved.
Housing and zoning
In 2025, there were three local measures related to housing and zoning. Of these three measures, two were approved and one was defeated.
Measures by election date
There were eight separate dates in 2025 on which voters in California decided 42 local ballot measures. On November 4, 2025, 19 of the measures were on the ballot.
Dates
- March 4 - Twelve (12) measures were approved, zero were defeated
- April 15 - The one measure on the ballot was approved
- May 6 - Zero measures were approved, five were defeated
- June 3 - One (1) measure was approved, zero were defeated
- June 10 - Two (2) measures were approved, zero were defeated
- June 24 - One (1) measure was approved, zero were defeated
- August 26 - Three (3) measures were approved, zero were defeated
- November 4 - Twelve (12) measures were approved, five were defeated
See also
- 2025 ballot measures
- California 2025 local ballot measures
- Ballot measure readability scores, 2025
- Ballot measure signature costs, 2025
- Ballot measure campaign finance, 2025
- Ballot Measure Scorecard, 2025
- Ballotpedia's Tuesday Count for 2025
- List of ballot measure lawsuits in 2025
- 2025 ballot measure polls
- 2025 ballot measure media endorsements
- Hotel taxes in California
- Business taxes in California
- Utility taxes in California
- Sales tax in California
- Parcel tax elections in California
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