Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
California Nonpartisan Ballots Initiative (2016)
| California Nonpartisan Ballots Initiative | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 8, 2016 | |
| Topic Elections and campaigns | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin Citizens |
| Voting on elections and campaigns | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Ballot measures | ||||
| By state | ||||
| By year | ||||
| Not on ballot | ||||
|
The Nonpartisan Ballots Initiative (#15-0053) was not put on the November 8, 2016 ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment in California.
The measure would prohibit candidates from listing their political party affiliations on the ballot.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The official ballot title is:[2]
| “ | Nonpartisan Ballots. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.[3] | ” |
Ballot summary
The official ballot summary is:[2]
| “ | Bars candidates for United States Congress or state elective office from listing their political party preference, or lack of political party preference, on the election ballot.[3] | ” |
Full text
The full text of the measure is:[1]
| “ | Purpose: In an effort to remove party line voting and partisan generalizations, this initiative intends to strike party affiliation from the ballot. This initiative amends the California Constitution, Article II, Section 5 (b), to add a "not" before the word "have". The amended text would look as follows (with the new text in bold and underlined). (b) Except as otherwise provided by Section 6, a candidate for a congressional or state elective office may not have his or her political party preference, or lack of political party preference, indicated upon the ballot for the office in the manner provided by statute.[3] |
” |
Fiscal impact
Note: The fiscal impact statement for a California ballot initiative authorized for circulation is jointly prepared by the state's legislative analyst and its director of finance. The statement reads:[2]
| “ | No direct fiscal effect on state or local governments.[3] | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: California signature requirements
- Terrance Lynn submitted a letter requesting a title and summary on August 25, 2015.[1]
- A title and summary were issued by California's attorney general's office on October 29, 2015.[2]
- 585,407 valid signatures are required for qualification purposes.
- Supporters had until April 26, 2016, to collect the required signatures.
State profile
| Demographic data for California | ||
|---|---|---|
| California | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 38,993,940 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 155,779 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 61.8% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 5.9% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 13.7% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 4.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 38.4% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 81.8% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 31.4% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $61,818 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 18.2% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in California
California voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More California coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in California
- United States congressional delegations from California
- Public policy in California
- Endorsers in California
- California fact checks
- More...
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 California Secretary of State, "Full text," accessed November 20, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 California Secretary of State, "Initiatives and Referenda Cleared for Circulation," accessed November 20, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
 |
State of California Sacramento (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
