Election laws and legislation in California

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Election law encompasses a wide array of issues, including voter registration, ballot access, early voting, absentee/mail-in voting and voter identification requirements. The laws governing the administration of elections can vary significantly from state to state and even between jurisdictions within states. This article identifies the statutory source of election law in California and compiles information on proposed and enacted legislation that would modify election law in California.

Analysis

See also: State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state. These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.

Click here to see all past reports, and be on the lookout for more throughout the year!

Election law in California

See also: Election administration in California

The laws governing elections in California are contained in California Elections Code.

Election legislation in California

2025

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in California in 2025. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2024

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in California in 2024. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2023

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in California in 2023. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

2022

The embedded table below lists all election-related bills introduced in California in 2022. The following information is included for each bill:

  • State
  • Bill number
  • Official bill name or caption
  • Most recent action date
  • Legislative status
  • Sponsor party
  • Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.


Election policy ballot measures

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of California ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in California.

  1. California Proposition 198, Open Blanket Primary Election Initiative (March 1996)
  2. California Proposition 226, Ban on Political Contributions from Payroll Deductions Initiative (June 1998)
  3. California Proposition 3, Closed Presidential Primaries Measure (1998)
  4. California Proposition 208, Campaign Contribution and Spending Limits Initiative (1996)
  5. California Proposition 219, Uniform Application of Ballot Measures Amendment (June 1998)
  6. California Proposition 23, None of the Above Option on Ballots Initiative (March 2000)
  7. California Proposition 34, State Elective Office Campaign Contribution Limits Measure (2000)
  8. California Proposition 62, Top-Two Primaries Initiative (2004)
  9. California Proposition 15, Biennial Lobbyist Fee and Public Campaign Funding Measure (June 2010)
  10. California Proposition 14, Top-Two Primaries Amendment (June 2010)
  11. California Proposition 131, Term Limits and Campaign Finance Limits Initiative (1990)
  12. California Proposition 136, Changes to Vote Requirements for New or Increased Taxes Initiative (1990)
  13. California Proposition 137, Voter Approval for Certain Rules Governing Initiatives Amendment (1990)
  14. California Proposition 77, Transfer Legislative and Congressional Redistricting to Panel of Retired Judges Initiative (2005)
  15. California Proposition 60, Political Parties to Participate in Primaries and General Elections Amendment (2004)
  16. California Proposition 20, Transfer Congressional Redistricting to Commission Initiative (2010)
  17. California Proposition 41, County Voting Equipment Bond Measure (March 2002)
  18. California Proposition 89, Public Campaign Finance Program, Campaign Finance Limits, and Increased Corporate Tax Initiative (2006)
  19. California Proposition 4, Primary Partisanship Referendum (1916)
  20. California Proposition 2, Ballot Regulations Referendum (October 1915)
  21. California Proposition 6, Naturalized Citizens Voting Eligibility Amendment (June 1972)
  22. California Proposition 23, Election Decisions Amendment (1914)
  23. California Proposition 18, Voter Qualifications Amendment (1924)
  24. California Proposition 6, Publication of Bond Propositions Amendment (1958)
  25. California Proposition 2, Terms of Assembly Members Amendment (1960)
  26. California Proposition 8, Voting Prohibition for Those Serving a Sentence Amendment (1960)
  27. California Proposition 21, Incumbents for Superior Courts Amendment (1962)
  28. California Proposition 8, Elections of Superior Court Judges Amendment (1964)
  29. California Proposition 15, Exemption From Voter Education Requirement Amendment (1966)
  30. California Proposition 23, Election Results Amendment (1926)
  31. California Proposition 25, Voter Eligibility Amendment (1930)
  32. California Proposition 22, Municipal Charter Amendments Amendment (1930)
  33. California Proposition 4, Election Returns for Governor and Lieutenant Governor Amendment (1940)
  34. California Proposition 7, County Board of Education Amendment (1946)
  35. California Proposition 8, Superior Court Vacancies Amendment (1948)
  36. California Proposition 13, Requirement to be a Political Party Candidate Initiative (1952)
  37. California Proposition 7, Political Party Affiliation on the Ballot Measure (1952)
  38. California Proposition 43, Constitutional Right to Have One's Vote Counted Amendment (March 2002)
  39. California Proposition 49, Prohibition of Political Party Endorsements for Nonpartisan Candidates Amendment (June 1986)
  40. California Proposition 20, County Charter Officials Amendment (1932)
  41. California Proposition 19, City and City and County Charters Amendment (1932)
  42. California Proposition 7, Voter Eligibility Requirements Amendment (1948)
  43. California Proposition 4, Voter Eligibility Amendment (1950)
  44. California Proposition 32, Ban on Political Contributions from Payroll Deductions Initiative (2012)
  45. California Proposition 6, Boards of Education Amendment (June 1970)
  46. California Non-Profit Donor Disclosure Initiative (2014)
  47. California Nonpartisan Ballots Initiative (2016)
  48. California Senatorial Elections, Proposition 1 (1892)
  49. California Voter Qualifications, Proposition 3 (1892)
  50. California Elections by Ballot, Amendment 2 (1896)
  51. California Election of County Officers, Amendment 5 (1896)
  52. California Direct Primaries, Amendment 3 (1908)
  53. California Proposition 17, County and Municipal Vote Requirements Amendment (October 1911)
  54. California Proposition 47, Prohibition Elections Initiative (1914)
  55. California Proposition 21, Incurring Indebtedness Propositions Amendment (1926)
  56. California Proposition 16, Require Supermajority Voter Approval to Expand Utility Services Initiative (June 2010)
  57. California Proposition 17, Car Insurance Rates Based on Coverage History Initiative (June 2010)
  58. California Proposition 27, Elimination of Citizens Redistricting Commission Initiative (2010)
  59. California Proposition 44, Chiropractic License Revocation for Insurance Fraud Measure (March 2002)
  60. California Proposition 212, Campaign Spending and Contribution Limits Initiative (1996)
  61. California Proposition 6, Municipal Charter Changes Amendment (October 1911)
  62. California Proposition 4, Judicial Vacancies Term Amendment (October 1915)
  63. California Proposition 8, Voter Registration Amendment (1936)
  64. California Proposition 21, Superior Court Vacancies Amendment (1952)
  65. California Proposition 4, Open Presidential Primaries Amendment (June 1972)
  66. California Proposition 59, Election of District Attorney Amendment (1986)
  67. California Proposition 38, Language for Election Materials Initiative (1984)
  68. California Proposition 7, Changes to Elections Amendment (1972)
  69. California Proposition 4, City Boards of Education Amendment (June 1978)
  70. California Proposition 6, Require Elected County Sheriffs Amendment (June 1978)
  71. California Proposition 4, Elections Regarding Low-Income Housing Amendment (June 1980)
  72. California Proposition 66, Elected County Assessor Amendment (June 1988)
  73. California Proposition 9, Fair Political Practices Commission and Election and Campaign Policies Initiative (June 1974)
  74. California Proposition 20, Candidates Who Engaged in Libelous or Slanderous Behavior Amendment (June 1984)
  75. California Proposition 73, Funds for Election Campaigns Initiative (June 1988)
  76. California Proposition 68, Campaign Contributions Initiative (June 1988)
  77. California Proposition 40, Campaign Finance Initiative (1984)
  78. California Proposition 1, Primary Elections Referendum (October 1915)
  79. California Proposition 10, Prohibit Head and Poll Taxes Initiative (1914)
  80. California Proposition 12, Constitutional Conventions Amendment (1914)
  81. California Proposition 13, Bond Electors Initiative (1914)
  82. California Proposition 13, Educational Poll Tax Amendment (1924)
  83. California Proposition 17, City Charters Amendment (1932)
  84. California Proposition 18, Drafting County Charter by Board of Supervisors Amendment (1932)
  85. California Proposition 18, Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds Amendment (2020)
  86. California Proposition 34, Require Certain Participants in Medi-Cal Rx Program to Spend 98% of Revenues on Patient Care Initiative (2024)


The Ballot Bulletin

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The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

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Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in California can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

California County Elections offices

Click here for a list

California Secretary of State, Elections Division

1500 11th Street, 5th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: 916-653-6814
Toll free: 1-800-345-8683
Fax: 916-653-3214
Email: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/contact/email-elections-division
Website: http://www.sos.ca.gov/

California Fair Political Practices Commission

1102 Q Street, Suite 3050
Sacramento, California 95811
Phone: 916-322-5660
Fax: 916-322-0886
Email: Cpra@fppc.ca.gov
Website: http://www.fppc.ca.gov/

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


Ballotpedia's election coverage

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Democratic primaries 2026
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See also

Footnotes

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