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How many veto referendums have there been in California?
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Question: How many veto referendums have there been in California?
Answer: Since the first veto referendum appeared on the ballot in 1912, voters have decided 50 statewide veto referendums.
Details: A veto referendum is a type of citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal a law passed by the state legislature. Opponents of the law collect signatures to place the veto referendum on the ballot, with the aim of voters deciding to repeal the law. In California, voters have voted on 50 veto referendums, upholding laws 21 times (42%) and repealing laws 29 times (58%).
In 1912, Californians voted on a statewide veto referendum for the first time. The most recent veto referendum was on the ballot in 2022.
| Number of California veto referendums | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total veto referendums | Laws upheld | Laws repealed | Year of last measure |
| 50 | 21 | 29 | 2022 |
The veto referendum ballot measure is also known as a popular referendum, people's veto, or citizen's veto. There are 23 states that have a process for veto referendums. Voters in California approved a constitutional amendment that enacted processes for ballot initiative and veto referendum in 1911.
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