Laws governing ballot measures in California

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Laws governing ballot measures

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State
Laws governing state initiative processes
Laws governing state recall processes
Changes to ballot measure law in 2025
Difficulty analysis of changes to laws governing ballot measures
Analysis of 2025 changes to laws governing ballot measures
Local
Laws governing local ballot measures

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This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in California, including the initiative and referendum process, constitutional amendments, signature requirements, recall procedures, and campaign finance regulations.

Explore the links below for more information:

Laws governing ballot measures in California

Types of ballot measures in California

  • From 1911 to 1966, initiated statutes were indirect in California. Voters made the process direct with approval of Proposition 1A in 1966.


Laws governing the initiative process in California


Amending the California Constitution


Laws governing local ballot measures in California

  • Article 2, Section 11 of the California Constitution provides for initiative and referendum at the local level, including counties and general law cities.


Signature requirements for ballot measures in California

  • In California, the number of signatures required for ballot initiatives is tied to the number of votes cast in the preceding gubernatorial election.
  • Campaigns have 180 days to collect signatures for initiated laws and 90 days for veto referendums.


Laws governing recall in California

  • California adopted a recall process in 1911, when voters approved Proposition 8.
  • Article 2, Sections 13-19 of the California Constitution provides for the constitutional rules governing the recall process for state and local officials.


Laws governing state constitutional conventions in California

  • A two-thirds vote (66.67%) of both chambers of the California State Legislature is required to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot.
  • Approval of the constitutional convention question requires a simple majority vote.


Campaign finance requirements for California ballot measures

  • PACs that support or oppose ballot measures in California must register and report campaign finance.

Changes to laws governing ballot measures in California

See also: Changes to laws governing ballot measures
See also: Changes in 2025 to laws governing ballot measures
As of August 2025, the California State Legislature had not passed legislation that changed the laws governing ballot measures in 2025.

See also

Footnotes

  1. California State Legislature, "SCA 1 Overview," accessed February 2, 2024
  2. California State Legislature, "SCA 1 Text," accessed February 2, 2024
  3. California State Legislature, "AB 3197," accessed September 5, 2024
  4. California State Legislature, "SB 1441," accessed October 2, 2024
  5. California State Legislature, "SB 1441," accessed October 2, 2024
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 421," accessed September 9, 2023
  7. California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 773," accessed September 12, 2023
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 California State Legislature, "Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1," accessed 18, 2023
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 California State Legislature, "Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13," accessed September 18, 2023
  10. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 297," accessed October 8, 2023
  11. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 386," accessed October 8, 2023
  12. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 798," accessed October 8, 2023
  13. California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 1416," accessed June 14, 2023
  14. California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 2582," accessed June 14, 2023
  15. California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 2584," accessed June 14, 2023
  16. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 1360," accessed June 14, 2023
  17. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 152," accessed June 19, 2023
  18. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 660," accessed June 19, 2023
  19. California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 116," accessed June 25, 2023
  20. California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 698," accessed June 25, 2023
  21. California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 1451," accessed June 25, 2023
  22. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 47," accessed June 25, 2023
  23. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 151," accessed June 25, 2023
  24. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 268," accessed June 25, 2023
  25. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 359," accessed June 25, 2023
  26. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 681," accessed June 25, 2023
  27. California State Legislature, "Senate Bill 1153," accessed June 28, 2023
  28. California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 1947," accessed June 28, 2023