List of California ballot initiatives that were withdrawn after signature verification
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In California, the proponents of a citizen-initiated ballot measure, including initiated constitutional amendments, initiated state statutes, and veto referendums, can withdraw their proposal after signatures are verified, as long as the proposal is withdrawn at least 131 days before the general election. In 2014, the process was adopted for initiated amendments and statutes with the enactment of Senate Bill 1253 (SB 1253). In 2023, the process was adopted for veto referendums with the enactment of Assembly Bill 421 (AB 421).
"By allowing an initiative proponent to withdraw their measure closer to the election, it allows for the possibility of reasoned compromise and a better result between the people's elected government and the people's initiative alternative," said State President Darrell Steinberg (D-6), who was the lead sponsor of SB 1253. Sen. Joel Anderson (R-38), who voted against SB 1253, said the bill "would undermine Californians’ access to full participation in our democracy by restricting their ability to put initiatives before their fellow voters."[1]
As of December 2024, the proponents of 14 citizen-initiated ballot measures had withdrawn their proposals after qualifying for the ballot. Campaigns had withdrawn their ballot initiatives for several reasons, including:
- working with legislators to pass compromise legislation;
- requesting that legislators withdraw bills that initiative proponents opposed;
- changing the campaign strategy; or
- qualifying a second proposal to replace the first proposal.
Measures
The following is a list of citizen-initiated ballot measures that were withdrawn after qualifying for the ballot in California:
Legislation
Senate Bill 1253 (2014)
In 2014, the California State Legislature passed Senate Bill 1253 (SB 1253), which Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed on September 27. SB 1253 made several changes to the initiative process in California. On August 27, the Assembly voted 55-23 to pass the bill. On August 29, the Senate voted 28-9 on SB 1253.[2]
SB 1253 created a process that allows ballot initiative proponents, but not referendum proponents, to withdraw their qualified measure at least 131 days before the general election. SB 1253 prohibited ballot initiative proponents from seeking, soliciting, bargaining for, or obtaining anything of value from a person or corporation for the purpose of withdrawing an initiative.[2]
The legislation required campaigns to report when 25% of the required signatures were collected and, following this reporting, required legislative committees to begin holding hearings on the proposals.[2]
Assembly Bill 421 (2023)
In 2023, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 421 (AB 241), which Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed on September 8. AB 421 made changes to the veto referendum process in California, including allowing veto referendum proponents to withdraw their qualified referendum at least 131 days before the election or, when a referendum qualifies with less than 131 days before the election, when a petition is certified.[3]
Asm. Isaac Bryan (D-55) introduced AB 421 in February 2023. The Senate voted 29-9 to pass the legislation, and the Assembly voted 55-17. In the Legislature, 99% of Democrats, minus absent members, supported the bill, and 100% of Republicans opposed the bill.[3]
See also
- Laws governing the initiative process in California
- Signature requirements for ballot measures in California
Footnotes
