Number of ballot propositions per decade in California

California Ballot Propositions
Select a page from the dropdown below to learn more about California ballot measures. List of California ballot propositionsList of California veto referendumsList of California state bond issuesList of California ballot initiatives that were withdrawn after signature verificationNumber of ballot propositions per decade in CaliforniaList of most expensive California ballot proposition campaignsContributions to California ballot proposition campaignsCalifornia ballot initiative petition signature costsLaws governing the initiative process in CaliforniaSignature requirements for ballot measures in CaliforniaHistory of initiative and referendum in CaliforniaSubmit

The graph and chart below show the number of propositions on the ballot in California from 1912 through 2025 by decade.

In 1912, the first citizen-initiated measures were on the ballot in California. Voters approved the establishment of an initiative and referendum process a year earlier by voting 76% to 24% in favor of Proposition 11, which was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. Since 1912, there have been 1,303 propositions put before California voters. Of those, 447 (34.3%) were put on the ballot through citizen petitions; either through the initiative process or the veto referendum process.

Decade	Propositions (all)	Initiatives and Referendums	Initiatives percent
1910 - 1919	135	41	30.4%
1920 - 1929	117	46	39.3%
1930 - 1939	137	46	33.6%
1940 - 1949	96	21	21.9%
1950 - 1959	92	13	14.1%
1960 - 1969	96	9	9.4%
1970 - 1979	142	22	15.5%
1980 - 1989	139	48	34.5%
1990 - 1999	135	61	45.2%
2000 - 2009	113	70	62.0%
2010 - 2019	69	51	73.9%
2020 - 2029	32	19	59.4%
Totals:	1,303	447	34.3%
Averages (Excluding 2020s):	116	39	33.7%

The following graph illustrates the number of ballot measures over time in California:

See also

• List of California ballot propositions