How many signatures are needed for initiatives in California?
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Question: How many signatures are needed for initiatives in California?
Answer: There are four types of citizen-initiated measures in California: initiated constitutional amendments; initiated state statutes; combined initiatied amendments and statutes; and veto referendums. In 2024 and 2026:
- 874,641 signatures are required for initiated amendments and combined amendments and statutes, and
- 546,651 signatures are required for initiated statutes and veto referendums.
Details: In California, signatures for citizen-initiated ballot measures are based on turnout in gubernatorial elections, which occur in midterm years. The following are the requirements for the types of citizen-initiated measures in California:
- initiated constitutional amendment (ICA) and combined amendment and statute: 8 percent of the votes cast for governor
- initiated state statute (ISS): 5 percent of the votes cast for governor
- veto referendum (VR): 5 percent of the votes cast for governor
In 2022, turnout decreased 12.5 percent from 2018. This caused the number of signatures required for a ballot initiative to decrease 12.5 percent.
The following graph illustrates the number of signatures required for initiated constitutional amendments (8 percent of the gubernatorial vote) and initiated state statutes and veto referendums (5 percent of the gubernatorial vote) from 1912 through 2026. Prior to 1967, initiated state statutes required signatures equal to 8 percent of the gubernatorial vote.
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