California

Measures & reform

Why this matters: A ballot measure puts a question to voters directly. Election reforms change how elections themselves work, such as how votes are counted or who draws district lines.

Statewide measures on the November 3 ballot

• Proposition 1: Authorizes Bonds for Housing Affordability Programs. Legislative Statute.
  Referred by the legislature · Bond
• Proposition 2: Increases State’s Rainy Day Fund. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
  Referred by the legislature · Constitutional amendment
• Proposition 3: Provides Permanent Funding for Schools and Health Care by Extending Existing Tax on High Incomes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
  Citizen initiative · Constitutional amendment
• Proposition 4: Repeals Prohibition Against Public Funding of Election Campaigns. Legislative Statute.
  Referred by the legislature · State law
• Proposition 5: Changes Recall Election Process for Statewide Officers. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
  Referred by the legislature · Constitutional amendment
• Proposition 37: Creates Loan Program for Middle-Income Buyers of Qualified New Homes. Initiative Statute.
  Citizen initiative · Bond
• Proposition 38: Authorizes Bonds for Immunology Medical Research. Initiative Statute.
  Citizen initiative · Bond
• Proposition 39: Prohibits Citizens from Voting Unless They Present Government-Issued Identification. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
  Citizen initiative · Constitutional amendment
• Proposition 40: Imposes One-Time Tax on Certain Taxpayers. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
  Citizen initiative · Constitutional amendment
• Proposition 41: Prohibits New State Taxes That Exclude Revenues from State Spending Limit. Requires Audits for New State Special Taxes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
  Citizen initiative · Constitutional amendment
• Proposition 42: Prohibits New State Personal Property Taxes and Certain Retroactive State Taxes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
  Citizen initiative · Constitutional amendment
• Proposition 43: Limits Voters’ Ability to Raise Revenues for Local Government Services. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
  Referred by the legislature · Constitutional amendment
• Proposition 44: Requires Community Health Clinics Spend 90% Of Revenue on Program Services. Initiative Statute.
  Citizen initiative · State law
• Proposition 45: Modifies Environmental Review for Certain Projects. Initiative Statute.
  Citizen initiative · State law

Election reforms in California

• Ranked-choice voting: State and federal elections
  Not used
• Ranked-choice voting: Local elections
  Used locally
• Redistricting: U.S. House districts
  Independent commission
• Redistricting: State legislative districts
  Independent commission
• Primary elections
  Top-two
• Automatic voter registration
  In place
• Same-day registration
  Including Election Day
• Legislative term limits
  Lifetime limit

Each measure and reform page cites its sources.