California Communities United Institute

The California Ballot Measure Process

The Importance Of Voting

It is really important that every eligible voter actually vote on election day. Unless that happens, the election could be decided by a very small minority of those eligible to vote.

For example, according to the California Secretary of State's web page, in a recent general election only 15% of Californians eligible to register and vote actually did so. And not all those eligible to register actually did register. According to the Secretary of state, 20% of those who registered to vote did actually vote in that election. 

This means, if the same numbers of people register and vote in the future elections, the elections for state wide office, and those for the propositions could be decided by as few as 7.5% plus one or 10% plus one of eligible voters.

If you don't want the Governor's race, for example to be decided by Just 7.5% of eligible voters, it is essential that you go out and vote. The same goes for the state wide propositions.

The California Ballot Process  And How It Works

A New Web Site Resource

As you will see, the theme of this newsletter is largely about proposed ballot measures here in California. As of January 3, 2011, it is technically possible that as many as 75 ballot measures could be on the November, 2012 ballot. Many won’t qualify, but, California Communities United Institute has added a page to its web site to help you keep track of them all.

Proposed ballot measures in California must go through a three step process to get on the ballot.

1. Supporters of the measure must submit the measure to the California Attorney General who puts it into proper legal wording.

2. Supporters are then given as certain number of months to gather petition signatures of registered California voters in support of the measure. If the measure would amend the state constitution they must gather more signatures, and have a longer time to gather them. Fewer signatures are required for measures that merely establish or change a law. If they fail to gather the signatures, within the time limit, the measure dies without going to the ballot.

3. Supporters of the measure submit their petitions to the Secretary of State whose staff verifies

a representative number of signatures to see if they are actually registered California voters. If they are, the measure is approved for inclusion on a general election ballot. In 2012 that would be either the June ballot or the November ballot.

The Secretary of State keeps 5 lists of the ballot measures that you can use to track the progress of these measures. As the measures go through the three steps above, they move from one list to the next. The following are links to those lists.

Ballot Measures At the California Attorney General’s Office For Official Title And Wording

Ballot Measures Approved For Signature Gathering

Ballot Measures For Which Signatures Are Being Verified

Ballot Measures Approved For the Ballot

Ballot Measures Which Failed To Qualify For The Ballot