California | Instant InitiativeInitiative Rules & Requirements
Direct Constitutional Amendment
- Signature Requirement
- 874,641 signatures required (8% of votes cast for Governor in 2022).
- Filing Deadline
- June 25, 2026 (signatures verified 131 days before election).
- Filing Office
- https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures
- Filing Fee
- $2,000 (refundable if measure qualifies).
- Review Process
- Mandatory 30-day public comment period and fiscal review by Legislative Analyst's Office.
- Subject Restrictions
- Single-subject rule; cannot name an individual to office.
- Distribution Rules
- None (all signatures can come from one county).
- Circulator Rules
- No residency requirement (struck down); must be 18+.
- Ballot Title Process
- Attorney General prepares the official title and summary after proponents file the draft.
Last verified: 3/29/2026
Direct Statute Initiative
- Signature Requirement
- 546,651 signatures required (5% of votes cast for Governor in 2022).
- Filing Deadline
- June 25, 2026 (signatures verified 131 days before election).
Filing Officehttps://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures Filing Fee$2,000 (refundable if measure qualifies). Review ProcessMandatory 30-day public comment period and fiscal review by Legislative Analyst's Office. Subject RestrictionsSingle-subject rule; cannot name an individual to office. Distribution RulesNone (all signatures can come from one county). Circulator RulesNo residency requirement (struck down); must be 18+. Ballot Title ProcessAttorney General prepares the official title and summary after proponents file the draft. Referendum
- Signature Requirement
- Statutory: 546,651; Constitutional: 874,641 (for 2026 cycle).
- Filing Deadline
- June 25, 2026 (signatures verified 131 days before election).
- Filing Office
- https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures
- Filing Fee
- $2,000 (refundable if measure qualifies).
- Review Process
- Mandatory 30-day public comment period and fiscal review by Legislative Analyst's Office.
- Subject Restrictions
- Single-subject rule; cannot name an individual to office.
- Distribution Rules
- None (all signatures can come from one county).
- Circulator Rules
- No residency requirement (struck down); must be 18+.
- Ballot Title Process
- Attorney General prepares the official title and summary after proponents file the draft.
Last verified: 3/29/2026
