California · November 3, 2026 general election
Statewide ballot measures: what your vote means
For each measure: the official ballot title, what a YES vote and a NO vote would do, and what would change, in plain language from official sources. SaveYourState does not take positions on ballot measures.
14 statewide measures are on the ballot. 5 have a “Heads up” note because a YES vote repeals, undoes, or removes something. Official sources checked October 21, 2026.
Proposition 1 · Legislative statute
Bonds for housing affordability programs
A YES vote means:
The state could borrow $11.25 billion through general obligation bonds to support veterans’ home loans and affordable housing programs.
A NO vote means:
The state could not borrow the $11.25 billion for these housing programs.
Proposition 2 · Legislative constitutional amendment
State rainy day fund
A YES vote means:
The state would keep saving in its rainy day fund until it reaches 20% of General Fund taxes (instead of 10%) and would make extra debt payments through 2040 (instead of 2030).
A NO vote means:
The current rules for building state budget reserves and making extra debt payments would not change.
Proposition 3 · Initiative constitutional amendment
Extends income tax rates on high incomes
A YES vote means:
The higher income tax rates on high-income earners in place since 2012 would become permanent instead of expiring in 2031.
A NO vote means:
Those higher income tax rates would expire in 2031, as current law provides.
Proposition 4 · Legislative statute
Public funding of election campaigns
Heads up: voting YES on this measure repeals an existing law, the ban on public funding of candidate campaigns. Voting NO keeps the ban.
A YES vote means:
The state ban on public funding of candidate campaigns would be lifted, so state and local governments could create public campaign financing programs, subject to limits on which funds could be used and who could receive them.
A NO vote means:
The ban stays: state and most local governments would remain unable to create public campaign financing programs.
Proposition 5 · Legislative constitutional amendment
Recall election process for statewide officers
Heads up: voting YES on this measure removes something voters have today: the question on recall ballots about who should replace a recalled official.
A YES vote means:
Recall elections would no longer include a second question asking who should replace the official. Vacancies would instead be filled by a later special election or by appointment, depending on the office and timing.
A NO vote means:
Recall elections would continue to ask voters who should replace the recalled official.
Proposition 37 · Initiative statute
Loan program for middle-income buyers of new homes
A YES vote means:
The state would create a homebuying assistance program funded by up to $25 billion in revenue bonds, repaid by the homeowners’ loan payments.
A NO vote means:
The state would not be required to create this homebuying assistance program.
Proposition 38 · Initiative statute
Bonds for immunology medical research
A YES vote means:
The state could borrow $8.4 billion through general obligation bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research by California institutes and universities.
A NO vote means:
The state could not borrow the $8.4 billion for this research.
Proposition 39 · Initiative constitutional amendment
Government-issued identification to vote
A YES vote means:
Voters would have to present government-issued identification to vote in person, and mail ballots would count only if the envelope has the last four digits of the voter’s chosen ID number.
A NO vote means:
A voter’s identity would continue to be confirmed with the voter’s signature.
Proposition 40 · Initiative constitutional amendment and statute
One-time tax on billionaires
A YES vote means:
Billionaires who lived in California on January 1, 2026 would pay a one-time state tax equal to 5% of their net worth, due in 2027 (payable over five years at extra cost).
A NO vote means:
The state would not collect this one-time tax.
Proposition 41 · Initiative constitutional amendment
New taxes and the state spending limit; audits
Heads up: voting YES on this measure would nullify certain state taxes enacted after January 1, 2026, if their revenue is excluded from the state spending limit.
A YES vote means:
State taxes enacted after January 1, 2026 that exempt their revenue from the state spending limit would be nullified, and the State Auditor would review programs funded by new special taxes before and after they are approved.
A NO vote means:
The State Auditor’s duties and the state spending limit rules would not change.
Proposition 42 · Initiative constitutional amendment
New personal property taxes and retroactive taxes
Heads up: voting YES on this measure would nullify state taxes enacted after January 1, 2026 that conflict with it, and removes the state’s option to create these kinds of taxes.
A YES vote means:
The state could not create new taxes on owning financial assets or other personal property, or certain taxes based on a taxpayer’s past activities, and conflicting taxes enacted after January 1, 2026 would be nullified.
A NO vote means:
The state would keep the option to create new taxes on owning financial assets or other personal property.
Proposition 43 · Legislative constitutional amendment
Vote needed for voter-proposed local special taxes
Heads up: voting YES on this measure removes the option to pass voter-proposed local special taxes by a simple majority; they would need two-thirds.
A YES vote means:
Local special taxes proposed by voters would need two-thirds voter approval, instead of a simple majority, starting January 1, 2027.
A NO vote means:
Those voter-proposed local special taxes could continue to pass with a majority vote.
Proposition 44 · Initiative statute
Spending requirement for community health clinics
A YES vote means:
Private nonprofit community health clinics (Federally Qualified Health Centers) would have to spend at least 90% of their revenue each year on program services, or pay a penalty to the state.
A NO vote means:
This new spending requirement would not go into effect.
Proposition 45 · Initiative statute
Environmental review for certain projects
A YES vote means:
Certain public and private projects (including most housing, transportation, water, and health projects) would get new review procedures under the California Environmental Quality Act, with tighter deadlines and narrower court review of challenges.
A NO vote means:
Projects would continue to use the existing review and court challenge procedures.
All 14 statewide propositions in the Official Voter Information Guide for the November 3, 2026 general election. “YES/NO” explanations follow the Legislative Analyst’s “What your vote means” statements.