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California · November 3, 2026 general election · Statewide ballot measure

Proposition 5: what your vote means

Recall election process for statewide officers. On every California ballot. Official sources checked October 21, 2026.

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.

Official ballot title (quoted exactly)

CHANGES RECALL ELECTION PROCESS FOR STATEWIDE OFFICERS. LEGISLATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

As printed in the Official Voter Information Guide, California Secretary of State (title prepared by the Attorney General).

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.

What it would change

  • What it removes: the replacement-candidate question from recall ballots.
  • Who is affected: state officials subject to recall and voters in recall elections; the Governor’s office has its own process for filling the vacancy.
  • Taxes and fees: none.
  • Fiscal impact (Legislative Analyst): net effect unknown; savings or costs of millions of dollars per recall, depending on the office recalled and whether a special election is needed.

Official arguments, summarized

Short neutral summaries of the arguments printed in the official voters’ pamphlet. The committees that wrote them are responsible for their content. Read the full text at the link below.

Argument for

Supporters say it returns the recall to its original purpose and keeps a replacement from winning with a small share of the vote.

Written by: Josh Newman, Californians for a Prosperous Golden State · fixtherecall.com

Argument against

Opponents say it limits voters’ ability to choose a replacement, leaving the choice to appointments or a later, separate election.

Arguments and rebuttals, Proposition 5, Official Voter Information Guide

Who supports it and who opposes it

These lists come from official campaign filings (registered committees) and public endorsements, each linked to its source. They are not complete, and SaveYourState does not endorse anyone listed. Lists checked October 30, 2026.

Who supports it

Who opposes it

Official sources

SaveYourState is independent and nonpartisan, not a government site, and does not take positions on ballot measures. This explainer describes effects only, using the official ballot title, explanatory statement, full text, and fiscal impact statement. If anything here differs from those documents, the official documents control.