California’s general election may be months away, but the ballot is already taking shape as a key deadline for measure qualification approaches.
The deadline for an initiative to qualify for the November ballot is Thursday, June 25, according to the California Secretary of State. Supporters also have until 5 p.m. to withdraw a proposal; otherwise, it will appear on the ballot, the Los Angeles Times reported.
As of Thursday morning, more than a dozen initiatives had qualified for the November ballot, though that number could still change if any are withdrawn or if state officials determine additional measures have met the requirements.
Here’s what to know about the deadline, including the measures voters could see in November.
Some measures voters may on November ballot
The eligible measures span a wide range of issues, from taxes and housing to health care, elections, and public safety. Proposals include limiting local tax increases, requiring voter ID, capping hospital executives’ pay, expanding homeownership aid, speeding up environmental reviews, taxing billionaires, extending taxes on high earners, and new rules for unions, lawsuits, and rideshare companies.
Here’s a closer look at some of the more contentious measures expected on the November ballot, including the billionaire tax initiative.
The “2026 Billionaire Tax Act” was proposed by SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West and would impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaires’ net wealth, according to a filing for the initiative. Ninety percent of the revenue from the tax would go toward health care programs, while the remaining 10% would go to education and food assistance programs.
SEIU‑UHW says the measure is needed “to prevent the collapse of California healthcare and help fund California public K-14 education and state food assistance programs.”
Among those opposed to the measure is Gov. Gavin Newsom, who, the New York Times reported, is trying to negotiate a deal with the initiative’s proponents to withdraw it before the ballot is finalized on June 25. Efforts to reach a deal, though, have yet to come to fruition. Last week, the labor union proposed a compromise to implement a 2% billionaire wealth tax in California, but it failed after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration rejected the deal, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Billionaire Tax Now Coalition announced it will hold a press conference on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., just after the window to withdraw the ballot measure closes, to “provide a critical campaign update.”
“Healthcare workers and allies in the Billionaire Tax Now Coalition will brief members of the media about the historic effort to prevent widespread hospital closures and save patient lives by ensuring billionaires finally pay their fair share,” the announcement reads.
SEIU‑UHW is also behind a separate measure, the Healthcare ExecutiveCompensation Act, which would cap total annual compensation for certain health care executives at $450,000 a year. Proponents call it necessary as residents face the high medical costs in the state, but opponents worry the measure would drive quality doctors, nurses, and other healthcare leaders from the state.
Another contentious ballot measure, the California Voter ID initiative, would require voters to show identification to cast a ballot. While the measure’s proponents say it puts safeguards in place for the future of democracy, opponents argue it will hinder election processes and discourage voter engagement.
A ballot measure to overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act is another major proposal. The Building an Affordable California Act initiative seeks to modify CEQA to speed up reviews for certain projects, including housing, transportation, water, health, and clean energy. Supporters say the measure would speed up projects and lower costs by streamlining environmental reviews, while opponents argue it would weaken environmental protections, limit public oversight, and shift risks onto communities.
Another measure, known as the Local Taxpayer Protection Act to Save Proposition 13, would make it harder for local governments in California to raise new taxes by requiring a two-thirds voter approval instead of a simple majority, and could invalidate some existing local taxes that don’t meet the new standard. Supporters argue it protects residents from excessive taxation, but opponents say it would strip billions in local funding and make it harder to pay for essential services like public safety and infrastructure.
Two other measures may be withdrawn following a potential deal between Uber and trial lawyers under “Senate Bill 623, which would cap medical cost recoveries in cases that involve medical liens, which allow crash victims to get medical treatment without paying upfront while their case is pending,” CalMatters reported.
Uber had garnered enough signatures for a ballot measure to cap attorney contingency fees and limit how much crash victims could recoup in medical costs, while attorney groups had collected enough signatures for a competing initiative to make rideshare companies more liable for sexual misconduct against drivers and riders, according to CalMatters.
“Lawmakers must pass the deal framework as legislation and send it to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature before June 25 to guarantee that Uber and Consumer Attorneys drop their dueling ballot measure,” POLITCO reported.
What to know about November general election
California’s general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The last day to register to vote for California’s general election is Oct. 19, according to state officials. Counties will begin mailing ballots to registered voters no later than Oct. 5.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Deadline hits for CA ballot measures as November lineup takes shape
Reporting by Daniella Segura, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Daniella Segura, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
