California ballot measures 2026, explained
14 statewide measures on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Each one in plain words: what it does, what a yes and a no vote mean, and the best case on both sides. No recommendations.
Your California ballot, in order. Tap a measure for the full explainer.
Proposition 1Bond (state borrowing)Passed, 59% yes (projected)
Housing and veterans bonds
California would borrow money to build affordable homes and help veterans buy homes. It is like taking a large loan now and paying it back over many years.
- Yes vote
- California could issue $11.25 billion in bonds for affordable housing, CalVet home loans, and youth housing.
- No vote
- California could not issue these bonds for those programs.
Proposition 2Constitutional amendmentPassed, 60% yes (projected)
Bigger rainy day fund
California has a savings account for hard times. This would let the account grow twice as large and would change how saving money counts under the state spending limit.
- Yes vote
- The Budget Stabilization Account cap would rise from 10% to 20% of General Fund revenue, and deposits would be excluded from the Gann Limit.
- No vote
- The cap and current Gann Limit treatment would remain unchanged.
Proposition 3Constitutional amendmentPassed, 59% yes (projected)
Permanent high-income tax
People with very high incomes already pay an extra state income tax that is scheduled to end. This would keep that tax going permanently.
- Yes vote
- The additional income taxes approved by Proposition 30 would continue permanently to fund education and early childhood programs.
- No vote
- Those additional taxes would expire under current law after their scheduled sunset.
Proposition 4State law
Allow public campaign funding
This would let California and local governments create programs that give some candidates public campaign money. Candidates would have to follow eligibility rules and spending limits, and governments would still have to create the programs later.
- Yes vote
- State and local governments could establish public campaign-financing programs under specified rules.
- No vote
- The current ban on using public money for candidate campaigns would remain.
Proposition 5Constitutional amendment
Change recall replacement rules
A recall now asks whether to remove an official and who should replace that person. This would remove the replacement vote, leaving the job to be filled under the normal state rules.
- Yes vote
- A state officer recall would no longer include a successor election, and the vacancy would be filled under state law.
- No vote
- Recall ballots would continue to include a vote on a replacement candidate.
Proposition 37State lawPassed, 61% yes (projected)
Second mortgages for new homes
Qualified buyers could get a second loan to help buy a qualifying newly built home. It is not free money, because the buyer must repay the second loan as well as the first one.
- Yes vote
- California could establish a second-mortgage program for qualified buyers of qualifying homes and issue up to $25 billion in revenue bonds.
- No vote
- This second-mortgage program and its bonds would not be created under the measure.
Proposition 38State law
Immunotherapy research bonds
California would borrow money to study how the immune system fights diseases and to develop possible treatments. It is like borrowing money for a large science project whose useful results are possible but not guaranteed.
- Yes vote
- California could issue $8.4 billion in general obligation bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research.
- No vote
- California could not issue these bonds for the research program.
Proposition 39Constitutional amendmentFailed (projected)
Voter ID and citizenship checks
You would show government ID when voting in person, and give ID numbers when voting by mail. Officials would also compare voter records with other government data.
- Yes vote
- Voters must provide government-issued identification information, and election officials must conduct and report citizenship checks.
- No vote
- California keeps its current signature-based identity checks and existing citizenship-verification rules.
Proposition 40Amendment and state law
One-time billionaire wealth tax
Certain people and trusts with more than $1 billion in covered wealth would pay a 5% tax once. The money would go to health care, food assistance, and schools.
- Yes vote
- California would impose the proposed one-time 5% tax on covered wealth above the stated threshold and direct the money to health care, food assistance, and public education.
- No vote
- California would not impose the proposed one-time wealth tax.
Proposition 41Constitutional amendment
Spending limits and tax audits
New special-tax programs would have to fit under the state spending limit and receive performance checks. Programs that perform worst could be ended.
- Yes vote
- New special taxes would count toward the state spending limit, and programs funded by them would face required audits and possible elimination for poor performance.
- No vote
- Current spending-limit and audit rules would remain in place.
Proposition 42Constitutional amendment
Ban new taxes on personal savings
This would stop California from creating certain new taxes just for owning savings, investments, retirement holdings, or other personal assets. It is like putting a lock on a piggy bank against a future ownership tax.
- Yes vote
- California could not enact the specified new taxes on retirement holdings, personal assets, savings, and certain retroactive taxes.
- No vote
- California keeps the power to consider those types of taxes in the future.
Proposition 43Constitutional amendment
Two-thirds vote for local taxes
Certain local special taxes would need about two out of every three voters to approve them. The measure would also restrict new local property taxes based on property value, like requiring a larger group to agree before raising neighborhood dues.
- Yes vote
- Covered local special-tax initiatives would need two-thirds voter approval and covered local ad valorem property taxes would be prohibited unless already authorized by the Constitution.
- No vote
- Current rules for those local taxes and property-tax initiatives would remain in place.
Proposition 44State lawFailed (projected)
Clinic mission-spending requirement
Certain community health clinics would have to spend at least 90 cents of every dollar on work related to their mission. That includes more than doctor visits, like services that help the clinic care for patients.
- Yes vote
- Covered federally qualified health centers and related organizations would have to spend at least 90% of annual revenue on mission-related purposes.
- No vote
- The proposed 90% mission-spending requirement would not take effect.
Proposition 45State law
Faster reviews for essential projects
Certain housing, water, transportation, energy, and public-safety projects would get deadlines for government reviews and public comments. It is like setting a timer for checking a big building plan, while still allowing people to speak up.
- Yes vote
- Qualifying projects could use specified deadlines and procedures for agency review, public comment, and court challenges.
- No vote
- Current review timelines and court procedures would continue.
How sure is this guide?
Where the four AIs disagreed
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Grok each researched California's ballot on their own, with web search. The score is how closely their answers matched. Where they split, check the official voter guide before you trust either side.
75/ 100Partial agreement
Proposition 1 annual repayment cost
- GPT-5.6 Terra: $500 million to $600 million yearly for about 25 years.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Props 1 and 38 together cost about $1 billion yearly.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Total principal and interest from the General Fund, without an estimate.
- Grok 4.5: $500 million to $600 million yearly for about 25 years.
Proposition 2 supporters
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Lists California Environmental Voters as supporting it.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Lists Newsom, firefighters, and the LA Area Chamber.
- Grok 4.5: Lists Newsom, firefighters, the LA Area Chamber, and Jesse Gabriel.
Prop. 39 ID requirements
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Describes ID information requirements, without specifying photo ID.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Requires ID in person and ID-number digits for mail ballots.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Specifies photo ID in person and ID numbers for mail ballots.
- Grok 4.5: Specifies ID in person and ID-number digits for mail ballots.
Prop. 41 consequences for low-performing programs
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Emphasizes audits and spending-limit changes; does not clearly state elimination.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Says lowest-performing programs would be eliminated.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Says failing programs must be eliminated.
- Grok 4.5: Describes audits and spending limits, but not required elimination.
Prop. 40 revenue estimate
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Cites a state estimate of tens of billions over several years.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Reports backers’ $100 billion estimate, with no official estimate found.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Cites tens of billions over several years.
- Grok 4.5: Cites tens of billions over several years.
Before you vote
This guide was written by AI models with web search and does not tell you how to vote. Details can be wrong: your sample ballot and California's official voter guide are the final word.
Still have a question?
A local measure, or what this ballot means for your taxes or job? See where four AIs agree.