How to Qualify an Initiative :: California Secretary of State

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This guide is intended for statewide initiatives only. For information regarding the qualification of local initiatives, please contact your <a href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices">county elections official</a> or city clerk.</p> <p>Please note: Since July 2011, initiative measures only appear on statewide general election ballots.</p> <p>The current initiative signature requirements according to the California Constitution, Article II, Section 8(b) and Elections Code section 9035 are as follows:</p> <ul class="dblSpc"> <li>Initiative Statute: 546,651</li> <li>Initiative Constitutional Amendment: 874,641</li> </ul> <p>For complete instructions on how to utilize the initiative process, please see the Initiative Guide link below.</p> <ul class="dblSpc"> <li><a href="https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ballot-measures/pdf/statewide-initiative-guide.pdf">Statewide Initiative Guide <span class="fileTp">(PDF)</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ballot-measures/pdf/initiative-guide-sample-petition.pdf">Sample Petition <span class="fileTp">(PDF)</span></a></li> </ul> <p>These <a href="https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ballot-measures/pdf/appendix-a.pdf">suggested deadlines <span class="fileTp">(PDF)</span></a> to qualify initiatives for the 2024 Election Cycle are not substitutes for California election laws, regulations, or policy. Other factors, such as amending the proposed initiative measure before circulation or the length of time for circulation, will affect the time it takes to complete the process.</p> <p>Please contact the Secretary of State's Initiative Coordinator at (916) 657-2166 for more information.</p> </div> <div id="left-sidebar" class="col-md-3 col-sm-4 col-md-pull-9 col-sm-pull-8"> <h2>Initiatives and Referendum</h2> <ul class="sbNav noaccordion"> <li><a title="Elections and Voter Information" href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections">Elections and Voter Information</a></li> <li><a title="How to Qualify an Initiative" href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/how-qualify-initiative">How to Qualify an Initiative</a></li> <li><a title="Initiative and Referendum Qualification Status" href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/initiative-and-referendum-status">Initiative and Referendum Qualification Status</a></li> <li><a title="Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures" href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures">Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures</a></li> <li><a title="Referendum" href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/referendum">Referendum</a></li> <li><a title="Resources and Historical Information" href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/resources-and-historical-information">Resources and Historical Information</a></li> <li><a title="Voter Information Guides" href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voter-information-guides">Voter Information Guides</a></li> <li><a title="Contact Us" href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/contact">Contact Elections Division</a></li> </ul> <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style addthis_32x32_style"> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_1" title="Share on Facebook"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_2" title="Share on Twitter"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_3" title="Print Page"></a> <a class="addthis_button_preferred_4" title="Email Page"></a> <a class="addthis_button_compact" title="More Options"></a> <a class="addthis_counter addthis_bubble_style"></a> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=xa-520958c859170f03"></script> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="contact-actions" role="complementary"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12"> <div id="contact-actions-outer"> <div id="contact-actions-inner"> <div id="contact-actions-call"> <i aria-hidden="true"><img src="https://www.sos.ca.gov/application/files/3815/9681/5355/icon-call.svg" alt="Call Us"></i> <h2>Call Us</h2> <a href="tel:9166536814">(916) 653-6814</a> </div> <div id="contact-actions-update"> <i aria-hidden="true"><img src="https://www.sos.ca.gov/application/files/5615/9681/5355/icon-updates.svg" alt="Receive Updates"></i> <h2>Receive Updates</h2> <a href="https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001mD8-WrHxKkJtq_d8ACgTG49fXSDgx5uBiT91-C1ejqYPoUkLY_ROK502nJXQNRcv-ONLp1372yy69JLhnvHxwM-PIw9e7v4xseQlc7hSQRk%3D">Sign up for e-updates</a> </div> <div id="contact-actions-write"> <i aria-hidden="true"><img src="https://www.sos.ca.gov/application/files/1415/9681/5356/icon-write.svg" alt="Write Us"></i> <h2>Write Us</h2> <a href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/contact-information">Agency Contacts</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer id="footer" role="contentinfo">  <link href="https://theme.sos.ca.gov/css/election_botchat.css" rel="stylesheet"/> <section id="chatbot"> <div id="bot"></div> <svg height="0" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <filter id="drop-shadow"> <feGaussianBlur in="SourceAlpha" stdDeviation="3"></feGaussianBlur> <feOffset dx="2" dy="4" result="offsetblur"></feOffset> <feFlood flood-color="rgba(0,0,0,0.8)"></feFlood> <feComposite in2="offsetblur" operator="in"></feComposite> <feMerge> <feMergeNode></feMergeNode> <feMergeNode in="SourceGraphic"></feMergeNode> </feMerge> </filter> </svg> <div id="monarch" style="position:fixed;bottom:10px;right:10px;display:none;"> <div id="askme" style="position:absolute;left:-60px;top:-10px;"><img style="" src="https://theme.sos.ca.gov/img/askme.png" alt="Questions? 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How to Qualify an Initiative :: California Secretary of State