Vote Requirements for Initiatives Requiring Supermajority Votes Amendment

Type: Legislatively-referred constitutional amendment
Subject: Supermajority;Initiative process
Election: June 2, 2026 statewide primary

Overview

Require initiatives that change vote thresholds to supermajority votes to pass by the same vote requirement as is being proposed

Supporters

Officials State Asm. Christopher Ward (D) Political Parties California Democratic Party Unions AFSCME California California Federation of Teachers California Teachers Association SEIU California State Council UNITE HERE Coalition Organizations ACLU of California California Common Cause California State Association of Counties League of Women Voters of California

Arguments

California State Council of Service Employees International Union (SEIU California): “One of the most sacred principles of democracy, the majority vote, is under attack. Anti-democratic efforts are seeking to establish and enshrine the right of a privileged and powerful minority to veto the will of the people. These anti-democratic measures to increase voter thresholds are intended to take away our freedoms such as abortion access and to prevent progress. … [ACA 13] would retain and protect the majority vote, require any initiative that increases voter approval requirements to also be approved at the higher level, and would ensure local governments can always ask voters for their opinion on issues.” Asm. Christopher Ward (D-78): “The Protect and Retain the Majority Vote Act, ACA 13, would retain the majority vote requirement for passage of state and local initiatives. ACA 13 will require proposed initiatives that seek to increase vote thresholds on future ballot measures to pass with that same proportional higher vote threshold. … Cities and counties also often place non-binding advisory measures on the ballot to allow voters to weigh in on various issues. This is a critical tool that allows voters to advise local government, and ACA 13 would protect the right of cities to place advisory questions on the ballot to ask voters their opinion on issues.”

Opponents

Political Parties Republican Party of California Organizations California Association of Realtors California Business Roundtable California Chamber of Commerce California Farm Bureau Federation California NAIOP California Taxpayer Protection Committee California Taxpayers Association Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association National Federation of Independent Business - California

Campaign Finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for California ballot measures The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed , which covered through December 31, 2025 . The deadline for the next scheduled reports was April 30, 2026. Ballotpedia has not identified any committees registered in support or opposition to the measure. Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions Cash Expenditures Total Expenditures Support $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Oppose $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Total $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

Path To The Ballot

See also: Amending the California Constitution A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the California State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 54 votes in the California State Assembly and 27 votes in the California State Senate , assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor’s signature to be referred to the ballot. This amendment was introduced as Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13 (ACA 13) on July 13, 2023. The state Assembly passed ACA 13 on September 6. On September 14, the Senate voted 28-9 to pass ACA 13. Later on September 14, the Assembly voted 55-19 to concur with changes made in the Senate. The amendment was held at the desk by unanimous consent until November 1, 2023, thereby putting the amendment on the November 2024 ballot rather than the March 2024 ballot. [1] Vote in the California State Senate September 14, 2023 Requirement: Two-thirds (66.67 percent) vote of all members in each chamber Number of yes votes required: 27 a Yes No Not voting Total 28 9 3 Total percent 70.0% 22.5% 7.5% Democrat 28 1 3 Republican 0 8 0 Vote in the California State Assembly September 14, 2023 Requirement: Two-thirds (66.67 percent) vote of all members in each chamber Number of yes votes required: 54 a Yes No Not voting Total 55 19 6 Total percent 68.8% 23.7% 7.5% Democrat 55 1 6 Republican 0 18 0

Sources

• Ballotpedia — measure detail page
• Upstream: https://ballotpedia.org/California_Vote_Requirements_for_Initiatives_Requiring_Supermajority_Votes_Amendment_(2026)