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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund THE INITIATIVE PROCESS

Prepared for the California Primary Election—March 7, 2000

STEPS IN THE INITIATIVE PROCESS

1. Proponents write the text of the proposed law.

2. The draft is submitted to the Attorney General, along with $200. The money is refunded, if the measure qualifies for the ballot; otherwise it is placed in the state's general fund.

3. Attorney General prepares a title and official summary.

4. Attorney General sends summary to proponents, the Senate, the Assembly and the Secretary of State. The legislature may conduct public hearings on it but cannot amend it.

5. Calendar deadlines are calculated from the date the summary is sent to the proponents (the official summary date).

6. Petitions must have the official summary on each signature page.

7. Circulation of petitions can only begin on the official summary date. Completed, signed petitions must be filed no later than 150 days from the official summary date. Each initiative will be placed on the next statewide general or special election ballot that occurs 131 days after the petition qualifies.

8. Number of signatures required:
   • Initiative statute: 5 percent of the votes cast for all candidates who ran for governor in the last election. For the primary and general elections in 2000, this number is 419,260.

   • Initiative constitutional amendment: 8 percent of the votes cast for all candidates who ran for governor in the last election. For the primary and general elections in 2000, this number is 670,816.

9. Signers may withdraw their names by filing a written request.

10. Petitions must be filed in the county in which they were circulated.

11. If the state total based on random sampling is more then 110 percent of the required number of signatures, the Secretary of State certifies the initiative as qualified for the ballot. If the random sampling total is between 95 and 110 percent of the required number, a full count of all the signatures is ordered.

12. When the initiative measure qualifies, it is sent to the legislature. It is assigned to the appropriate committees, who then hold joint public hearings on the subject at least 30 days before the election. The legislature has no authority to alter the measure or prevent it from going on the ballot.

13. Proponents of initiative measures must file campaign statements under the Political Reform Act of 1974. Campaign disclosure statements must be filed twice a year if committees supporting or opposing a measure have made or received contributions or made expenditures.

14. Proponents may submit arguments for inclusion in the ballot pamphlet.

15. An initiative measure approved by majority vote takes effect the day after the election unless it specifies otherwise. If provisions of two or more measures approved at the same election conflict, those of the measure receiving the highest affirmative vote prevail. The legislature may amend or repeal initiative statutes by another statute that becomes effective only when approved by voters, unless the initiative statute permits amendment or repeal without their approval.

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Last updated: January 24, 2000
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