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Our call — vote YES
The measure
This is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment (ACA 22). Court decisions have allowed local special taxes placed on the ballot by citizen petition to pass with a simple majority, while special taxes placed by local governments require two-thirds voter approval. From January 1, 2027, this measure requires the two-thirds vote for voter-initiated local special taxes as well. It also prohibits local governments and ballot initiatives from enacting ad valorem property taxes except those authorized elsewhere in the state constitution.
What YES does
A YES vote applies one rule to every local special tax, however it reaches the ballot: two-thirds of the electorate must approve enacting, extending or increasing it.
What NO does
A NO vote preserves the court-created two-track system, under which a petition-placed special tax can be imposed on a community by a simple majority.
The math
The LAO's published fiscal effect is the possibility that local government tax revenues will not go up as much in the future. No current revenue is cut; the measure changes the threshold future tax increases must clear.
OUR CALL
Our call: YES.
A tax that takes money from every property owner and resident of a community should require a broad consensus, not 50% plus one — that is why California has required two-thirds for local special taxes for decades. The petition loophole lets a bare majority of voters impose a tax on the other half of their neighbors. Closing it restrains taxes and restores a single, even rule. YES.
For the complete Election 2026 breakdown — every race, claim by claim — see the full coverage on our website.
Vote early. Research your candidates. Choose the best moderates, whatever their party — no extremism from either side. And encourage your friends and family to do the same.
Sources
- California Secretary of State, Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures — https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures/
- California Official Voter Information Guide (Legislative Analyst's Office fiscal estimates), via the 2026 propositions master guide — https://californiatoday.com/guides/elections/2026-california-propositions-master-guide/
Result pending. No verified call (Associated Press or official) as of November 4, 2026. This page will be updated when the race is called or certified. The original article above is unchanged.
AI-assisted article — but the sources are human, and the facts are very real.