All measures

San Francisco and California Ballot Backstory · Why is this on my ballot?

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25 measures on the San Francisco ballot, November 3, 2026

Mark your own choices here. You may bring this sheet into the voting booth.

San Francisco

  1. Prop ACharter Changes Affecting Various City Departments and Commissions
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    The City updates its Charter, cuts or reorganizes some commissions, lets the Board approve legal settlements by resolution, and must amend some voter-approved laws.
    NO
    The Charter stays as it is. Current commissions and processes stay, and most voter-approved laws still need voter approval to change.
  2. Prop BEstablishing a Municipal Finance Corporation and a Public Bank
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    If funding allows, the City may create a government-owned lender. After three years of operation, it may seek approval to become a deposit-taking public bank.
    NO
    The Charter stays as it is. No local law would let the City create a municipal finance corporation or a public bank.
  3. Prop CContributions to the Housing Trust Fund
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    Housing Trust Fund payments rise to $125 million, then up to 3% yearly until 2058, with pauses or cuts allowed. Downpayment loans reach higher incomes.
    NO
    No changes. The City contributed $50.8 million to the Fund last year, per the ballot digest. The Fund is set to expire in 2043.
  4. Prop DChanges to Ballot Measure Process
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    Ordinance and policy petitions need 8% of registered voters, not 2%, more for special elections; withdrawals allowed. Mayor or four supervisors can't place measures alone.
    NO
    Ordinance and policy petitions still need 2% of registered voters. The Mayor or four supervisors can still place measures. Submitted petitions still cannot be withdrawn.
  5. Prop ECity Administrator’s Authority and Changes to City Contracting
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    The City Administrator gets ten-year terms, more authority. With some exceptions, Board approval starts at $25 million in costs or $4.5 million in revenue.
    NO
    The City Administrator keeps five-year terms and shared authority. With some exceptions, Board approval starts at $10 million in costs or $1 million in revenue.
  6. Prop FChanges to Executive Branch Management
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    Unless the Board objects, the Mayor could merge most departments, not eliminating Charter duties. Allows deputy mayors, firing most department heads, removing commissioners without cause.
    NO
    The Mayor cannot move Charter departments’ duties or fire most department heads. Most Charter departments can’t have deputy mayors. Commissioners usually need cause for removal.
  7. Prop GAllowing Private Vehicles on the Upper Great Highway in Sunset Dunes Park
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    After approvals, including Coastal Act permits, private vehicles could use the Upper Great Highway Monday 4 a.m.–Friday 6 p.m., except holidays, closing Sunset Dunes Park.
    NO
    Sunset Dunes Park stays as it is: the former Upper Great Highway stays closed to private vehicles at all times.
  8. Prop HParcel Tax to Fund Muni Operations
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    A new yearly tax on real estate (a parcel tax) would pay for Muni service from July 2027 through June 2042.
    NO
    No parcel tax would be created. Muni service would stay funded by fares and local, state and federal sources, as it is now.
  9. Prop IChanges to Real Property Transfer Tax
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    Half of the transfer tax on certain property sales over $10 million would go to a new fund for affordable housing and housing assistance only.
    NO
    Transfer tax money from sales over $10 million could still go to any City purpose. Supervisors could cut the tax without voter approval.
  10. Prop JRemoval of Foreclosure Exemption for Real Property Transfer Tax
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    From March 2027, lenders taking commercial, industrial, large residential and similar buildings by foreclosure, or to avoid it, would pay transfer tax on full value.
    NO
    Lenders taking any property by foreclosure, or to avoid it, would keep the current tax break. Only the price above the debt is taxed.

Bay Area region

  1. Measure RTMRegional Transit Measure
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    YES means a 14-year transit sales tax: 1% in San Francisco, 0.5% in four other counties. Estimated to raise about $980 million a year.
    NO
    NO means no new transit sales tax. Rates stay the same, and BART, Muni, Caltrain and other transit agencies do not get this money.

California

  1. Prop 1Authorizes Bonds for Housing Affordability Programs
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    The state could borrow $11.25 billion through bonds (repaid with interest): $10 billion for housing programs, mostly rentals, and $1.25 billion for veterans' home loans.
    NO
    The state could not borrow this $11.25 billion, and would not pay $500 million to $600 million yearly to repay its $10 billion housing part.
  2. Prop 2Increases State’s Rainy Day Fund
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    Rainy day fund deposits continue until 20% of General Fund taxes (not 10%) and skip the spending limit until withdrawn. Extra debt payments through 2040.
    NO
    Rainy day fund deposits continue until 10% of General Fund taxes and count toward the spending limit. Extra debt payments become optional after 2030.
  3. Prop 3Provides Permanent Funding for Schools and Health Care by Extending Existing Tax on High Incomes
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    Top rates of 10.3% to 12.3% on income over about $371,000 single ($742,000 joint; 2025 levels, inflation-adjusted) stay, instead of dropping to 9.3% after 2030.
    NO
    After 2030, the rate on income over about $371,000 single ($742,000 joint; 2025 levels, inflation-adjusted) drops to 9.3%, from 10.3% to 12.3% today.
  4. Prop 4Repeals Prohibition Against Public Funding of Election Campaigns
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    State and local governments could create public funding programs for candidates' campaigns, within rules the measure sets. Maximum fines for foreign campaign contributions triple.
    NO
    The ban on public money for most state and local campaigns stays. Charter cities like San Francisco keep their programs. Foreign-contribution fines don't change.
  5. Prop 5Changes Recall Election Process for Statewide Officers
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    Recalls decide only removal; appointment, later election or the Lieutenant Governor fills the seat. The official may run in a special election, not be appointed.
    NO
    Recall ballots keep two questions: whether to remove the official, and who replaces the official if removed. If removed, the second question's winner takes office.
  6. Prop 37Creates Loan Program for Middle-Income Buyers of Qualified New Homes
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    California's housing finance agency, CalHFA, could sell up to $25 billion in bonds to lend middle-income buyers up to 17% of a new home's price.
    NO
    CalHFA could not sell these bonds. No new loan program for new-home down payments is created. CalHFA already has a few down payment help programs.
  7. Prop 38Authorizes Bonds for Immunology Medical Research
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    The state could sell an $8.4 billion bond for immune system research. About half goes to one research institute and half to research grants.
    NO
    No $8.4 billion bond or $500 million to $600 million yearly repayment (LAO estimate). No institute, grant council or (generally) 20 percent California patient discount.
  8. Prop 39Prohibits Citizens from Voting Unless They Present Government-Issued Identification
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    In-person voters must show government ID. To vote by mail, voters must pick an ID; ballots count only if envelopes show its last four digits.
    NO
    Voters keep identifying themselves by signing. In-person voters typically sign a list of voters, and mail voters sign their ballot envelope.
  9. Prop 40Imposes One-Time Tax on Certain Taxpayers
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    California billionaires (residents on January 1, 2026) would pay a one-time 5% state tax on net worth, measured December 31, 2026, mostly for health care.
    NO
    No one-time tax on net worth. People worth over $1 billion keep paying state income tax as now.
  10. Prop 41Prohibits New State Taxes That Exclude Revenues from State Spending Limit. Requires Audits for New State Special Taxes
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    State taxes enacted after January 1, 2026 that exempt revenues from the spending limit would be nullified. Audits would cover proposed and new special-tax programs.
    NO
    Some new state tax spending could still be left out of the spending limit. No new audits of special-tax programs would be required.
  11. Prop 42Prohibits New State Personal Property Taxes and Certain Retroactive State Taxes
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    Bans new state taxes on owning financial assets or other personal property enacted or effective on or after January 1, 2026. Limits retroactive taxes.
    NO
    No new limits. The state or voters could still create new taxes on owning financial assets or other personal property, or on past events.
  12. Prop 43Limits Voters’ Ability to Raise Revenues for Local Government Services
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    New, increased, or extended local special taxes (taxes for a specific purpose) that voters propose would need a two-thirds vote, starting January 1, 2027.
    NO
    No change. Local special taxes that voters propose could still pass with a majority (over 50%) vote, as recent court decisions have allowed.
  13. Prop 44Requires Community Health Clinics Spend 90% of Revenue on Program Services
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    Nonprofit federally qualified health centers must spend at least 90% of revenue on "program services" the Attorney General defines, or pay penalties. Temporary waivers possible.
    NO
    No new spending minimum or penalty. Clinics now report spending an average of about 80% of revenue on health care, though it varies.
  14. Prop 45Modifies Environmental Review for Certain Projects
    YES NOTo pass: more than half of votes Some measures need 55% or two-thirds of votes to pass. This one needs only a simple majority.
    YES
    For "essential" projects (including most housing, transportation, water, health), sets review and lawsuit deadlines; limits required alternatives and court evidence and orders. Optional for applicants.
    NO
    Current CEQA rules stay. Detailed environmental reports (when needed) must consider multiple alternatives. Courts can stop a whole project if CEQA was not followed correctly.