California Secession Question Measure Approved For Signature Gathering

A new ballot effort aimed at asking Californians if the state should remain in the union was approved for signature gathering to appear on the 2028 ballot on Friday.

In the past decades, California has gone through numerous ballot measure attempts aiming at either breaking up California into multiple states or having California outright leave the country. According to the California State Library, there have been more than 220 such attempts since 1850. Recent attempts with some traction have included the Six Californias attempt to split California into 6 states in the mid 2010s, the 2022 attempt by San Bernadino County to leave the state, and the 2017 CalExit effort that tried to get California to leave the Country.

With Donald Trump being elected President in November and later being sworn in on Monday, another effort at California leaving the United States started to grow in popularity. The president of the measure, Marcus Evans, who was behind the Calexit ballot attempt 10 years ago, said that a vote of no confidence in the United States of America was needed now because of Trump’s presidency.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, the proposed measure, if passed by voters, would require the state to create a 20-member commission to study California’s viability as an independent country in 2027. In addition, it would require the state to place a question of “Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?” on the November 2028 ballot and encourage the removal of U.S. flag from all state buildings. However, even if it is passed, California would still remain in the country since all it is doing is asking if the state should leave. In order for California to legally leave, it would require not only a constitutional amendment, but also the U.S. Congress and 38 states approving the secession.

“If enacted, this measure places the following question on November 2028 ballot: “Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?”,” read the wording of the initiative. “If at least 50% of registered voters participate in that election, and at least 55% vote “yes”, it would constitute “a vote of no confidence in the United States of America” and “expression of the will of the people of California” to become an independent country, but would not change California’s current government or relationship with the United States. Creates commission to report on California’s viability as independent country. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Around $10 million dollars in one-time election-related costs and to form the new commission on national sovereignty and independence. Around $2 million in annual state costs to operate the commission.”

The Secretary of State’s office went on to note that Evans would have 180 days to collect the signatures of 546,651 registered voters, or five percent of the total votes cast for Governor in the November 2022 general election, in in order for the measure to become eligible for the ballot. This means that supporters would have until July 22nd to gather enough signatures.

“Our movement has a better chance compared to eight years ago,” said Evans. “We believe that now is the best time to Calexit – NOW we are better situated to make Calexit happen than in 2016.”

Despite the proposed measure making it to the signature collection stage on Thursday, election experts have said that the movement gathering enough signatures for it to appear on the ballot is very unlikely.

“Supporters are greatly overestimating just how many Californians even want to be their own country,” explained ballot measure consultant Ted Graves to the Globe on Friday. “This seems like a reaction to Trump getting a second term. It might get some support from those opposing him, but most Californians, Republican and Democrat, don’t want to leave the U.S. And besides, the logistics of doing so is a nightmare. Most companies and factories would likely leave the state in such a scenario, as would tens of millions not wishing to leave. Such a move would come with a lot of devastating consequences.

“Calexit failed 10 years ago, and this one likely will as well. People know, even on a surface level, how bad the consequences would be. This is more of a political stunt against Trump if anything.”