Official 2016 California Ballot Proposition Voting Guide - Explanations and Recommendations
California voters will decide 14 statewide ballot measures on November 3, 2026.
In this Ballot Proposition Special, Jon Fleischman and California Policy Center CEO Will Swaim go measure by measure, explaining what each proposition would do and sharing where they stand on it.
The conversation covers bonds, taxes, housing, voter identification, public campaign financing, recall elections, health care spending and reform of the California Environmental Quality Act.
Jon and Will’s recommendations:
VOTE NO: Propositions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 37, 38, 40 and 44
VOTE YES: Propositions 39, 41, 42, 43 and 45
CHAPTERS
00:00 — Welcome to the Ballot Proposition Special
01:23 — Meet Will Swaim
03:15 — What Is the California Policy Center?
03:53 — Proposition 1: Housing Affordability Bonds — NO
06:48 — Proposition 2: California’s Rainy-Day Fund — NO
09:15 — Proposition 3: Permanent High-Income Tax — NO
12:36 — Proposition 4: Public Campaign Financing — NO
15:37 — Proposition 5: Statewide Recall Elections — NO
21:27 — Proposition 37: Middle-Income Homebuyer Loans — NO
26:08 — Proposition 38: Immunology Research Bonds — NO
30:02 — Proposition 39: Voter Identification — YES
33:57 — Proposition 40: Billionaire Wealth Tax — NO
40:13 — Proposition 41: Spending Limits and Audits — YES
44:06 — Proposition 42: Personal Property and Retroactive Taxes — YES
46:28 — Proposition 43: Local Tax Vote Requirements — YES
51:44 — Proposition 44: Community Health Clinic Spending — NO
55:37 — Proposition 45: CEQA and Environmental Review Reform — YES
58:14 — Final Thoughts and the Downloadable Voter Guide
01:23 — Meet Will Swaim
03:15 — What Is the California Policy Center?
03:53 — Proposition 1: Housing Affordability Bonds — NO
06:48 — Proposition 2: California’s Rainy-Day Fund — NO
09:15 — Proposition 3: Permanent High-Income Tax — NO
12:36 — Proposition 4: Public Campaign Financing — NO
15:37 — Proposition 5: Statewide Recall Elections — NO
21:27 — Proposition 37: Middle-Income Homebuyer Loans — NO
26:08 — Proposition 38: Immunology Research Bonds — NO
30:02 — Proposition 39: Voter Identification — YES
33:57 — Proposition 40: Billionaire Wealth Tax — NO
40:13 — Proposition 41: Spending Limits and Audits — YES
44:06 — Proposition 42: Personal Property and Retroactive Taxes — YES
46:28 — Proposition 43: Local Tax Vote Requirements — YES
51:44 — Proposition 44: Community Health Clinic Spending — NO
55:37 — Proposition 45: CEQA and Environmental Review Reform — YES
58:14 — Final Thoughts and the Downloadable Voter Guide
USEFUL LINKS
Jon Fleischman’s complete 2026 California Ballot Measure Voter Guide:
https://www.sodoesitmatter.com/p/our-official-ca-2026-general-election
https://www.sodoesitmatter.com/p/our-official-ca-2026-general-election
California’s 14 qualified statewide ballot measures:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/qualified-ballot-measures
California Official Voter Information Guide:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voter-information-guides
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/voter-information-guides
November 3, 2026 election information and deadlines:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/general-election-november-3-2026
Check your California voter registration status:
https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/
https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/
So, Does It Matter?:
https://www.sodoesitmatter.com
https://www.sodoesitmatter.com
California Policy Center:
https://californiapolicycenter.org
https://californiapolicycenter.org
National Review’s Radio Free California podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/national-reviews-radio-free-california-podcast/id1272856118
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/national-reviews-radio-free-california-podcast/id1272856118
Jon Fleischman on X:
https://x.com/flashreport
https://x.com/flashreport
The opinions and voting recommendations expressed in this episode belong to the speakers. Listeners should consult California’s Official Voter Information Guide before voting.
