'Six Californias' Initiative Fails For 2016 Ballot

UPDATE at 3:35pm: An initiative that would have asked voters if they want to split California into six different states has failed to qualify for the ballot.

The proposal sparked a fierce debate within California and earned nationwide media attention.

Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper poured millions of dollars into gathering more than a million signatures. He hoped the initiative would go before voters in November 2016.

But on Friday, the Secretary of State’s office reported that Draper had not collected enough valid signatures for the initiative to qualify.

ORIGINAL STORY (AP) - A ballot initiative that calls for splitting California into six separate states has failed to qualify for the ballot in 2016.

The secretary of state's office reported Friday that only 66 percent of the 1.37 million signatures submitted in the effort were projected to be valid.

Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper submitted the signatures in July as part of an effort he says would give better representation for California's 38.3 million residents.

He wants to split California into six states called Jefferson, North California, Silicon Valley, Central California, West California and South California.

Critics had noted that the plan would have separated the wealthiest and poorest Californians, potentially creating some of the poorest states in the nation.