Here’s what we know about how California voted on 2024 state propositions so far

Updated Nov. 15, 5:50 p.m.

Polls have closed in California and initial results are starting to come in. It may take days — or even weeks — for many races to be called, with results coming in waves as mail-in ballots are received and counted. 

We've noted where the Associated Press has called whether a measure will succeed or fail. CapRadio and NPR rely on the Associated Press for race calls. Here is information on when to expect results and how the process works.

✅Proposition 2

California voters approved Proposition 2, according to a race call by the Associated Press. Early results show out of 14,220,926 ballots counted, 58.4% were for and 41.6% were against issuing $10 billion in bonds to improve facilities at public schools and community colleges. Funds raised through these bonds will go toward new construction, including land purchases and classroom upgrades.

✅Proposition 3

California voters approved Proposition 3, according to a race call by the Associated Press. Early results show out of the 14,315,713 ballots counted, 62.7% were for and 37.3% were against amending California’s Constitution to remove language which states marriage is permitted only between man and woman. 

The language was added to the state’s Constitution in 2008 after voters passed Proposition 8, but is unenforceable due to the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case which requires all states to license same-sex marriages.

✅Proposition 4

California voters pass $10B bond measure funding environmental projects

California voters approved Proposition 4, according to a race call by the Associated Press. Early results show out of the 14,313,803 ballots counted, 59.5% were for and 40.5% were against issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund climate-related projects. 

Funds raised by the measure will go towards improving access to drinkable water, land conservation, wildfire prevention and reducing the impacts of extreme weather on California communities. California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates it will take $400 million annually over 40 years for the state to repay the bond.

❌Proposition 5 

California voters reject 2 housing-affordability measures

California voters rejected Proposition 5, according to a race call by the Associated Press. Early results show out of the 14,162,123 ballots counted, 55.3% were against and 44.7% were for lowering the statewide threshold to approve housing and infrastructure-related bonds to 55%. 

Currently, bonds require the support of two-thirds of those voting to be approved. 

❌Proposition 6

California voters reject measure that would have banned forced prison labor

California voters rejected Proposition 6, according to a race call by the Associated Press. Early results show out of the 13,967,398 ballots counted, 53.3% were against and 46.7% were for banning involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime in California. 

According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, about one-third of people in California prisons work jobs like cooking, cleaning, or other tasks needed to run prisons and jails. California’s Reparations Task Force recommended the measure in its 2023 report.

Proposition 32

Early results show out of the 14,319,971 ballots counted, 50.9% were against and 49.1% were for raising the statewide minimum wage to $18 in 2026. If passed, Proposition 32 would also require minimum wage to be adjusted for inflation in the years after it went into effect. 

Past state legislation has also increased wages for workers in the fast food industry and certain healthcare workers. These local and industry-specific wages would be unaffected by Proposition 32.

❌Proposition 33

Californians rejected Proposition 33, according to a race call from the Associated Press. Early results show out of the 14,138,104 ballots counted, 60.3% were against and 39.7% were for allowing local governments to set their own rent control laws with fewer restrictions.

If Proposition 33 were to have passed, it would have repealed a 1995 state law called the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, which prevented cities from implementing rent control on single-family homes or housing built on or after February 1, 1996. 

Proposition 34

Early results show out of the 13,708,716 ballots counted, 50.7% were for and 49.3% were against requiring health care providers to spend 98% of the revenue they gather on direct patient care. 

The language of the measure establishes a high bar for which health care entities would be required to abide by these restrictions, if passed. These entities must be participants of the discount prescription drug program and spend over $100 million on “purposes that do not qualify as direct patient care” over 10 years. Currently, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the only organization in California that would meet the standards outlined in the measure.

✅Proposition 35

California voters approved Proposition 35, according to a race call by the Associated Press. Of the the 14,089,606 ballots counted, 67.8% were for and 32.2% were against bolstering California medicaid reimbursements by ensuring funds the Managed Care Organizations tax go toward Medi-Cal services.

✅Proposition 36

California voters have approved Proposition 36, according to a race call by the Associated Press. Of the 14,237,343 ballots counted, 68.6% were for and 31.4% were against raising penalties for some crimes by repealing aspects of a 10-year old proposition that decreased them to address prison overcrowding.

The previous measure, Proposition 47, lowered some theft and drug-related crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor when it was passed in 2014. The new measure would generally turn these misdemeanors back into felonies. It would also lengthen some prison sentences and require more felonies be served in prison. Courts would also be able to mandate drug treatment for people charged with possessing illegal drugs.