California ballot initiatives, Virginia congressional map changes, Maine initiative limiting sports eligibility based on sex
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Here are the top stories from the week of April 20 to April 24.
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California Secretary of State certifies first initiatives for the November 2026 ballot
The California Secretary of State announced on April 21 that two ballot initiatives had qualified for the November ballot — the first initiatives to qualify this election cycle in California.
Two-Thirds Vote Requirement Initiative
The Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Special Taxes and Charter City Real Estate Transfer Tax Prohibition Initiative is an initiated constitutional amendment that would increase the vote requirement to pass citizen-initiated local special taxes from a simple majority (50%+1) to a two-thirds (66.67%) vote. The requirement would apply to both the creation of new taxes and measures to raise existing taxes.
Also on the ballot this year is ACA 13, the Vote Requirements for Initiatives Requiring Supermajority Votes Amendment. ACA 13 would require citizen-initiated constitutional amendments that propose a higher vote threshold for future state or local ballot measures to meet the same higher threshold to pass. ACA 13 would apply to any initiatives on the same ballot. This means if the ACA 13 passes, the two-thirds vote requirement initiative would need to win two-thirds of the vote.
Homebuyer program
The Second Mortgage Homebuyer Program and Revenue Bond Initiative is an initiated state statute that would establish a second-mortgage homebuyer program for qualified buyers on certain homes.
So far this year, there are a total of five measures on the November ballot in California.In even years between 2010 and 2024, California voters decided an average of approximately 10 ballot measures each November. Of these, an average of eight per year were citizen initiatives, and an average of two were legislative referrals.
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Virginia voters to decide a constitutional amendment to determine congressional maps for the midterm elections
On April 21, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing the Virginia General Assembly to implement a new congressional map ahead of this year's midterm elections. In the special election, voters approved the amendment 51.5% to 48.5%.
The amendment allows the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts between Jan. 1, 2025, and Oct. 31, 2030, if another state redraws its districts for reasons other than completing decennial redistricting or complying with a court order.
Since California, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas voluntarily enacted new congressional maps in 2025, the General Assembly will be able to implement the new congressional map that was included as part of House Bill 29. However, ongoing litigation has blocked the amendment from taking effect, and the case is currently under appeal.
The Virginia Supreme Court could consider several lawsuits challenging the amendment, including one filed by the Republican National Committee. In that case, on April 22, the Tazewell County Circuit Court ruled that the ballot measure violated constitutional and procedural requirements and blocked officials from certifying the election results.
Based on the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election results, the proposed map shifts four Republican-held congressional districts to be more Democratic. Virginia's current U.S. House delegation has six Democrats and five Republicans. Under the proposed map, and if results mirrored the governor’s race, the delegation could include 10 Democrats and one Republican.
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Maine voters to decide on initiative limiting sports eligibility based on sex after Legislature adjourns without a vote
The Maine Legislature adjourned on April 14 without voting on an initiated measure that would require public school sports teams designated for girls or boys to be limited to students of the corresponding sex. Citizen initiatives are indirect in Maine. This means that because the Legislature did not act on the measure, Mainers will vote on it on Nov. 3.
The measure would require public schools to designate athletic teams as male, female, or coeducational. Students would be permitted to participate on a sports team that is designated for the sex noted on their original birth certificate. Girls would be allowed to participate on male-designated teams when no female-designated team is available for that sport. For more on what the initiative would do, click here.
Colorado and Washington voters will decide similar measures in November. No state has previously put a ballot measure before voters that would require public schools to limit participation on male and female sports teams to students of the corresponding sex. Although 27 states have enacted laws addressing this issue, voters have never decided such policies through ballot measures.
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