California voters decided on 45 local ballot measures in 2023. These local ballot measures included county measures, city or town measures, or measures from local school districts or special districts.
In 2023, there was one less measure than in the previous odd-numbered election year in 2021, when California voters decided on 46 local ballot measures. With 45 measures, 2023 featured a 51.61% decrease in the average number of measures during the last four odd-year election cycles.
One reason for the decline during odd-numbered years is the California Voter Participation Rights Act (CVPRA), passed in 2015, which required local jurisdictions to hold regular elections at even-numbered year statewide elections, unless the local jurisdictions had turnout above certain thresholds. The CVPRA required local jurisdictions to adopt a plan for consolidated elections no later than 2022.
